Here in Portland, it’s all about New Seasons Market (and coffee and bikes and beer). The nine-store chain is like a hometown Whole Foods with a heart. Reasonable, friendly and local.
Add non-wasteful to that list. A little birdie told me that one of the New Season’s Portland (Seven Corners) stores leaves out some of its food that is edible, but not sellable for folks to scrounge. Needless to say, I had to check this out.
I’ve been twice now and have seen the same both times–a box of slightly tarnished produce. I have no idea how long the box has sat outside, but each time there have been apples with just a superficial blemish, carrots, tomatoes, etc. The store is essentially donating food to the homeless and/or freegans without making them “dive” into the dumpster.
I spoke with an employee who told me that the practice is above board, not the act of a few well-minded employees. He also said they put out a lot of bread, but either it gets snapped up fast, I’ve come at the wrong time for bread or both. I’ll need to do a little more question-asking, but, from what I’ve seen, it’s a neat practice.
Here’s where I should say something about the lovely pineapple pictured. Since I love the fruit, I couldn’t resist taking home one of the four whole pineapples sitting outside in the store’s culled produce bin tonight. A store employee was doing the same while I was back there.
I’d guess that the Maui-grown fruit was tossed because its leaves were a bit off (as you can see). In other words, it was perfectly ripe. It smelled and felt just right. Long story shorter: My temporary Portland housemates and I enjoyed plenty of juicy, luscious pineapple tonight.
A happy ending, but the majority of grocers–not even other New Seasons–do not have such a box out back. So they’re shipping items from Hawaii to Oregon or wherever only to throw it out once it gets ripe. Holy Sasquatch, talk about a carbon (Big)footprint!
4 Comments
Actually, you and the Freegans have been misinformed. New Seasons donates the culls from the produce and the leftover bread every day to Urban Gleaners, the Oregon Food Bank, and several other agencies who distribute that food to hungry people in the Portland area. It’s not there for bloggers and filmmakers to dig through and take home. Employees are offered some of the stuff, as part of the benefit of being an employee, and the inevitable leftover, perfectly edible food feeds people who can’t feed themselves. Keep it in mind next time you’re helping yourself to someone else’s food.
How’s the view from the moral high ground? As I said, I have some more research to do on the topic, but thanks for the info.
Hey look, I agree with you that that food should go to those who need it most. At the same time, it was one pineapple. And it was put to good use, which I doubt happened with the other three (it was near closing time–10 p.m). Rest assured I will not be taking home any more of New Season’s produce cast-aways. I won’t even be in the state. But good for New Seasons–even more reason to like them.
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That was kind of rude, knows better.
On topic, I think that’s really great that New Seasons does that. May more stores follow suit.
Jonathan; I think with more programs like Urban Gleaners, more food and grocery companies will jump on board!
The problem, though, is that these are smaller, almost-guerrilla-like groups and companies either don’t know about them, or are confused about them.
If only you were down here in Southern California, I’d have all sorts of produce for you and your roommates. We had some pumpkins decide to grow and didn’t pull ’em out and now I’m faced with five pumpkins 2 months before I can actually use them! (yes, I know I can make pumpkin pie well before Thanksgiving, I just don’t have the time!)
Meanwhile, keep up the research, it’s always fun reading about your (mis)adventures! I even have my college students read your blog and write about it.