|
The second week of the Stop Food Waste Challenge will focus on shopping. Today, we're discussing choices you can make to lower your "foodprint" - or the impact your food has throughout its life cycle. Growing, storing, and transporting food uses resources that contribute to its “foodprint.” For example, wasting one pound of white rice is like taking a 60-minute shower because of the water that went into making it.
Buy local
Purchase food grown close by to support local food systems and reduce the impact from transportation. Fruits and vegetables that have traveled fewer miles will stay fresher longer, too.
Shop at a farmers market for just-picked produce, look for local companies at your grocery store, or take an extra step by planting your own garden. Try out herbs or other foods you can grow inside over the winter or start planning your garden now for next year!
Find local produce near you using the Minnesota Grown Directory.
|
Produce that doesn’t meet our grocery ideals can end up in the trash. To help fight these perfection standards, choose fruits and vegetables that are oddly shaped or slightly bruised.
Since many people avoid them, choosing imperfect produce can help ensure more of the food in the store gets eaten. There are even grocery delivery options for ugly foods.
Learn more about giving love to ugly produce. You can get boxes of nutritious but oddly shaped foods delivered to your doorstep through Misfit Market.
|
To lower your "foodprint," choose these actions in the shopping category:
- Buy from a farmers market
- Source local foods
- Support imperfection
This week, August 6 through 12, is National Farmers Market Week! Celebrate by joining Stop Food Waste Challenge partner Lake Elmo Farmers Market for two short presentations during their market day.
 Photo credit: Lake Elmo Farmers Market
Farmers Market information sessions
Saturday, August 12 (market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Lake Elmo Farmers Market at Lake Elmo Elementary, 11030 Stillwater Boulevard, Lake Elmo
At 10 a.m., Vicki of Old Village Artisans will share the process of canning spicy peppers and making cucumber relish.
At 10:30 a.m., Melissa of Melissa’s Sassy Salsa will share about making refrigerator salsa and how to can the salsa to preserve it for a longer.
Each session will be followed by a raffle giveaway of the item(s) being demonstrated. Customers are welcome to come for the sessions and stick around to celebrate National Farmers Market Week and use the opportunity to buy local (another Stop Food Waste action!).
|
Stop Food Waste Challenge tips
Make the most of your Stop Food Waste Challenge experience by using these tips for interacting on the challenge website:
- Check out your team dashboard! Get there from your dashboard or from the list of teams. You can see the impact your team is making, what team members are saying on the feed, a list of all your team members, and even challenge another team to a competition.
- Scan the general feed to see comments, questions, and reflections that others have posted.
- You can still invite your friends and family to the challenge. We have graphics to share on social media to help spread the word.
Lake Elmo Farmers Market
Here’s what Stop Food Waste Challenge partner Lake Elmo Farmers Market had to say about why they care about preventing food waste:
"We are interested in becoming a partner in the Stop Food Waste Challenge to help encourage our community and to bring them information that they can put into use in their daily lives."
Market in the Valley – Golden Valley Farmers Market
Here’s what Stop Food Waste Challenge partner Market in the Valley had to say about why they care about preventing food waste:
"It is part of the mission of Market in the Valley to become more sustainable and to promote environmentally friendly lifestyles."
Wednesday, August 2: Get to know what you throw
Friday, August 4: Meal planning to waste less and save more
Monday, August 7: Keeping track of the food you buy
|
