Kroger Launches Ugly Produce Program
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
Kroger is targeting food waste with their new Peculiar Picks produce.
Get ready to see more ugly produce when you shop at Kroger. Coming in early 2019, a new label called Peculiar Picks is making its way to the popular grocery store. The initiative will label produce that may not otherwise sell because of its appearance. The store is already tackling plastic bag waste, by eliminating all single-use plastic by 2025, so eliminating food waste is another step in the direction toward a more mindful shopping experience.
Waste not, want not. That’s just one of the things we learned from Grandma after all. Learn her other cooking secrets here.
What Is Ugly Produce?
Ugly produce is perfectly safe to eat, it just doesn’t have that perfect appearance that we’re used to seeing at the supermarket. While these fruits and veggies might be too big or too small, misshapen or slightly off in color, they are still perfectly fine to consume and cook with, and would otherwise go unsold in stores.
This program is combating food waste, which accounts for 6 million pounds of wasted produce annually. Kroger hopes to shift the conversation away from the outer appearance of food, and more to what you can create with fruits and veggies that might not be the prettiest in the store.
You can use these cosmetically imperfect produce items any way you would cook with or snack on regular produce, the possibilities are endless with recipes and for snacking.
Try using your “ugly” produce in these hearty fall soups.
Classic French Onion Soup
French onion soup—a staple French recipe—is the ultimate in comfort food: exploding with flavor and covered in gooey melted cheese. If you don't have oven-safe soup ramekins, add the bread and cheese to the bowl first, then ladle the hot soup on top so that the cheese melts.
Satisfying Tomato Soup
It wouldn't feel right making it all the way through fall without eating at least one grilled cheese sandwich alongside a bowl of tomato soup for dipping.
Hearty Beef and Barley Soup
This hearty beef and barley soup is a favorite dinner all year round, but come fall, its familiar taste feels more comforting than ever. Though this is a meal all unto itself, it's nice to eat with warm buttered brown bread on the side.
Tex-Mex Chili
Need to satisfy big, hearty appetites? Look no further than this Tex-Mex recipe with beef stew meat, plenty of beans and tasty spices. Enjoy your chili with a serious kick? Chop up one or two chipotle peppers packed in adobo and stir in while the chili simmers.
Lemony Chicken Noodle Soup
This isn't Grandma's chicken soup, but it's comforting in a whole new way. The lemon juice gives this easy soup enough zip to make it interesting, and dried basil adds a pop of bright flavor without the need for fresh herbs.
Pretty Autumn Soup
Carrots, squash and sweet potato combine to make a healthy and colorful soup that, true to its name, is quite pretty! Swirl the top with sour cream (or an appropriate sour cream substitute), and sprinkle with sesame seeds, minced chives, finely chopped nuts, crispy fried shallots or anything else you and your family might like. Want more healthy soup recipes? Try these low-carb soups for chilly nights.
Grandmother’s Southern Chicken ‘n’ Dumplings
This homespun recipe is a classic example of how to feed a large family with a single chicken. (And plenty of dumplings made from scratch!) Save this recipe for a chilly weekend when you have plenty of time to make hand-rolled dumplings from scratch and let the soup simmer on the stove all day. In the mood for more classics? Try these old-fashioned soups, stews and chilis.
Mulligatawny Soup
Mulligatawny soup is a comforting dish that marries both Indian and British ingredients, and it's sure to tantalize your tastebuds. It's fragrant, creamy, mildly spicy and simply incredible.
White Bean Chicken Chili
White bean chili is a great alternative to the classic red. It has a little heat, but it's not overpowering. Serve this with cheddar biscuits or warmed tortillas.
Taco Twist Soup
The fun, family-friendly twist in this taco soup is the spiral pasta, which does more than look good. This pasta shape captures bits of tomatoes, beans and other soup ingredients, making sure that every single bite is hearty, flavorful and filling.
