10/14/2026
Its called "second chance" produce. It's not as pretty or uniformed as what you're used to on the shelves, some would say ugly. They might have grown funny, took a bruise or 2, maybe a split, but i promise they wont taste ugly. In a world of food insecurities and rising costs, who are we to discard these beautiful tomatoes because they dont match your viral post pictures. Its a bit saddening to think how hard the farmer worked for such a tasty product, only to be tossed aside and disrespected for the "pretty" one...
I feel a lot of us can relate to the second chance tomato, different, not as pretty or as uniformed, not really fitting in with the rest, maybe a bump or a bruise from life, miss shappen, but just as sweet if not sweeter then the rest, always deserving of a second chance, a "good morning" or a "hello". Don't you worry little buddies, there's always a place in this Chef's kitchen for you. As I've always felt the kitchen is the land of the missfit toys, the loners, outcasts, weirdos, dorks and nerds. Much of the food you eat while dinning out, was cooked, plated and served by what society would view as people casted out, people with a record, the drop outs, the second chancers. The kitchen has always felt like a home for me, when the world can be cruel and make you feel down, the kitchen, the camaraderie, the smells, the sounds, the tastes, the laughs.... it can be everything to the lone cook.
When you're out there and see the produce on the stand, remember it was just as hard to grow the pretty one as the ugly one, and on the inside, they will both taste great and nourish you equally. We are all deserving and in need of a second chance at some point in our lives, before you toss that piece of produce for not being perfect, think about how you can still use it, the people in your life, and what the world of food means to you.
(Lone thoughts of a cook cutting the "ugly duckling" tomatoes)
