Category Archives: History and Culture

Skin-deep Waste II

Yesterday we talked about how the desire for flawless produce leads to much waste. Pushing the issue further, who’s to blame for this desire? While Wayne Roberts’ article impugned food magazines, I’d also blame most supermarkets, especially Whole Foods. Most retailers make a point of having bountiful, beautiful displays. Doing so means throwing out imperfect, nonuniform produce. […]

September 6, 2007 | Also posted in Supermarket | Comments closed

Skin-deep Waste

Wayne Roberts, a Toronto journalist and occasional farmer has written a fascinating article in the current issue of Canadian publication NOW on how glossy magazines instill a desire for perfect looking produce. This causes unrealistic expecatations, and ultimately, waste. …most of the food we toss, perhaps one-fifth of the harvest, is wasted simply because it disappoints visual […]

September 5, 2007 | Also posted in Food Recovery, Supermarket | Comments closed

File under: They don’t make ‘em like they used to

I just read this nice tribute to Clayton Taub, a real mensch who was essentially a one-man food recovery operation. The column describes Taub as having “an intolerance for waste and a passion for helping others.” Is it just me, or are there fewer and fewer folks in America’s younger generations who fit that first description? Your thoughts, […]

August 29, 2007 | Also posted in Food Recovery | Comments closed

Should Bread be Repurposed?

Kottke.org brings the bread menu holder to our attention. Le Pain Quotidien, a Belgian chain with franchises in N.Y. and L.A, uses bread with slices to store menus. “Cool idea” is the prevailing sentiment in the commentary below Jason Kottke’s photo of the menu holder on flickr. I have to disagree. While it’s by no means the most flagrant wasting I’ve seen, it sets […]

August 23, 2007 | Also posted in Restaurant | Comments closed

Waste not welcome

This piece provides a little culinary exploration into the origins of traditional African American foods and a bit of watermelon history. In it, there’s a nice nugget about thrift: Nothing was ever wasted in the African American kitchen. Leftover fish became croquettes (by adding an egg, cornmeal or flour, seasonings and breaded then deep-fried). Stale bread […]

August 3, 2007 | Also posted in Household | Comments closed

Eating Disorders and Waste

I imagined writing a breezy, Friday-friendly post, but this entry on eating disorders sparked my interest. Karen Koenig, an expert in the psychology of eating, writes that people can’t change their unhealthy eating practices without first changing their underlying beliefs about food/body/weight. (I have a similar belief that people won’t stop wasting food until they change their attitude about […]

July 27, 2007 | Posted in History and Culture | Comments closed

Waste of Wieners?

Is this a waste of food, an American tradition or both?   Also, is it ridiculous to equate beating Japanese competitive eater Kobayashi, the 5-time Nathan’s hot dog champion, with patriotism? In the leadup to the 4th of July competition, the American challenger in the contest took that line: “I’m going to push harder on our Independence […]

July 4, 2007 | Also posted in Events | Comments closed

5,4,3,2…

Here’s a little light weekend reading. It’s not brand new, but a recent scientific study has ramifications on food waste.  Also, here’s an older study of that oh-so-vaunted law of food hygiene, the five-second rule. If this traditional theory is discredited, will more food be wasted?

June 16, 2007 | Also posted in Food Recovery | Comments closed

Ugly Food

Don’t judge a book by its cover. Beauty is only skin deep. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. With the summer/local produce season upon us, I wanted to remind you that those expressions apply to produce as well as people. Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon, the folks who wrote the book behind the 100 Mile Diet, address this […]

June 8, 2007 | Also posted in Farm, Supermarket | Comments closed

Are You Hungry?

Today is National Hunger Awareness Day. Do you and your family struggle to find enough food? If not, maybe you should help the 10 percent of Americans who do. To find out what hunger awareness events are happening in your state, America’s Second Harvest created this handy tool. Some of the options are pretty painless, such as eating […]

June 5, 2007 | Also posted in Food Recovery | Comments closed