What began as a small initiative to prevent imperfect vegetables from going to waste has grown into a World Records achievement. Ugly Potato Day by Odd Bunch in Surrey has set the record for the largest donation of fruits and vegetables in 24 hours, distributing an extraordinary 246,528.61 kg (543,501 lbs) of fresh produce.
The initiative was started in 2022 by Tyler Heppell, when just 12 people visited his family’s South Surrey farm to collect free “ugly” produce—fruits and vegetables that were perfectly edible but might otherwise have been discarded because of their appearance.
Since then, the event has experienced remarkable growth. This year’s record-breaking gathering at Cloverdale’s Agriplex in Surrey attracted more than 30,000 people, transforming the grassroots food-waste initiative into a massive community event.
Beyond achieving a World Records title, Ugly Potato Day draws attention to the enormous amount of edible produce that can be wasted because it fails to meet conventional appearance standards. By redistributing hundreds of tonnes of fruits and vegetables, the initiative promotes food sustainability, waste reduction, and community support.
The achievement demonstrates how a simple local idea can grow into a movement with global impact, turning so-called “ugly” produce into a powerful symbol of sustainability and responsible food consumption.
