Tag Archives: Jonathan Bloom

Encouraging Signs

I’m back at Bucknell University for the third of four week-long stints as an expert-in-residence. I’ll be guest lecturing in a variety of classes, leading a zero waste dinner and facilitating a waste weigh. I always relish the chance to discuss food waste with young folks–be it through giving talks, teaching or other. But perhaps […]

April 8, 2013 | Posted in College, Personal | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

The NRDC’s Switchboard blog provides a thought-provoking view on the latest thinking from British businesses on how to reduce food waste. And it all starts with a different mindset: that reducing food waste can yield increased revenue. — — On the topic of helping with the bottom line, free food waste reduction seminars would certainly […]

April 5, 2013 | Posted in College, Friday Buffet, International | Comments closed

Infographic: Food Waste to Fuel

While there’s plenty of interest in composting, there’s less activity around creating fuel from food waste. That’s largely because food waste-to-energy operations require higher investment at first. Yet in the long term, creating energy from our excess may be more environmentally beneficial according to the EPA (under “industrial uses”). On that topic, RWL Water Group […]

April 3, 2013 | Posted in Composting, Energy | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Love this idea: a Love Your Leftovers site from the UN Environmental Programme. Add your favorite leftovers recipe to the site and you might win a prize and/or become web-famous. — — The Iowa Senate passed an interesting bill on Wednesday that would require the state to promote food waste reduction and recovery. The Des […]

March 29, 2013 | Posted in Composting, Friday Buffet, International, Leftovers | Comments closed

Food Packaging: Lesser of Two Evils

With food packaging, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Too much, and you’re using unnecessary materials. Too little and you’re risking damaged food in transit and elsewhere. I suppose the ideal is going uber-local and bringing your own reusable containers like at Austin’s in.gredients (check out their incredible 6-month sustainability numbers). But until that sweeps […]

March 13, 2013 | Posted in Energy, Environment, International, Storage | Comments closed

Oddities: Orange Italy

As you might guess, I’m a fan of odd-shaped produce. I’m drawn to ugly fruits and veggies that have more character than perfection. I like to give them a home, because too often they end up being wasted. Besides, it’s taste, not appearance, that matters most. I usually end up with these items at the farmers’ market […]

March 11, 2013 | Posted in Alphabet Produce, Household, Supermarket | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

During a recent panel on food waste, the California Board of Food and Agriculture announced a goal to double the amount of produce donated to the California Association of Food Banks’ Farm to Family program by 2015. That’s exciting because it will mean more nutritious foods going to those in need. And wasted food takes on added significance in California, given […]

March 8, 2013 | Posted in College, Farm, Food Recovery, International, Leftovers | Comments closed

Hunger’s Place in the National Consciousness

Arriving just in time to raise the profile of hunger in America, the documentary A Place At the Table is now out in theaters and, in some cable systems, on demand. Please see it! In addition to the film, it’s a campaign. The main site for A Place at the Table links to a related book, news […]

March 7, 2013 | Posted in Hunger | Comments closed

Harvesting Hope

There are many valiant gleaning initiatives in the U.S., but I haven’t seen any that also count integrating refugees into American life as part of their mission. Except, that is, the Iskashitaa Refugee Network. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit with the Tucson, Ariz., operation and was impressed with their range of programs […]

March 5, 2013 | Posted in Food Recovery, Tree Gleaning | Comments closed

Want Something Wonky?

This week we learned that more than 80 percent of Britons are willing to buy produce of imperfect shape or color. At least that’s what they said when asked that in a poll conducted by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Note–they weren’t asked about fruits and vegetables with blemishes or bruises, but just the so-called “ugly” fruits […]

February 28, 2013 | Posted in International, Supermarket | Comments closed