
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
September 29th, 2021


The Maine Gleaning Network is excited to join gleaners across the world in honoring the 2nd annual International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. We are organizing gleaning activities across the state to help raise awareness about food loss, food waste, and the innovative solutions that work to address it. Join us!
#FLWDay #WeAreGleaners #MaineGleaningWeek
2021 Maine Gleaning Week events:
-
"Glean with a Friend" at Goranson Farm, Tues 9/28, 8am - 11am, Dresden
-
Kale glean at Beech Hill Farm, Tues 9/28, 9am - 10am, Mount Desert Island
-
"Glean with a Friend" at Growing to Give, Wed 9/29, 9am - 12pm, Brunswick
-
Produce distribution at Healthy Acadia, Wed 9/29, 9am - 11am, Ellsworth
-
Potato & carrot glean at Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Wed 9/29, 3pm - 4pm, Blue Hill
-
Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market glean, Thur 9/30, Central Maine Gleaners Group
-
Farmers market gleaning, Sat 10/2, 11am - 12pm, Blue Hill
-
Farmers market gleaning, Sun 10/3, 11am - 12pm, Bar Harbor

FOOD LOSS
Globally, around 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail (meaning, it never even makes it to your table). This could be due to market competition, cosmetic imperfections, labor shortages, etc.

FOOD WASTE
An estimated 17% of total global food production is wasted (11% in households, 5% in the food service and 2% in retail).
In other words: it goes bad before a person can eat it, then gets tossed into the garbage.
"Food loss and waste undermine the sustainability of our food systems. When food is loss or wasted, all the resources that were used to produce this food - including water, land, energy, labour and capital - go to waste. In addition, the disposal of food loss and waste in landfills, leads to greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. Food loss and waste can also negatively impact food security and food availability, and contribute to increasing the cost of food."
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations