Is Consuming Ugly Produce the Solution to Food Waste?
This past week my science class began discussing food waste. Our parents have always told us about it. But is throwing away food really that big of a problem? After learning more about the food industry, food waste is a huge problem. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, the US annually throws out about 35% of the food supply. That’s more than 133 billion pounds of food. Food waste is the largest contributor in municipal landfills. Additionally, landfills are usually enclosed and use anaerobic bacteria to decompose fruits and vegetables. This process can take months, even years, to break down, and methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is produced. So what can be done to decrease food waste? One way consumers can help is by eating misshaped, unconventionally pretty produce that doesn’t make it to the grocery store.
During these past few years, there has been a rise in companies that sell ‘ugly’ produce. Conceived in 2015, Imperfect Foods became a consumer favorite with thousands subscribing to their weekly produce boxes. Majority of these companies use a subscription type of system to allow customers produce and delivery options. But with every solution, there are pros and cons. The main pros being that it is environmentally more efficient by not wasting food. These companies are also a good solution for consumers that may not have easy access…
