BY MICHELE MILLER
What’s What New Port Richey
June 2021
“Although not new, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many areas of concern with our current food system and reminded us of the importance of continuing our collective work to create a more equitable, resilient, local food system in Pasco County.
It is heartbreaking to think about people going hungry when there is so much food entering our waste system. Giving farmers and businesses an easy way to connect to non-profit agencies that distribute food to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity is a huge benefit of this program.
Changing our food waste behaviors and reducing food insecurity has the potential to impact our environmental and economic health and improve the overall well-being of the community.”
Patty Jackson, long-time resident of Pasco County and member of the Pasco Food Policy Advisory Council.
Waste not, want not. Maybe the answer to world hunger is that simple. You have to start somewhere. Why not here?
We are a disposable lot. According to FeedingAmerica.org, we the people throw away about 108 billion pounds of food – nearly 40% of all food – each year. From farmers to food producers and distributors, and to the molded left-overs and the too-far-gone take-out meals we toss from our home kitchen refrigerators, we all have hand a hand in it.
And if you want to know how exactly we contribute to food waste, take a gander at these USDA Food Waste Facts.
How and where to turn the hunger tide can start right where we are – if we can connect the dots. Maybe we can create a food waste supply chain of sorts that feeds the people in one way or another – whether it be at the local soup kitchen, food distribution site, or as compost fertilizer at a local farm or in the community garden.
Enter Waste No Food Tampa Bay, an online mobile marketplace that connects the foodservice industry to qualified charities that work with the needy. The effort was launched in 2015 by the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger in partnership with Waste No Food, a non-profit organization founded in San Francisco, CA.
After a delay due to the pandemic, the Waste No Food App program recently expanded into Pasco County in partnership with the Pasco County Food Advisory Council.
Anna Chavez, Project Coordinator for the Regenerative Community Food System for the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger, has been all over social media and out and about promoting the app to local restaurants, service organizations, and local farms.
She is scheduled to speak at the Sustainability Reading Club – Summer Series on June 24, held in conjunction with Pasco Hernando State College, the New Port Richey Public Library, and Pasco and Hernando Public Libraries. Chavez will also speak at the membership meeting for the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger in June.
The app is similar to Facebook Market Place in that the concept is easy to use for businesses and individuals wanting to sign up, Chavez said, adding that there is support available from the Network’s team to help walk new members through the process.
As of this interview, one local farmer and a couple of restaurants and charities had signed on, but more recruits are needed.
“At the moment, our main goal is to promote community involvement and engagement and let them know about this great opportunity to become more sustainable through this community food-based system,” she said. “The app is a wonderful way for community members to be involved and connect. Members who are interested in creating a regenerative food system.”
When it came to food not suitable for human consumption, Waste No Food Tampa Bay introduced the concept of allowing businesses, farms and restaurants to post food scraps available for composting within the application.
Local farms or individuals were able to claim food scraps for compost. Free buckets and lids for scrap collection were available upon request, Chavez said.
“And as a bonus, donors can have the satisfaction of knowing that, instead of throwing out perfectly good food and paying for that disposal, they are providing quality food to hungry people, animal feed, or compost,” she said. “In addition, individuals can also sign up and collect donated food scraps for composting. Our goal is to promote community involvement while creating a more sustainable community.”
HOW IT WORKS
- Waste No Food Tampa Bay is an expansion of Waste No Food, an app-based program that has been proven successful in the San Francisco Bay Area and in other locations. They have served over one million meals, consisting entirely of donated excess food. Their partners include Levi’s Stadium, the City of San Jose’s Mayor’s Office, PayPal, and the San Francisco 49ers. The mobile app platform is fully scalable and they have offered it to the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger at no cost and with full technological support.
- Participants download a free web and/or mobile app that allow farms, restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, and grocery stores to post excess food in real-time. NOTE: The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act protects donors from being liable for the quality of the food.
- Qualified local charities and nonprofit organizations can see what is available near them and claim the food online or on the app, then arrange transportation and food handling with the donor.
- The type and quantity of donated food vary. Sometimes, donations include canned goods, bread, sandwich platters, or individually boxed meals leftover from a catered event.
- Individuals can also sign up and collect donated food scraps for composting.
- The app tracks each donation to facilitate tax deductions for businesses.
- Who can receive donations: Any charity that is a registered 501(c)3 or any individual or business (ie. farms, community gardens) with a compost pile or animal that eats plant-based food scraps.
- Who can donate: Any business in the food services industry that has excess food or makes food scraps
LINKS!
- For General Information on the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger click here.
- For information on becoming a donor of food scraps/food surplus, click here.
- For information on creating a regenerative food system, click here.
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