Many think of the month of October and think of spooky season, pumpkins and apples, cozy fireplaces, and crisp fall air. Did you know that October is also the month of sustainability? The Harvest Pack team uses this time of the year to understand and bring awareness to food sustainability. But what is food sustainability and why does it matter?
Food waste is when edible food is thrown away before actually being eaten as a result of prepared food and leftovers being thrown away, or because food has spoiled while sitting in the fridge waiting to be used. Food loss is when food that is grown to be eaten is tossed before someone can eat it. This can happen because the food spoils while waiting to be bought at the grocery store, or from being stored improperly. Food sustainability is the practice of producing, distributing, and consuming food in a way that meets current needs while not overconsuming the resources needed to do so. Food sustainability is important because it affects every individual, even if the effects are not directly felt by everyone in the same way.
Food sustainability matters because the results of food waste and loss affect us all in harmful ways, even if the effects are not felt directly in some situations. Reducing how much food is being tossed because it’s prepped leftovers or it is spoiled can save money in the long run in both household and restaurant settings. Food waste also contributes to climate change by making up around 10% of total greenhouse gases. Food waste also contributes to families not having access to the food that they need.
Harvest Pack recognizes that food insecurity has a variety of causes including food waste and loss. Outside of packing meals for those in need in as many communities as possible, the Harvest Pack team aims to be as sustainable as possible behind the scenes of our events. Any oats or other ingredients that are spilled during our Harvest Packs are collected and donated to SoulSpace Farm Sanctuary in Richmond, Wisconsin. We also make sure to collect used plastic during our events to recycle them into park decks and benches.
You can make a meaningful difference in the fight against food insecurity by making sustainable choices in your everyday life, such as avoiding overbuying groceries and making the most of leftovers. Another valuable option is to work with companies that are aiming at zero waste like Harvest Pack. By hosting your own Harvest Pack, you can take that impact even further by bringing people together to provide nourishing food for those in need, reduce food waste, and cultivate a stronger, more compassionate community.