Flashfood has released its second annual Impact Report: “The Future of Food is Waste,” at the ReFED 2024 Food Waste Solutions Summit. The report emphasizes the pressing issue of food waste and its implications on nutrition and produce consumption in the United States. Through various expert interviews and a case study on SNAP EBT usage, the report highlights the need for a collaborative approach to reduce food waste rather than increase food production.
The report reveals a stark reality: while 44 million people in the US face food insecurity, the nation discards the equivalent of 145 billion meals annually. This amount is three times what is needed to provide three meals a day for the food-insecure population for a year. The report calls for reducing waste, rather than producing more food, as a solution to the hunger crisis.
Nicholas Bertram, President and CEO of Flashfood, underscores the importance of collaboration among technology companies in the waste management sector. “There’s a tendency for technology companies in an emerging industry to be framed as competitors, rather than collaborators,” Bertram stated.
“The waste tech space is critical to the future of this planet, so I think that’s irresponsible. Our people and our climate depend on us to solve this problem. The aim of Flashfood’s annual impact report is not just to communicate our progress but to offer research and insights the industry can benefit from, and to highlight other organizations we support.”
The report includes insights from notable figures such as Noreen Springstead, President and CEO of Partnership for a Healthier America; Dana Gunders, Executive Director of ReFED; and Ben Kuethe Oaks, Vice President of Customer Solutions and Success at Divert, Inc. These experts advocate for a cooperative approach to tackling food waste, emphasizing that partnership is key to progress.
Despite a slowdown in inflation in the spring of 2024, many Americans continue to feel financial strain. A survey by The Harris Poll, conducted on behalf of Flashfood, found that 52% of consumers are paying more attention to coupons or sales, and 48% are opting for store brands over name brands due to rising grocery prices.
According to the press release, this financial pressure affects nutrition, as eating healthily in the US costs an additional $1.50 per day. Furthermore, the price of produce has significantly outpaced the cost increase of other foods, resulting in fewer than 1 in 10 Americans consuming the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Simultaneously, over 30 million tons of produce are discarded annually in the US.
Flashfood addresses this dual challenge of food waste and food insecurity through its mixed produce box, its top-selling product. In 2023, Flashfood saved shoppers more than $13 million on fresh produce. The report aims to foster industry-wide collaboration to reduce waste and improve food security.
The second-annual report from Flashfood was produced and designed by COOMER, a B Corp certified advertising agency based in Kentucky. To read the full report, visit Flashfood’s website.
Flashfood is dedicated to redirecting food from landfills to families in need. The app marketplace connects shoppers with discounted fresh produce, meat, and other groceries, offering up to 50% off. By partnering with retailers across North America, Flashfood provides affordable nutritious staples and reduces landfill waste. Flashfood operates as a remote-first company, partnering with over 2,000 stores across 21 US states and 10 Canadian provinces.