Cheesy Wild Rice Soup
It takes some time to cook wild rice, so to get a pot of soup on the table on busy fall nights, this recipe uses a quick-cooking boxed wild and long grain rice mix instead. To save even more time, this semi-homemade meal is built with a base of can of condensed cream of potato soup.
Upstate Minestrone Soup
This vegetable-packed recipe hails from upstate New York, which has a long tradition of Italian-American comfort food recipes like chicken riggies and spiedis. Serve this soup alongside a loaf of cheesy Parmesan garlic bread for dipping!
Vegan Squash Soup with Naan Croutons
This butternut squash soup is so full of flavor that you won't miss the meat or dairy. The added can of pumpkin helps make the soup creamy and smooth, while the coconut milk adds a light sweetness. If you can't find naan at your local supermarket, pita chips work just as well.
Autumn Pumpkin Chili
The mellow taste of ground turkey works wonderfully in this fall-inspired chili, allowing the flavor of canned pumpkin to shine a bit brighter. Chili powder adds a nice touch of smokiness; you can add more if you want extra heat, or stir in other warm spices like cumin or cinnamon for extra oomph.
Homemade Chicken and Rice Soup
This basic recipe for chicken and rice soup hits the spot on cold days, and it's easy to adapt to your personal tastes. Try adding chopped leafy greens for extra flavor (and nutrition), or using another ready-made spice blend in place of the poultry seasoning.
Cream of Cauliflower Soup
By using frozen cauliflower instead of fresh, this lightly cheesy soup goes from the stove to the table in less than 10 minutes. Even better, the only real prep you need to do is chop up some green onions—once those have been sauteed in a bit of butter, simply add the rest of the ingredients, simmer, stir and serve!
Corn Chowder with Dumplings
This is a spiced-up version of comforting corn chowder, getting an extra kick from canned chipotle peppers. The addition of easy-to-make cheddar and cornmeal dumplings turns this familiar dish into something special, and it tastes spectacular.
Baked Potato Soup
This creamy fall soup is not only delicious, but also scaled down to make an amount that's perfect for two—or served in cups as a side dish for hot sandwiches.
Spiced Split Pea Soup
A hint of curry adds the perfect amount of kick to this family-pleasing fall soup. Just assemble the ingredients in the slow cooker and go about your day while it cooks. Serve with a basket of pita bread that's been warmed in the microwave or oven, then brushed with flavored butter.
Cheesy Broccoli Soup in a Bread Bowl
This creamy, cheesy broccoli soup tastes just like the one served at Panera! For a full-on copycat experience, serve this soup in homemade bread bowls; even if you choose not to bake your bread from scratch, our bread bowl recipe has detailed instructions on how to cut a storebought loaf of bread into an edible vessel for soup.
Sausage and Spinach Tortellini Soup
Once you've got the method for this easy soup down, you can switch things up to make the recipe all your own! Swap out the pork sausage for chicken or turkey sausage, or even ground beef. Try any variety of tortellini—or use ravioli. For even more flavor, add a can of chopped or pureed tomatoes along with the broth.
Curried Squash Soup
Cayenne pepper gives a little kick to this pretty curried squash soup. It can be made several days ahead to fit a busy schedule, then reheated as needed, making it ideal for a big-batch dinner meal plan. Enjoy the leftovers as a work-from-home lunch, or double the recipe and have it for dinner twice in one week!
White Chili with a Kick
Store-bought rotisserie chicken makes this spicy chili easy, but you could also make rotisserie chicken at home. Serve it with any toppings you like putting on chili, tacos or burritos; like sour cream, green onions, shredded cheese, sliced avocados or a zippy homemade salsa.
Slow-Cooked Lasagna Soup
In the mood for lasagna, but not in the mood for all the work involved? Instead of making this layered and baked pasta the old-fashioned way, whip up this easy slow cooker soup that uses all the right ingredients to deliver the same great taste in a fraction of the time.
Cream of Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
Fun food fact: Wild rice isn't technically rice at all! It's actually a seed from North American aquatic grasses and is packed with nutrients like fiber and protein. This simple, mellow turkey soup recipe lets wild rice's naturally nutty flavor shine.
