Get Food Smart TN Quarterly NEwsletter

Summer 2021 Edition

Hi friends,

Summer has just begun and many of us are excited to get outside and enjoy the warm weather! It's also a great time to support your local farmers by visiting local u-picks and farmers markets. Choosing local food supports your local economy, and it can also have benefits for the environment.

I am so excited for our summer newsletter and the opportunity to share many ways you can support and be a part of your local food system.

Thanks,

Ashley Cabrera

To better support the agricultura community, SoSA is partnering with the state of Tennessee to learn how much surplus produce is in fields after harvest. TN growers are great producers, but markets aren’t always available to absorb the healthy, fresh surplus.
During the 2021 growing season, SoSA volunteer and staff will visit farms in TN to glean exces produce, collect data in the field, and then donate gleaned produce to local agencies that feed our hungry neighbors.

TDEC recently signed on to the U.S. Food Loss and Waste Policy Action Plan as a supporter. The Plan encourages accelerated action across the U.S. to address food waste and was jointly crafted by Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, ReFED, WWF, and NRDC. More specifically, the Plan encourages the Biden Administration and Congress to take action in five strategic areas to address food loss and waste in the U.S.

You can read more about the plan here.

During 2020 the Get Food Smart TN program paused recruitment for our recognition program. With our slow but progressing return to normal, we are opening the Get Food Smart TN recognition program back up for recruitment and seeking new members.

We need your help to share the program with restaurants, schools, organizations, and other businesses who are doing their part to reduce food waste in Tennessee!

Visit www.getfoodsmarttn.com for more information about the program.

Participant Spotlight

Food Lion

Since 1957, Food Lion has instilled their passion for helping their community in everything they do and for 20 years, they have continuously lived out sustainability in their daily operations. Whether it is reducing food waste, conserving energy or sourcing products locally, Food Lion does their part to serve their communities.

Partner Spotlight

Food Donation Connection

Food Donation Connection (FDC) assists food service companies with donating food and helps manage their food donation programs. Since 1992, FDC has coordinated the donation of over 750 million pounds of prepared food from food service companies in 31 countries.

Virtual Teacher Training

July 14, 2021

Urban Green Lab will be hosting a Virtual Teacher Training on Reducing Food Waste in Schools. Registration is required and the training is free for public school teachers.

Register Here

Opportunity

Crabtree Farms in Chattanooga, TN has two WorkShare program (Urban Farm and GreenHouse). WorkShare volunteers commit to sessions (approx. 3 months long) and have a scheduled 3 or 5 hour work day each week — in exchange for market credits to purchase produce.

The program runs from January to September every year.

Learn More

Funding Opportunity

USDA Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Pilot Project Grant

This USDA grantprogram supports projects that develop and test strategies for planning andimplementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans.

Apply Here

Deadline: July 16, 2021

Food Waste Recipe

Strawberry Watermelon Rind Smoothie

Wait to wash berries until you are ready to eat them, this helps prevent the growth of mold.

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, TN | 37243 US