It was fruitful day for produce shoppers in Cloverdale on Saturday (Aug. 3), where thousands of people took advantage of free "ugly" produce donated by local farmers.
The free produce event, started by the Heppell potato farming family two years ago, attracted 12 shoppers at the very first Ugly Potato Day.
The event grew so popular, attracting more than 4,000 people each time, that the family had to move the event to a much larger venue: the Cloverdale Rodeo Fairgrounds, where it's estimated more than 10,000 people showed up Saturday.
Along with the Heppells, 11 other local farms joined in to offer more than 150,000 pounds of free "ugly" produce – vegetables whose cracked, bruised or unshapely appearance deems them unfit for grocery store shelves – including more than 70,000 pound of potatoes, more than 30,000 pounds of carrots, and more than 50,000 pounds of beets, lettuces, radishes, herbs, and peppers. Other donated food items included chocolate and bread.
"It was the perfect day," Tyler Heppell said Tuesday, noting how smoothly everything went.
"From having a DJ there to keep the tunes going, to food trucks and so many different types of food ... this was our 15th time hosting these days and by far, this has been the biggest day and we've had the most produce."
Heppell gave a big shout out to the 11 other farms who donated their "ugly" produce, as well as to all the volunteers who help make each free event happen.
"We really feel it's our duty to feed our communities," he said.
The next Ugly Produce Day event is scheduled for Oct. 19 in Cloverdale.