Pumpkin-Coconut Soup
The combo of coconut milk and hard winter squash like pumpkin is popular all over the world, from the Caribbean to Africa and Southeast Asia. Once you taste this simple soup, you'll understand why.
Lemony Mushroom-Orzo Soup for Two
This is a versatile soup that works as an appetizer or as a side for a sandwich lunch. It's loaded with mushrooms and orzo pasta—and the lemon delivers on its subtle flavor.
Firehouse Chili
Need to feed a crowd? This recipe comes from a real firehouse cook, who would make this chili for 10 men. If it can fill up a house of extra-hungry firefighters, it'll fill up everyone in your house, too!
Roasted Autumn Vegetable Soup
Roasting sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips brings out their best features. Blend them, and you have a warm, healthy soup for a cool fall night. This recipe also makes a great first course before a warm and cozy fall dinner.
Chicken Gnocchi Pesto Soup
This semi-homemade soup is a real stunner! Even though it tastes like something that took all day to cook, it comes together in almost no time at all thanks to jarred Alfredo sauce, ready-to-eat rotisserie chicken and premade pesto.
Carrot Soup with Orange & Tarragon
A pretty orange color, a delicious hint of citrus and a garden-fresh flavor make this soup a requested dish at many of my celebrations. Try sprinkling individual bowls with fresh tarragon before serving; here's how to chop tarragon and other fresh herbs.
Roasted Parsnip and Pear Soup
Although pears and parsnips may seem like an odd combination, the pears bring out the natural sweetness of the parsnips in this autumn soup. Don't skip the spiced pear topping; it's the best part!
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Soup
You can top this creamy soup with anything your heart desires, so it's a great make-ahead dish that you can enjoy several days in a row without ever having to eat it the same way twice. You can substitute fresh onions and celery in this recipe if you prefer, but using the dried version makes it easy to throw together this slow cooker soup on a weekday morning.
Quick Golden Squash Soup
It can be difficult to safely peel and cut whole winter squash, so if you're not confident in your knife skills (or if you simply don't feel like doing it), spend a little more on precut butternut squash to make this quick fall soup. The shortcut is well worth it.
Chicken & Broccoli Rabe Soup with Tortellini
With chicken, pasta and a bold tomato broth, this hearty soup is like a big hug in a bowl. If you have difficulty finding bitter broccoli rabe in your local supermarket, substitute another dark leafy green, like kale or collard greens.
Turkey Gnocchi Soup
For an Italian-inspired twist on classic turkey noodle soup, swap out egg noodles for pillowy potato gnocchi! There's so many different ways to make this soup recipe your own; try adding a can of crushed tomatoes, doubling down on the Parmesan cheese or stirring in a heap of chopped fresh basil or homemade pesto.
Simple Salmon Chowder
For this chowder, you can purchase fresh or frozen salmon, cook it at home, then add it to the chowder as directed. As a quick option, you can use canned salmon, cooked salmon from the prepared foods case of the deli or even smoked salmon fillet.
Mushroom Corn Chowder
Chock-full of veggies, ham and cheese in every spoonful, this thick, creamy chowder will take the chill off even the nippiest of fall evenings. Serve it with warm crusty bread; if you'd like to make a homemade loaf, try this recipe for Dutch oven-baked bread.
Creamy Vegetable Chowder
Looking for a healthy, hearty fall recipe that's easy to meal prep? This rich, comforting soup recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. You can lower the fat content by using turkey bacon, vegetable broth and skim milk. It's delicious either way.
Moroccan Cauliflower and Almond Soup
Trying to reduce the amount of meat and dairy in your diet? This healthy North African-spiced cauliflower and almond soup tastes so blissfully rich and decadent, no one will guess (or care!) that it's 100% vegan. Try these low-sodium soups if you're looking for more healthy soup recipes.
