The prevailing wisdom suggests that America would be healthier if we were just to consume more fruits and vegetables. And in an effort to get to that point, companies are rolling out all manners of fruit-based pills and drinks designed to make eating produce more convenient.
But we're just hiding the peas under the mashed potatoes. Eventually Americans are going to find the peas and throw them on the floor. Instead, we need to look at Japan's model and start cranking out some weird-shaped fruit.
Square watermelons used to the latest and greatest. But as Boing Boing's Mark Frauenfelder discovered on a recent trip to Japan -- watermelons are now available as cubes, pyramids and even heart-shaped. We need to stop being locked into our preconceived notions of fruit. The European Union moved to allow the sale of "odd shaped" vegetables in 2008 -- although "straight" bananas apparently must still be "free from malformation or abnormal curvature."
Banana issues aside, it's not hard to change. We have the technology, people. There are a host of instructions online and a suggestion that a square watermelon will only set you back $8, although it could be sold for $100 in Japan. Now this is an idea that solves our nation's trade imbalance and obesity epidemic.
We're a nation that loves gimmicks. How else do you explain KFC's Double Down or the foot-long cheeseburger from Carl's Jr.? So sex it up, squashes. Add some flair, fruit. It's time to level the playing field and catch somebody's eye in the grocery store.
[Image via Flickr: rumpleteaser]
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