“Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.” This passage from Leviticus 19:9 refers to the ancient practice of gleaning food after the harvest leaving food in the field for those in need. ThisContinue Reading
Join Manna Food Center’s Community Food Rescue network for the first-ever Montgomery County Community Food Rescue Week , October 13-20. Fun and informational events throughout the week will educate the public about what we can all do to tackle food waste and hunger in the county. There are many ways to get involved to help amplify our message andContinue Reading
…when it’s actually still safe to eat. How many times have you dug into your refrigerator and pondered whether that wilted lettuce, bruised peach, or moldy cheese was okay to eat? Or perhaps you’ve had a heated debate with a family member or roommate about wasting perfectly good food just because the date on thatContinue Reading
Many of us use navigation devices like Garmin, or web-based apps like Google Maps or Ways, to locate a new restaurant, find the shortest or quickest route between two places, or just find the closest gas station to our current location. These mapping tools have transformed the way we research and navigate our world geographically.Continue Reading
It’s summer and local farms, farmers markets, and grocery stores are once again bursting with delicious fresh produce. Consumers may be shopping at their neighborhood farmers market, bringing home their weekly Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA) share box, or taking the family to a pick-your-own farm on weekends. Farmers not only reap the economic fruits ofContinue Reading
When it comes to special occasions with catered meals, it’s rare that someone leaves hungry. While abundance is reasonable in times of recognition and celebration, it’s an unfortunate reality that catered events and food waste often go hand in hand. It doesn’t have to be that way. Community Food Rescue (CFR) provides catering companies – and the individualsContinue Reading
“It’s in our DNA to give back to community; it’s what we do.” explains Sheila Ongie, sustainability manager for the National Co-op Grocers , based in Iowa. I recently spoke to Sheila about their Co+efficient program as part of their sustainability commitment and how two Montgomery County co-ops participate in food recovery. Most people familiar with co-op grocery stores knowContinue Reading
Sometimes it’s hard to wrap our heads around numbers and impact. Since Community Food Rescue’s (CFR) launch in September 2015, our network of food recovery throughout Montgomery County has grown to include 129 food donor businesses, 48 food assistance organizations and 101 volunteer food runners. But can you visualize what 6,503 food runs looks like or the impactContinue Reading
The Farm Food Donation Pilot Program (SB 416) , signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan last fall, allows eligible farmers to take a tax credit of up to $5,000 per year for donating fresh produce to charitable organizations. This three-year pilot program that began in 2017 is available to farms located in Montgomery County as well as Anne Arundel County, Calvert County, CharlesContinue Reading
CFR Releases New Version of ChowMatch. We’re excited to announce that Community Food Rescue has a new version of ChowMatch, our food donation matching software. ChowMatch 3.7 provides an improved user experience and offers new features responsive to our users’ needs. “All CFR members need to review and update their profiles in ChowMatch as soonContinue Reading