The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and partner agencies will host the third annual Food Waste Prevention Week from April 1 to 7.
Gov. Bill Lee has issued a proclamation naming the week, featuring numerous activities.
TDEC will partner with the University of Tennessee Extension, Clean Memphis, New Terra Compost, Zero Waste Nashville, Urban Green Lab, Tennessee State University, the Network for Sustainable Solutions, the Society of St. Andrew, and other organizations for a week of virtual and in-person education and outreach.
A statewide food drive, in partnership with the University of Tennessee Extension, runs through April 14 and aims to improve food security. Donations for the food drive can be made at this link.
“TDEC is proud to be part of this effort to raise awareness of food waste,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. This is a collaborative approach, and we want Tennessee to be a leader in this cause.”
Food Waste Prevention Week will begin with an event in Nashville at Tennessee State University, featuring a panel discussion of local experts (also streamed as a webinar) and a chef demonstration to follow.
The week will culminate with events at local breweries in Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga on April 6. Several brewers are partnering with local bakeries to turn unsold bread into a brew to raise awareness about the issue.
The events will inform Tennesseans about the importance of reducing food waste, increasing food recovery, and other strategies. All weekly events, both virtual and in-person, are free, open to the public, and family-friendly. Please visit this link to find an event. The program is part of a larger national Food Waste Prevention Week, in which other states across the nation are involved in various capacities.
Throughout the year, TDEC provides education, outreach, and technical assistance to organizations that address food waste through the Get Food Smart TN program. To learn more about the program, please visit GetFoodSmartTN.com.
