i think part of why i go for unblemished stuff in the shops is because i don't know how long it's been there before i get there. i will choose tomatos with blemishes - provided that are still very firm. marks on skin on citrus fruits don't worry me - but bananas i'm very picky about - and the same with apples/pears and stone fruit. i think it's because i know the blemishes on skin of citrus doesn't impact the quality underneath, but on apples etc, it does. spuds in the shops, i look for the better/unmarked ones - but if i go direct to the spud farm, i'll buy the damaged ones that have recently been picked (and save myself a small fortune)

we grow some of the most warped looking tomatos! blemishes there don't worry me at all - but then, i KNOW how fresh it is.

my SIL used to work fresh produce for one of the two big stores - he comments on how long food sits there kinda made me realise that the "fresh" produce really isn't that fresh - and i got more and more picky...