#WasteNot: Changing habits and fighting food waste
CHERRY HILL – The Farm & Fisherman Tavern in Cherry Hill has combined forces with the Courier-Post since 2015 to spread awareness and inspire change about food waste in South Jersey. In the second half of this year, USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey, our regional network of newspapers and websites, is joining efforts to get out the #WasteNot message statewide.
CHERRY HILL – The Farm & Fisherman Tavern in Cherry Hill has combined forces with the Courier-Post since 2015 to spread awareness and inspire change about food waste in South Jersey.
In the second half of this year, USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey, our regional network of newspapers and websites, is joining efforts to get out the #WasteNot message statewide. Look for stories, videos and useful resources in the coming months to help you and your family understand why food waste matters, how to reduce food waste at home, and how to save money when you shop and eat out.
On June 5, The Farm & Fisherman and Courier-Post hosted our third semi-annual community #WasteNot conversation, in collaboration with Camden’s Center for Environmental Transformation, the Food Bank of South Jersey and other partners. The evening included a tasting of appetizers prepared by chef Todd Fuller that incorporated ingredients from the restaurant kitchen and local farms that ordinarily would wind up in a compost heap or landfill.
Fish Head Rilette, Asparagus Stalk Tempura and Potato Skin Fries were just three of the small-bites dishes that inspired new ideas about using more parts of the foods we buy and bring home.
“With a little consideration and a little thought, we turn them into something that is hopefully delicious,” Fuller said.
“Any food item here that doesn’t get used, we compost,” he said. “We compost close to 400 gallons of animal protein and vegetable waste a week. … That is something as a restaurant we felt kind of obligated to do. Just because it is the right thing to do.’
“We have put enormous effort into being as sustainable as possible,” he continued, “in an industry that is probably one of the least sustainable.”
The event also collected guests’ donations of nonperishable food items for the Food Bank of South Jersey, which is based in Pennsauken and serves Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties. Food Bank acting CEO Joe Njoroge spoke about the critical need to address hunger in our region and how saving food that normally would go to waste is a key component of addressing that need.
On Saturday, Sept. 29, Fuller will lead a team of chefs from area nonprofit organizations, including the Food Bank, in a #WasteNot tasting and tour of the CFET Farms in South Camden. The event, which also will feature live music, art and an exclusive Tonewood Brewing beer, will be hosted by FireWorks Gallery. The gallery hosted a similar event in 2016.
Check the Courier-Post for details and much more on the critical need to cut back on wasting food.
“Our goal is … to ultimately create an event that celebrates that — I’m only buying what I use and what I can’t use, I’m recirculating into society … we can say into the earth, but the earth is us,” Fuller said.
“The ultimate goal is try to make it a better place. … I think we can all agree, the world needs a little more of ‘Be A Better Person,’ no matter how we go about it.”