Enchilada Chicken Soup
Canned soups, enchilada sauce and a few other convenience items make this chicken enchilada soup recipe super simple. Use mild green chilies if they suit your taste, or try a spicier variety to give the soup more kick. For added crunch, top each bowl with a handful of homemade tortilla chips.
Cabbage Barley Soup
Cabbage is affordable, plentiful, highly nutritious and delicious, making it just about perfect for hearty fall soups! In addition to barley, this cabbage soup recipe also contains lentils, which means lots of flavor, fiber and protein.
Chicken Wild Rice Soup
This recipe is popular in Minnesota, where wild rice grows in abundance and is popular in recipes. For even more authentic Midwestern flavor, this soup contains another ingredient that's common in Midwestern cooking: a can of cream of mushroom soup!
Quick Ham and Bean Soup
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover ham. If you don't want to wait for leftovers (or aren't planning to roast a ham anytime soon), use ham steaks from your supermarket's meat department or ask the deli counter to cut you extra-thick slices of your favorite brand of ham.
Sausage Pumpkin Soup
Here, autumn spices complement pumpkin and sausage for a unique and comforting soup. A touch of real maple syrup imparts just the right amount of sweetness. Follow this guide to buy the best maple syrup.
Pressure-Cooker Easy Pork Posole
Looking for a meal in a bowl? Sit down to a Mexican classic full of cubed pork, sliced sausage, hominy and more. It all goes into the pressure cooker, so you can come home at night and dinner is ready in a flash.
Red Curry Carrot Soup
With its mix of delicious colors, textures and flavors, this easy Thai-inspired soup made with instant ramen noodles is something special. The addition of frozen meatballs makes it hearty enough to serve as a light entree.
Butternut Squash Chili
You can add squash to chili for a tasty take on the classic recipe. To find a ripe butternut squash at the store or farmers market, look for one that's hard and heavy. The skin should have a matte finish with a dark beige color—no green streaks. After enjoying these fall soups, enjoy a fall dessert with any of these fall baking recipes.Hopping on the Bandwagon
Kroger isn’t the only grocer selling flawed fruits and veggies, the store is joining a group of fellow grocery chains that are tackling food waste. Whole Foods, Walmart and Meijer have all been experimenting with similar programs as well since 2016.
A San Francisco-based company, Imperfect Produce, is a produce-delivery company that services much of the west coast with weekly deliveries of produce that doesn’t meet cosmetic standards and has saved 30 million pounds of food so far.
Looking to reduce food waste in your own home? You can reduce your footprint with these ideas:
- Compost at home to turn your scraps into soil
- Repurpose leftovers in new ways
- Being mindful of how long your produce lasts so you can gobble it up before it spoils.
Try These Sneaky Ways To Eat More Veggies
Chicken Florentine Meatballs
Served over squash and a chunky, mushroom-tomato sauce, these tender meatballs are tops when it comes to great flavor. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Harissa Sweet Potato Fritters
I had leftover sweet potatoes and had to think up a new way to use them. We love spice, so I flavored these fun fritters with harissa, just enough for flavor but not too spicy. If you want more heat, you can always adjust the spice to please your taste buds. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Blackened Tilapia with Zucchini Noodles
I love quick and bright meals like this one-skillet wonder. The way it tastes, you'd think it takes a lot more effort, but it goes from prep to dinner table in half an hour. The recipe works well with any light fish, or even shrimp. —Tammy Brownlow, Dallas, Texas
Garden-Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Not only are these boats a delightful way to get your veggies, they're basically a one-dish meal that covers all the bases—just grab your favorite garden goodies and add any spices or mix-ins you like. —Janie Zirbser, Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Chili-Lime Mushroom Tacos
