ND food expert: High prices are motivator to cut waste

Food prices in the U.S. are forecast to rise by nearly 3% by the end of the year and a North Dakota professor specializing in nutrition said despite elevated grocery bills, there is still too much food waste.

Julie Garden-Robinson, food and nutrition specialist for North Dakota State University Extension, has tips on protecting your budget and the environment. April 30 is Stop Food Waste Day, and Garden-Robinson said it is a good reminder to maximize the value of your grocery haul. At home, people sometimes throw out food before they need to, noting lingering confusion about "use by" dates.

"That milk that might be in your refrigerator that has a 'best by' today or 'sell by' today, that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't drink that milk for a few days," Garden-Robinson pointed out.

Garden-Robinson noted safety is important but consumers should use common sense to determine if a product has a little extra shelf life. She recommended better meal planning and going through your cupboards before restocking.

Awareness day organizers say 45% of root crops, fruits and vegetables produced globally are lost or wasted each year, contributing to 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers said it does not all fall on consumers, with a significant amount of waste occurring through supply chains. Garden-Robinson added certain industries like hospitality are getting the message by doing things like donating surplus food to hunger relief organizations.

She stressed consumers can do it too, or if your grocery budget is limited, think about preserving what you have.

"If you bought too much, you can freeze it," Garden-Robinson suggested. "If you have the skills, you can also safely can food. It's an important balancing act not to overbuy and to throw out that money that you worked hard to have."

On the environmental side, Garden-Robinson emphasized composting food waste in your backyard is another solution. When done properly, it can enrich the soil without using chemical pesticides, keep food waste out of landfills and help to reduce methane emissions.

By Mike Moen