Learn
Food recovery is the act of collecting and donating edible food that would otherwise go to waste. The reduction of food waste can be practiced on all levels at restaurants, farms, grocery stores, schools, and even in the home.
Use the resources below to better understand where you can start your waste reduction journey.
Note: These resources are not exhaustive. If you notice important information missing, please let us know. This library of information will continue to grow alongside our coalition.
Alliances and Coalitions
The networks below provide webinars, toolkits, data and more around food recovery in Florida.
Started by 4 students at the University of Maryland in 2011, FRN is now the largest student-led movement dedicated to reducing food wasted and hunger in America.
Working to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water and the wild, and to prevent special interests from undermining public interests, the NRDC utilizes data and science to mobilize members, partners and activists to advocate for laws and policies that protect the environment and future.
A sustainability resource for individuals, associations, corporations, event planners and event venues in Florida and the Caribbean, SENFC educates on food rescue, materials re-purposing, energy and water conservation, education, CSR and sustainability best practices.
The Florida Food Policy Council creates opportunities to collaborate, celebrate, and advance equitable food policies to improve quality of life.
2024 Events
Florida events that focus on zero waste, food recovery and sustainability.
Presentation 2024 Be a Food Waste Hero, Florida.pdfFood Waste Prevention Week takes place each year and to educate and inspire real cultural change around food waste in order to help families save money, reduce the negative impact of food waste on the environment, and address hunger in our communities.
Find the 2024 webinar recordings here.
Guidelines & Toolkits
These valuable resources promote and advise food recovery in Florida through guides and toolkits.
Working with farmers and schools on food recovery initiatives, FDACS Food Recovery Program aims to promote the reduction of food waste.
This comprehensive food resource list categorized by county and state level, advises individuals on best food waste reduction practices and local resources.
A recovery initiative that works in partnership with farmers and packers throughout the state to rescue and distribute wholesome and cosmetically blemished produce that can help to ease this burden.
FLPC_Waste_Reduction_Tool_Kit_v6 (1).pdfFood-Rescue-Hero-Startup-Guide.pdfSodexo_Food_Recovery_Donation_Guide.pdfCommercial Food Donation Guide May 2021.pdfFor Youth
Educational materials for youth to learn about food waste and how it affects the environment and their community.
Florida_Student_Food_Access_Toolkit.pdffood-recovery-for-schools.pdf
K-12 lessons, activities, and resources to teach the planetary impact of what we eat and what we throw away.
The Food Matters Action Kit contains over 70 activities to engage youth in preventing food waste. Activities can be done individually or in a series, in any order that suits learning themes for your class or organization. There are two sets of activities: for kids (ages 5-13) and youth (ages 14-25) organized together by theme. Many activities are relevant for either age group, so feel free to explore them all!
Data Collection Projects & Regulations
Dig into regulations and projects that showcase liability protection, environmental impact and how to measure food waste.
Through leveraging data and Insights, catalyzing capital and innovation, and mobilizing businesses and people, ReFED aims to create meaningful impact focused on food waste.
FORCE is a framework to promote organics recycling and research in an effort to streamline compost processing, research, demonstration, marketing, and education across the state of Florida. The FORCE website is a clearinghouse of information available for use by Florida’s organics recycling sectors:
1. Feedstock Generators
2. Collectors/Haulers
3. Processing Facilities
4. End-user Markets
This guide will walk you through seven steps for measuring food loss and waste (FLW) within your business, institution or organization. Use our checklist to track your progress and easily access the most appropriate section.
The revised guide implements findings from focused testing with a diverse set of businesses and organizations across North America.
Harvard-Law-Bill-Emerson-Good-Samaritan-Act.pdf
This legal section was intended to help freedge hosts if they encounter legal obstacles, not as a checklist for future freedges. We believe a favorable legal environment is not a prerequisite to start a community fridge, and freedges are great tools to help shape those laws. Therefore we encourage people to start their fridge first and deal with authorities later.
Videos
Understand how Florida is reducing hunger and food waste through these videos created by coalition partners.
Maps
Interactive map from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as their Food Donation Basics page
The U.S. EPA Excess Food Opportunities Map supports nationwide diversion of excess food from landfills. The interactive map identifies and displays facility-specific information about potential generators and recipients of excess food in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors and also provides estimates of excess food by generator type.
Sustainable Management of Food also created a useful page on Food Donation Basics.
Graphics & Posters
Looking for graphics to use at your school, workplace, kitchen or other setting? We got you covered.
FoodRecovery.org_ RECIPIENT One-Pager.pdfFoodRecovery.org_Donor One-Pager.pdfFood Safety Transport Guidelines.pdf