I used to make this dish with beef, but substituting with portobella mushrooms turned it into my family's vegetarian favorite. It's quick, nutritious, low fat and tasty. —Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, Texas
Vegetable Meat Loaf
I'm not big on leftovers, so I've pared down my recipes to serve two. This meat loaf is simple and quick to prepare, plus it helps you eat your veggies. It's great served with cheddar-topped baked potatoes. —Judi Brinegar, Liberty, North Carolina
Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps
Casual, flavorful and low in carbohydrates, these Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps are a perfect and low-fuss way to feed a group. Place the ingredients in separate dishes and let your guests assemble their own wrap, which allows them to personalize to suit their tastes. —Gretchen Barnes, Fairfax, Virginia
Strawberry-Carrot Smoothies
My children resist veggies, but they love this carrot smoothie. It packs in lots of good-for-you fruits and veggies—but to my kids, it's just a super delicious breakfast. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Chicken Parmesan With Spaghetti Squash
I grow spaghetti squash and herbs in my garden every year, so this recipe is the perfect way to use them up. —Kristina Krummel, Elkins, Arkansas
Vegetable Strata
We always serve food at our Bunco games, and since one of us is a vegetarian we like to make fun meatless dishes we can all enjoy. This strata can easily be doubled and tastes fantastic hot or at room temperature. —Doris Mancini, Port Orchard, Washington
Garden-Fresh Grilled Veggie Pizza
I have four gardens, including one just for herbs, so I always have a pretty good spread of produce. I created this loaded-up pizza as a fun summer appetizer using some of my best garden goodies. —Dianna Wara, Washington, Illinois
Ginger-Kale Smoothies
Since I started making this green smoothie recipe for breakfast every day, I honestly feel better! Substitute any fruit and juice you like to make this recipe your own healthy blend.—Linda Green, Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii
Tequila Lime Shrimp Zoodles
This tangy shrimp dish is a smart way to cut carbs without sacrificing flavor. If you don't have a spiralizer, you can use thinly julienned zucchini to get a similar effect. —Brigette Schroeder, Yorkville, Illinois
Air-Fryer Eggplant Fries
My kids love these air-fryer fries, and I like that they're healthy. Coated with Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, these eggplant fries are delicious and guilt-free. —Mary Murphy, Atwater, California
Dark Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
A colleague brought this in one day for someone’s birthday. I grow zucchini in my garden so I had a lot of opportunities to experiment with the recipe. My mother-in-law loves it, and not just because it's pretty good for you! —Sally Newton, Smethport, Pennsylvania
Moroccan Flatbreads
My family loves these tacos with Middle Eastern seasoning lots of vegetables. Ground turkey or beef may be substituted for the lamb. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Honey-Squash Dinner Rolls
These puffy dinner rolls take on rich color when you add squash to the dough. Any squash variety works. I've even used cooked carrots. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
I can never get enough of this baked sweet potato fries recipe! Even though my grocery store sells them in the frozen foods section, I still love to pull them out of my garden and chop them up fresh! —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
Veggie Macaroni & Cheese
This creamy mac and cheese definitely doesn't come from a box! Fresh veggies add crunch and color and will leave everyone saying, "More, please!" —Marsha Morril, Harrisburg, Oregon
Asparagus Soup with Lemon Creme Fraiche
A fresh and easy asparagus soup, pureed until it's smooth, is a definite winner. Serve it warm or chilled depending on the weather.—Fern Vitense, Tipton, Iowa
Grilled Eggplant Pita Pizzas
We grow eggplants and love to use them for our special pizza. Grilling adds robust flavor to the crust, veggies and garlic. Waiting for the eggplants to grow is the hardest part! —Judy Barrett, Chelsea, Alabama
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
For weeknight dinner I want something fast, easy and not ordinary. This mashed cauliflower side dish is a perfect substitute for mashed potatoes.
