We throw away 40% of grown food — where does it go?
Source:
On average, only 60% of the products that are grown in the country, fall into the mouths of people. The rest falls out of the supply chain gradually until the product makes its way to our plates. Pests eating the crops in the field, wine will inevitably spoil on the way to the store, even the most scrupulous grocers and other buyers are throwing around the food. Here is a rough breakdown of how and why we throw away food.
How much food is wasted every year?
Farmers often sow more of the crop than the plan to sell — to protect them from pests eating the leaves, catastrophic weather and sudden bursts of demand. If producers do not need the surplus, they leave food to rot in the fields and not paying for its collection. Manufacturers do not weigh unused land, so I can only estimate how much of the crop remains intact: about 7% per year.
Food is lost along the way
Scientists know that much food is lost from farm to grocery store, but can't figure out what part of the trip is the most wasteful. The pieces of beef are deposited on the floor of the plant, and perishable fruits go bad in the trucks or accumulate in the warehouse. Some evidence suggests that farmers throw out quite normal vegetables just because they are "too ugly" for supermarkets. Judge for yourself: you don't want to buy ugly tomatoes or cucumbers.
Food stays on the shelves
Grocers and shops supplying goods for restaurants, I prefer to overstock, excess, which often leads to additional costs and missing. A bunch of spoiled products on the shelf. Seasonal foods — like cakes baked for Easter — which remain unclaimed, are sent to the trash at the end of the holidays. Like many manufacturers, high-level shops — which offer better quality and more expensive goods — throw out spoiled or stale products.
Food spoils in the kitchen
Buyers — the largest manufacturer of food waste. We regularly throws away the skin, rind, other nutritional and waste which is not suitable for the taste; some forget the cheese or chicken in the fridge until they go bad or become rancid. These losses are summed up. According to a study conducted by the USDA, the average American throws away per year products of 371 USD. I can assume and calculate how much food you throw away? Tell us .
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