As I’ve often mentioned, cheap food is a major cause for food waste. For the past few years it has hovered at about 10 percent of household spending.
But, at a recent brown bag lunch, Portland food and waste thinkers informed me that the cost had dipped even further. It’s now 6.9 percent! That’s based on a Nielson report using USDA data.
That cheapness has a real impact–we don’t tend to value that which is inexpensive. And by most any definition, something that’s 7 percent of our budget is cheap. And each individual item is only a fraction of that percentage, providing little economic incentive not to waste.
And so…waste we do!
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I was just saying this very thing the other day when I was on the phone with one of the ladies from Expendable Edibles…we don’t value our food because it hasn’t cost us much money.
I notice this in my own life…when I have grass-fed local beef in my house, I make darn sure that I don’t let any of it go to waste! I mean, I try with all of my food, but when it’s food I value highly, my care goes up to a whole ‘nother level.
So true! I’m the same way. There’s just more incentive with expensive foods and meat or seafood.
If food that is paid for is being wasted without a thought, consider how much is wasted through free school meals and food stamp “purchases” which is the ultimate in easy-come; easy-go.
Great post, keeping an eye on wasting all the time! Just found this interesting spending overview…http://www.rustylime.com/show_article.php?id=1497
I was wondering, if I sited your website, could I use the above photo as the lead in for our Coalition’s Newsletter? We are a Coalition of agencies, food pantries, business, congregations, and individuals who seek to reduce hunger in our county. We participate in food rescue efforts, and I am always looking for food related photos to make our newsletters more interesting. I posted a link to your website on our facebook page, but I think putting a link in our newsletter might push some traffic your way as well.
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