According to Project Bread’s 2016 status report, nearly 10 percent of Massachusetts families, or more than 266,000 households, experience food insecurity. The staggering amount of edible food that is thrown away daily is a lost opportunity to combat chronic hunger. The PBS NewsHour recently reported on the food donation program at Harvard University, where student volunteers are…
Earlier this month, the US Environmental Protection Agency recognized three Massachusetts entities with 2018 Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) awards. Food Recovery Challenge participants pledge to prevent and divert wasted food in their operations, and receive recognition for their achievements. The 2018 FRC National Award Winners include Green Schools Andover, an education and outreach program for…
The US EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy ranks source reduction as the top priority for reducing the amount of food sent to landfills. Businesses and institutions with buffet service often face significant challenges in preventing food waste at the source. The struggle to meet demand and ensure buffets appear fully stocked often results in overproduction, and…
Supply Chain Dive recently reported on advancements in technologies that are addressing food inventory management challenges across the supply chain. The following innovations are transforming how food businesses mitigate food waste, extend product shelf life, and more effectively transport food to consumers. The examples presented here are representative of the technologies currently available in the…
Mitigating food waste is a complex problem for food distributors, often the result of inconsistencies in forecasting demand and uncontrollable system breakdowns. As described by Spoiler Alert, the management of food waste in food distribution facilities can typically be improved by incorporating four key operational strategies. Each of the following practical solutions will help distributors,…
Waste360 recently reported on several startup companies helping businesses reduce food waste in innovative ways, utilizing technology to make it easier for food waste generators to order inventory more accurately, measure and track their food waste, and identify opportunities to sell oversupplied food at a discount. Each of the following featured startups has built a…
The Boston Globe recently reported on the efforts of the Mi-Amore, a Winthrop-based food rescue organization that delivers donated food to needy members of the community. Mi-Amore was founded in 2015 by a local husband and wife team who have first-hand experience growing up in a household that is reliant on food assistance. The volunteer-driven…
The Daily Item recently reported on actions being taken by Massachusetts businesses, institutions, and charitable organizations to reduce food waste in their communities. In many cases, these entities are working together to find synergies in reducing the amount of waste they produce, donating excess food, or diverting food scraps to other uses such as composting.…
MassLive recently reported on Boston-based food rescue organization Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ plan to expand operations to Western Massachusetts. The organization is currently raising funds and building partnerships with area organizations in order to facilitate expansion to the greater Springfield area, which has one of the highest rates of child food insecurity in the state. Lovin’ Spoonfuls…
EcoRI News recently described Stop & Shop’s efforts to minimize waste in its operations. The Quincy-based company is leading the way for other supermarket chains, utilizing recycling, food donation, and anaerobic digestion initiatives to reduce waste. Each day, delivery trucks transport grocery products to more than 200 Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and…
