Waging War on Food Waste

During the war, the government rationed sugar, butter, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat and canned food and labor and transportation shortages led to low fruit and vegetables supplies. With the help of some powerful advertising, the government encouraged citizens plant Victory Gardens so that they would have fresh fruit and vegetables. The posters suggest that it is one’s duty to plant gardens and to not waste food.

20 million people answered this patriotic call to action and planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and on rooftops. About 9–10 million tons of produce was harvested.

After the war ended, the government stopped promoting the gardens, less planted gardens and agriculture had not ramped up to meet the need in grocery stores leading to food shortages.

Today, 40% of the food we produce is wasted, many people go to bed hungry each night and people are dying from diet related diseases.

So I call for a war on food waste.

Reducing food waste would mitigate the issues above as well as a host of others.

Will you answer the call to action?

If so, start today by reading about some tips for reducing your food waste. Don’t stop there. Keep reading about food waste and it’s impacts. Get inspired and spread the word. Join local food recovery organizations. Challenge your friends and family to cut their food waste. Demand better practices from supermarkets, retailers, restaurants and farmers. Plant Victory Gardens.

This is a war we can win. Victory is within reach if we all work together.