Dive summary:
- A food waste prevention program, Farm to Family, in Fresno, Calif. is gaining increasing popularity with California farmers who want to keep their crops out of the landfill and help the expanding Fresno population who can’t afford fresh fruits and vegetables.
- The group has been on a steady incline of participation, last year the collective collected 127 million pounds of produce, this year it expects to bring in 140 million pounds.
- A study conducted by the National Resources Defense Council found that food waste in farming can be between 1% and 30%, depending on the type of crop.
From the article:
"We have become the major source of produce for the people we serve," Souza said.
Because of that, Souza has stepped up efforts to reach out to farmers about donating some of their regular and unmarketable produce.
The work has paid off. Souza saw donations to the food bank go up 80% in July and August.
"We have made a conscious effort to reach out to the local farming community," Souza said. "Because if we are going to make a difference for the clients we serve, produce has to be a big part of it." ..
