Ace the Waste

Ace the Waste

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett
Food waste is a huge problem in the US. We are throwing away up to 40 percent of our food according to the USDA. It makes up the single largest type of waste in landfills.

The USDA's Kailee Tkacz, says the agency has been drawing attention to the problem and many companies are changing their habits and investing in new professional practices.

Colorado's FoodMaven is seeing success as a for-profit company with a mission to eliminate food waste, generate revenue for local farmers and ranchers, and feed the hungry.

The Colorado Springs based FoodMaven partners with a handful of local farmers and ranchers , plus some grocery companies which provide food that they wouldn't have used otherwise. FoodMaven sells it to restaurants via an online marketplace at a discounted price. The food it can't sell is donated to food banks and the like.

FoodMaven recently expanded to Dallas and intends to open up programs in six more cities in 2019.

The USDA Kailee Tkacz, says they want more ideas that work and it wants to hear from young people up to 18 years. The agency has a contest underway called Ace the Waste in which students can submit written proposals or videos on their ideas to reduce food waste.

The deadline for proposals is Friday, May 24th. Students can Google "USDA Ace the Waste" for information

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