Food Waste Prevention Week 2024
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services held its first Food Recovery Challenge, where schools across the state shared their commitment to reducing waste in their cafeteria. In the 2023-2024 school year, 3,777 schools participating in the National School Lunch Program are implementing food waste reduction practices in Florida. There are more than 625 Compartir Tablas and 72 food waste audits were reported. This year, 45 compost systems were started/maintained in schools and to encourage the usage of food scraps we are giving away three compost systems to schools across the state.
This year for Food Waste Prevention Week, we are pledging as a state to reduce food waste in our schools. Join us this week, April 1-7, and take the first step of reducing food waste.
How can you make a difference?
The following activities are used across the state in hopes to divert, recover and reduce food waste in our schools. For more information, please contact Bela Delgado at [email protected].
Compartir Mesas es una manera fácil y eficiente de reducir el desperdicio de alimentos en los programas de servicio de alimentos escolares K-12 y fomentar la preservación de alimentos de los estudiantes.
Share Tables are designed areas within schools where students can place or return whole or unopened food and drinks that they don’t want. Typically, children who may want additional food are welcome to enjoy the donated items during or after the meal service at no cost. It’s important to remember that Share Tables come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s many ways to start.
Why compost? Composting if the process of turning organic materials into a rich soil amendment to use on plants.
Food is the largest type of waste sent to landfills and can be harmful to our natural resources. By using your food waste to create a nutrient-dense soil, you can help the environment.
El Departamento de Agricultura de Florida, en asociación con organizaciones de recolección, se encarga de la logística de la programación de excursiones de recolección para las escuelas de toda la Florida.
Los estudiantes voluntarios pueden visitar las granjas y recoger productos del campo o recoger productos cosechados que ya no son viables para la comercialización. Los productos se distribuyen para pruebas de sabor y donaciones.
A través de excursiones de recolección, los estudiantes desarrollarán un mayor respeto y comprensión de los alimentos.