According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 30-40% of all food grown or produced ends up wasted. Food in the landfill produces methane, a greenhouse gas negatively impacting the environment. In addition to waste, food insecurity is also an issue. Data from Feeding America shows more than 700,000 Kentuckians experience hunger regularly.
This disparity between food waste and insecurity inspired Elizabeth Hellmann, a 2023-2024 Recycling intern, to develop the Everybody Eats survey. As a continuation of her project, Elizabeth compiled the following list of resources related to food waste reduction efforts, strategies, and benefits.
Kroger Field, Kentucky Proud Park, Champions Kitchen, Fresh Food Company, and all retail dining locations on campus contribute to composting at UK by collecting food waste. Greg Page, Shawneetown, and the University Flats offer the Wildcat Composting Program.
Over 100,000 pounds of food have been recovered from Lexington grocery stores and restaurants by Campus Kitchen. This organization uses food bound for the landfill to prepare meals for the local community.
Big Blue Pantry is an on-campus food pantry helping students meet basic food security needs.
To learn more about successful methods and preparing and storing food for maximum freshness, check out this meal prep guide from Harvard’s School of Public Health.
Sometimes the dates on packages are misinterpreted, resulting in perfectly good food getting thrown away. To learn about the different terminology used for labeling food, check out this guide from the UConn Extension Office.
Eating seasonally means the food is sourced nearby and fresher! To find out when your favorite fruits and vegetables are in season (as well as tips on how to properly store them), visit the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Seasonal Produce Guide.
Another great way to eat seasonally is by participating in Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). These programs allow eaters to subscribe and receive fresh, local produce on a weekly basis. To find a Kentucky CSA near you, check out this map.