A MAJOR supermarket chain yesterday began selling “wonky veg” in almost 30 branches across Scotland in response to customer demand.

The family-sized produce box includes nine in-season winter vegetables, all of which have been deemed to have sub-par shapes despite being otherwise edible.

Asda trialled the £3.50 offer, aimed at reducing food waste levels and aiding farmers, in the south of England last week, when Scottish shoppers and politicians urged them to expand the scheme north of the border.

Yesterday the retailer said the 5kg Wonky Veg Box would now become a fixture in selected Scottish stores at least once per month.

Those selected include Toryglen in Glasgow, Linwood in Renfrewshire, Elgin in Aberdeenshire as well as Motherwell, Clydebank, Perth, Edinburgh, Ayr and Dunfermline.

The “ugly” ingredients include carrots, potatoes, parsnips, leeks and peppers and are said to be enough to feed a family of four for a working week.

Ian Harrison, Asda’s produce quality director, said: “We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the response to our wonky vegetable box and think it shows just how conscious our customers are of food waste, particularly in the produce aisle.

“We knew from our initial research that customers aren’t phased by the odd knobble here or a bruise there and like the fact that our wonky range is a little bit cheaper, but including this ‘ugly’ veg in a mixed box format has helped customers save even more money and plan meals for the family for the whole week, ensuring nothing is thrown away, even when it’s taken out of the supermarket aisle.

“We’re extremely excited to be able to bring the wonky veg box to even more people across the UK and, in turn, further support our growers to ensure we’re buying as much of their crop as possible.”

Welcoming the news, Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said: “It’s great news that the wonky veg pilot is coming to Scottish stores.

“Asda have been one of the partners in our Eat Better Feel Better campaign, which aims to help and encourage people to eat a healthier diet.

“This initiative really fits in with the ethos of the campaign. The supply of low cost healthy food is an ideal way to break down one of the biggest barriers that can stop people from eating healthily.”

Currently, 15 per cent of potatoes do not meet specifications because they’re the wrong size or blemished and the same rate of parsnips fail to make the shelf because they are oddly shaped or have superficial defects.

Meanwhile, Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill MP Phil Boswell yesterday urged the retail chain to allow unstaffed foodbank donation points to continue at its sites after it emerged that shoppers will no longer be allowed to leave groceries in unmanned boxes and trollies from Monday.

Asda said: “Food banks are very welcome to collect donations in Asda if volunteers are on hand to explain to customers where their donations are going, which we know increases the amount of food donated.

“Asda is a leader in the redistribution of food through our partnership with Fareshare and Company Shop, and we look forward to continuing to support them and local food banks in the future.”

However, Boswell said charities may not have the volunteers or resources to meet the staffing requirement, adding: “I have serious concerns.”