The Best Apps Combating Grocery Store Food Waste

[Celerity]

Never throw out sad looking vegetables again.

https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-apps-grocery-store-food-waste



Everyday, nearly one pound of food is wasted per person in the United States. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all often find ourselves not getting around to baking that apple pie or feeling too lazy to grill the steaks we picked up from the store. Pretty much all of us have thrown out sad looking vegetables after they’ve gone bad in our produce drawer. While we can all relate to this predicament, it’s not doing any favors for our environment. Groceries that could be used to feed those affected by food insecurity get squandered, methane emissions increase, and landfills are stuffed to the brim. “We often have very little clue as to what lies in our freezer, fridge, or pantry. When we are out grocery shopping, we often do not have the mental energy to try and recall what food we have at home,” says Kasper Hjortsballe, founder of NoWaste, an app that helps people take inventory of their groceries. “So when we lack certainty about what food we have at home, we risk making decisions that lead to food waste.” Luckily, these apps are here to prove that you can combat food waste and get a few discounts along the way. Here’s how you can help.

Too Good To Go

This app partners with local supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and other establishments to sell leftover food at a discounted price. The company typically sells “surprise bags,” which can range from extra pastries from coffee shops to dairy products reaching their expiration date at grocery stores. It’s as simple as logging onto the app and choosing what leftovers in your area you want to reserve for pickup. There’s also a feature that helps you tailor surprise bag suggestions to your preferences, whether it’s your preferred pick-up times or dietary restrictions.

Food Rescue US

One of the most heartbreaking realities of food waste is the fact that there are millions of people who don’t have access to food. Food Rescue US delivers surplus groceries right into the hands of those who need it the most. The app has a collection of donors, from grocery stores to restaurants to farmers’ markets—these donors are connected with social service agencies, who then rely on volunteers to rescue the leftover food. Volunteers get matched with donors and agencies in their area to schedule pick-ups and deliveries so everyone has access to fresh, healthy food.

Flashfood

Flashfood is a win-win situation: You are helping reduce food waste and also getting your groceries at a discounted price. All you have to do is log onto the app and see which grocery stores near you are participants. The transaction is seamless—pay through the app and head over to the Flashfood zone of your local grocery store to pick up your order. This also helps with grocers themselves, as they are able to recoup the costs that would have come with not being able to sell excess products.

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[jimfields33]

1. Our grocery store does sell rotten bananas at a deep discount

They sell fast. I assume for banana bread. That’s the only fruit or veggie they do that with. I often wonder if tomatoes could be done the same way but only for use in making a sauce. Maybe someday.