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How Three Businesses Are Fighting Food Waste

Meghan French Dunbar October 4, 2015

MM LOCAL

One of the primary reasons food is wasted is because people purchase more than they need and the food expires before they can consume it. Enter MM Local. The Colorado-based company cans organic produce from local farms at the height of ripeness so consumers can enjoy local produce without worrying about it expiring.

FOPO FOOD POWDER

A team of international graduate students combined forces to develop this innovative powder that tackles food waste and world hunger. The company collects nearly expired produce from local markets and spray dries the food to create a nutrient dense powder with a shelf life of two years. The powder, which can be sprinkled onto food items like yogurt, smoothies, or cereal, retains anywhere from 30 to 80 percent of its original nutritional value. The company has already contracted with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Philippine government to pilot its first run, partnering with local farmers to collect food that would otherwise be wasted. Once officially launched, the powder will be available for retail purchase as well as available for humanitarian efforts at a lower cost.

DAILY TABLE

In June 2015, Doug Rauch, former President of Trader Joe’s, opened Daily Table in Dorchester, Massachusetts. The nonprofit retail store partners with growers, grocery stores, and food companies to collect excess food that is past its prime (based on the arbitrary “sell-by” date that is placed on many food items) that can then be purchased at Daily Table at a deeply discounted price. The company also prepares ready-to-go, healthy meals with price points that compete with fast-food restaurants. With plans to expand to multiple locations, this new model is providing fresh, healthy food to lower-income individuals while simultaneously reducing food waste.

Climate Action / Stakeholder Capitalism
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