Creamy Eggplant & Mushroom Monte Cristo
As a child, I wouldn’t eat veggies. As a parent, I try to include them in creative ways. I'm proud to say this eggplant sandwich is a hit with my son. —Macey Allen, Green Forest, Arkansas
Farmers Market Enchiladas
These vegetarian enchiladas use a lot of garden favorites in a quick weeknight meal. Feel free to substitute whatever vegetables you have from your garden—yellow summer squash, eggplant and corn all taste great here, too. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grv, Utah
Zucchini Patties with Dill Dip
These crisp-tender patties are a nice alternative to crab cakes and taste very similar, thanks to the seafood seasoning. They always get gobbled up! —Kelly Maxwell, Plainfield, Illinois
Grilled Veggie Sandwiches with Cilantro Pesto
I first ate this sandwich while vacationing in Sedona, Arizona, and fell in love with it. When I returned home, I developed this one that tastes just like the original. —Carolyn Phenicie, Titusville, Pennsylvania
Sneaky Turkey Meatballs
Like most kids, mine refuse to eat certain veggies. In order to feed them healthy foods, I have to be sneaky sometimes. The veggies give these meatballs a pleasing texture while providing valuable nutrients—and I'm happy to say my kids love 'em. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Mushroom and Sweet Potato Potpie
The last time I was in the U.S., I had an amazing mushroom and beer potpie at a small brewpub. It was so rich and comforting. I tried numerous versions when I got home and I think I've come pretty close! —Iben Ravn, Copenhagen, Denmark
Zucchini Pancakes
These Zucchini Pancakes are a tasty change of pace from ordinary potato pancakes. Add a little shredded onion to give them a savory kick. —Charlotte Goldberg, Honey Grove, Pennsylvania
California Burger Bowls
Burgers are a weekly staple at our house year-round. Skip the fries, chips and bun—you won't need them with these loaded veggie & fruit burgers. To spice up the mayo, add 1/2 tsp. of chipotle powder. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups
One night friends on a tight schedule stopped by. I invited them to stay for dinner, so I needed something I could fix in short order. I created these savory roll-ups, featuring a creamy three-cheese filling. They taste like lasagna but bake in a fraction of the time. —Julia Trachsel Victoria, British Columbia
Pumpkin & Cauliflower Garlic Mash
I wanted healthy alternatives to my family's favorite recipes. Pumpkin, cauliflower and thyme make an amazing dish. You'll never miss those plain old mashed potatoes. —Kari Wheaton, South Beloit, Illinois
Zippy Turkey Zoodles
Eating healthy doesn't mean sacrificing flavor—and these spiced-up zoodles prove it. If you don't have a spiralizer, simply slice the zucchini julienne-style. —Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, Washington
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread
My family loves quick breads. This one is moist and spicy. If you don't have mini loaf pans it works just as well in regular size pans. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Baked Parmesan Breaded Squash
Baked yellow squash is beautifully crispy. You don’t have to turn the pieces, but do keep an eye on them. — Debi Mitchell, Flower Mound, Texas
Beef & Veggie Sloppy Joes
I’m always looking for ways to serve my family healthy and delicious food, so after I started experimenting with my favorite veggies and ground beef. I came up with this favorite that my three kids actually request! This healthy take on sloppy joes reminds me of my own childhood. —Megan Niebuhr, Yakima Washington
Contest-Winning Roasted Tomato Soup
Just before the first frost of the season, we gather up all of the tomatoes from my mom’s garden to create this flavor-packed soup. Although it sounds like a lot of garlic, when it’s roasted, the garlic becomes mellow and almost sweet. We serve this soup with toasted bread spread with pesto.—Kaitlyn Lerdahl, Madison, Wisconsin
Mini Zucchini Pizzas
Looking for low carb? This simple snack recipe is a fantastic way to satisfy your pizza cravings while skipping the usual carb-filled crust. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Eggplant Sausage Casserole
If you want your kids to happily eat their eggplant, serve it in this lovely layered casserole. Our whole family enjoys it. Always a popular potluck item, it's a great company dish, as well. —Carol Mieske, Red Bluff, California
Salsa Spaghetti Squash
If you want spaghetti, but are eating gluten-free or trying to keep a lid on carbs, there's always spaghetti squash as a flavorful alternative. Subtly sweet, tender and satisfying, this is one colorful dish. —Clara Coulson Minney, Washington Court House, Ohio
Originally Published: October 31, 2018
