With its world-class restaurant scene, Miami Beach wants to help city food retailers and restauranteurs clear their kitchens of surplus food while reducing food insecurity in the community by connecting businesses to local food recovery organizations.
“There is no cost to businesses, no liability for donors and each food recovery organization has its own processes to schedule and streamline donations,” explained Miami Beach Commissioner Laura Dominguez, who sponsored the city’s new voluntary food waste diversion educational program as a 120-day pilot.
Though primarily aimed at large food retailers with 25,000 square feet or more, the program is open to any food business. Program materials are being distributed to more than 700 food retail businesses in the city through the city’s robust communications channels including newsletters and social media. Program outreach will occur now through January.
“The business owners I speak with would much rather help families facing food insecurity than see perfectly good food go to waste,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “I thank Commissioner Dominguez for championing this pilot, and I encourage every restaurant and food retailer in Miami Beach to take part so that surplus food reaches neighbors who need it.”
The materials being shared with businesses include a one-page information sheet with direct contacts to four food recovery organizations that are ready to work with them — Food Rescue US, Farm Share, Nourish Miami and Feeding South Florida. Additional food recovery organizations can be added throughout the pilot timeline. Miami Beach businesses will connect directly with the organization that best fits their operational needs to begin donating surplus food. Businesses will also be asked to complete a short survey of their current experiences to help inform possible next steps to reduce food waste in the city.
Donating surplus food through food recovery organizations not only helps to feed people, but it has positive environmental benefits as well. Keeping food waste out of landfills reduces methane emissions, reduces landfill disposal and pollution, and reduces wasted energy and resources.
