Tag Archives: Jonathan Bloom

China Hates Waste?

It’s never a bad thing when the world’s most populous country turns its gaze to food waste. And China is doing just that, thanks to Xi Jinping, the new Communist Party chief and the presumed next President. Xi prompted this newfound attention with a few words in response to an article on China’s rampant food waste. As […]

February 22, 2013 | Posted in History and Culture, International | Comments closed

Fine with a Fine?

In American Wasteland, I wrote about a buffet in London that charges a fee for food left uneaten and donates the proceeds to Oxfam. This editorial advocating that buffet restaurants fine patrons for uneaten food caught my eye. The idea stemmed from a seafood restaurant in Sapporo that is pretty particular about how customers eat […]

February 20, 2013 | Posted in Restaurant, Unfinished Food Charge | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

While there has long been composting activity in NYC, the Bloomberg Administration is launching a pilot program to try it on the municipal level. The pilot program will be on Staten Island, home to the massive (and closed) Fresh Kills Landfill. Let’s hope the program succeeds despite State Island Borough President’s pessimism: “I think most people […]

February 15, 2013 | Posted in Composting, Environment, Farm, Food Recovery | Comments closed

Borderlands Bienvenue

I’m in Arizona now, for a class visit and book reading at the University of Arizona, where I learned about this neat community food recovery venture. But, excitingly, this trip is also an opportunity to do some research. Thanks to the assistance of the inimitable Gary Nabhan, I will finally get to the Mexican border […]

February 12, 2013 | Posted in Personal | Comments closed

Estonia Brainstorm: Just Did It

I spent a few days last week with about 50 other sustainability thinkers and doers on snowy, secluded Muhu Island in Estonia. We were there as part of the Clean World Brainstorm, an offshoot of the Let’s Do It! organization. Why Estonia? Because that’s the home of Let’s Do It!, which got its start by […]

February 4, 2013 | Posted in Environment, Personal, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Visiting Food Bank Estonia

I am currently in Estonia for the Clean World Brainstorm organized by Let’s Do It! I’m honored to be one of 50 or so waste thinkers from around the globe here to brainstorm about how to reduce waste and clean up the planet. I’ll report back on our progress in a few days. Yesterday, though, […]

January 30, 2013 | Posted in Food Recovery, International | Comments closed

Getting Grocery Rite

This week, while at the Sustainable Foods Summit in San Francisco, I learned more about what the largest supermarket chains and food manufacturers are doing to reduce food waste through the FMI/GMA Food Waste Reduction Alliance. As you can see from this page and their slides (download), the initiative is encouraging and ongoing. On the other […]

January 25, 2013 | Posted in Composting, Repurposing, Supermarket | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Interesting that this Deseret News article focused, at least at the start, on the ugly food/cosmetics facet of food waste. — — Funny, this Voice of America segment on food waste doesn’t exactly sound like the voice of America. But it’s a nice video review of the recent IME report — — Speaking of the […]

January 18, 2013 | Posted in Friday Buffet | Comments closed

Austin’s Año Against Food Waste

Late in December, the Austin City Council declared 2013 the Year of Food Waste Prevention and Recovery in Austin, Texas. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it’s encouraging and important because: Whereas, America wastes 40 percent of its food; and Whereas wasted food has negative environmental impact and represents a lost opportunity to […]

January 16, 2013 | Posted in Food Recovery, Legislation | Comments closed

A Cucumber’s Tale

This Wall Street Journal video provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the journey to bring Indian produce from farms to consumers. In making this vicarious trip along the supply chain, we glimpse some less-than-ideal handling practices. From unrefrigerated (and often uncovered) transport to bumpy roads to poor storage, the video illustrates the differences between the food […]

January 14, 2013 | Posted in International, Storage | Comments closed