LOCALadk Magazine

53 Summer 2016 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk The cover of National Geographic's March 2016 issue depicted a collage of vegetables, each with a cosmetic defect: a twisted carrot, an oddly-shaped sweet potato, curved peppers, and a double-lobed tomato. These veggies reminded me of some of the produce that Green Goddess sources from local suppliers. The title of the feature article read, "Waste not, Want not", and the 21 pages that followed were filled with eye-opening statistics on the global issues of food waste and food security. The article highlighted the need for awareness of population growth and the depletion of natural resources. Its effect on me was profound, and I immediately took action to find ways for Green Goddess to educate our customers about reducing their food waste. Green Goddess recognizes its role as a community leader in the discipline of sustainability. Less attractive produce is put on sale, and that which doesn't sell is made into hot soups and fresh juices for the deli and cafe. Food scraps are composted or given to local homesteaders for their pigs and chickens. So here I am, taking space in this issue of LOCALadk to stand on my soap box and reach out to each of you, hoping to make a small but significant impact on improving your awareness of food waste and its impact on the earth's health. SUMMER RECIPE By Wynde Kate Reese & Tammy Loewy Photos by Jessica Chevalier *Did you know… 53% of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. are lost or wasted prior to consumption. The U.S. wastes 30-40% of its food, while one in seven people suffers from food insecurity. Every year, 6 billion pounds of U.S. fruits and veggies go unhar- vested or unsold, often for aesthetic reasons. Across the globe, 2.9 trillion pounds of food annually never get consumed- that's almost 1/3 of all that the world produces! Nearly 800 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. We squander enough food to feed every one of them twice over. As summer unfolds and fresh, local produce abounds, here's what YOU can do… Purchase imperfect produce Shop at stores like Green Goddess that offer discounts on im- perfect produce Use what you buy Store your produce well Buy less more frequently Eat leftovers Use smaller dishes to control portions Make meals out of produce scraps like the ones in this article Compost what you don't eat ...spread the word... * Royte, Elizabeth. "Waste Not, Want Not." National Geographic Mar. 2016 pages 34 -55

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