Food waste is a significant problem all year around. An average American family of four wastes more than $2,200 worth of food each year, says Jonathan Bloom, a North Carolina-based food-waste expert. In his new book, "American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (and What We Can Do About It)," Bloom describes environmental and social impacts from food waste, including the resources used to transport and dispose of it and the constant need for food at food banks. Food makes up about 18 percent of the residential waste going into King County's Cedar Hills Landfill. Wasted food from restaurants, supermarkets and farms also contributes to the overall problem referred to in Bloom's title. During the holidays, we generate three times as much food waste as normal, according to Timothy Jones, a former University of Arizona anthropology researcher who has studied food waste since the 1990s.
See that Seattle Times piece here. The Boston Globe also wrote of the author and his book:
From a young age, Jonathan Bloom was taught to respect food. His family valued the nightly ritual of eating dinner together, he said, and always worked good restaurants into vacations. “I’ve always been interested in food as something to be enjoyed, but also to be treasured as a bit of a special commodity,’’ said Bloom, a journalist who has contributed to the Globe’s food and travel sections. In his new book, “American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food (And What We Can Do About It),’’ Bloom identifies some large-scale culprits, such as all-you-can-eat buffets and farmers who intentionally plow under crops that can’t make a profit. But he also notes how much food the average American household tosses out. “The overarching thing is to not take food for granted,’’ said Bloom, adding that wise shopping and a reasonable disregard for sell-by dates can easily reduce everyday waste.See that Globe piece here.
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