Every year, the U.S. wastes around 30-40% of its food supply—about 80 billion pounds—much of it due to strict cosmetic standards. Perfectly edible crops that don’t meet these visual standards are discarded, contributing to food shortages, environmental strain, and missed opportunities to make fresh food more accessible. To address this, I propose a two-tier system: “Premium” crops and “B-grade” crops.
Under this system, “Premium” crops would continue to meet the highest aesthetic standards and be sold in stores as usual. “B-grade” crops, with minor imperfections like slight discoloration or irregular shapes, would also be sold but at a reduced price, with a label indicating they’re healthy and nutritious but not visually perfect.
Some might worry that this would affect farmers who receive insurance payments for unsold crops. In reality, creating a market for B-grade crops would offer farmers an additional income stream while still allowing them to claim insurance on total crop losses if necessary. With farmers typically losing up to 20% of their yield to cosmetic standards, this change could capture a significant portion of that lost revenue, providing a financial boost.
Concerns might also arise about potential reductions in farmers’ earnings from selling B-grade crops at a lower price. However, lower food prices could ease financial pressure on consumers, boosting their spending power. The USDA estimates that reducing food waste could decrease food costs by as much as 10%, which would help consumers save, spend more on other goods, and stimulate the economy. This, in turn, could strengthen the value of the dollar, potentially increasing the real value of farmers’ earnings over time.
Additionally, if a surplus of Premium crops were to occur as a result of shifting consumer demand, this surplus could be sold to foreign markets, especially to countries that face food shortages. By strategically exporting the extra Premium crops, we could manage domestic supply while expanding the U.S.'s role in international markets. This would not only support global food security but also provide U.S. farmers with an added revenue source.
This proposal isn’t perfect, and I welcome feedback to refine it. Thank you for reading.