Dubuque Food Recovery Program

​Dubuque Food Recovery Program 

This program started in 2021 by Wahlert Catholic High School student, Lilah Takes, who spent her community service hours asking vendors at the Farmers' Market for produce donations to the Dubuque Food Pantry. In collaboration with the Dubuque Farmers' Market and Food Pantry, Lilah promoted the responsible use of perishable foods and developed a new way to minimize food waste in Dubuque by connecting producers with a new consumer base and market at the Food Pantry.

 

In the United States, nearly 40% of our food supply goes to waste. Estimates from the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service suggests 31% of food loss happens at retail and consumer levels, which equated to 133 billion pounds or $161,000,000,000 in 2010. Though 72 percent of Iowa’s land is dedicated to agriculture, the state isn’t immune to food security issues. Approximately 1 in 8 Iowans are food insecure, and 1 in 5 Iowa children are too. Wholesome food, that could have fed families in need, spoils on the shelves waiting for purchase and is sent to the landfill instead.

 

Promoting and enabling human consumption of produce and baked goods positively influences the lifecycle of food, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's Wasted Food Scale shown below. Each of us plays an important role in preserving and allocating food to everyone in need.

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Lilah's initiative inspired action toward the continued prevention of food waste in the tri-state area by founding Dubuque's Food Recovery Program. Our goal is to ensure that all of the produce and edible goods brought to the Dubuque Farmers' Markets are consumed as intended. By collecting "would-be food waste" from producers at the end of the market, we promote 3rd and 4th ranking practices up to 1st and 2nd. By representing the Food Pantry customers in need of reliable produce sources, we supply the farmers' markets with a new customer base. This ensures that the producers are growing food that is needed, even if it goes unsold during the hours of market

 

Prior to the development of the Food Recovery Program, farmers and producers would take their unsold goods home, in hopes of future sale. When produce or baked goods reached or exceeded their shelf life, the food was reportedly fed to livestock or composted. These practices rank 3rd and 4th on the list of best practices according to the EPA, respectively.

 

When Lilah Takes graduated and moved to college in the summer of 2022, Danielle Stowell, of Wicked River Event Productions, applied for and received funding from one of the City of Dubuque’s Community Block Development Grants. That funding was used to purchase utility carts, produce crates, informational signage, and other food collection equipment. With Danielle leading the Food Recovery Program, food collection from vendors began at the Millwork Night Market and Dubuque's Winter Market. During the Summer Farmers' Market, public food donations actively encouraged and accepted.

 

The same year, Theresa Caldwell led the relocation of the Dubuque Food Pantry, which now features twice the cold storage capacity of their previous location. This additional storage allowed the Food Recovery Program to responsibly preserve, store, and supply the community with the collected produce and baked goods. A total of 2,586 pounds of food was recovered and supplied to the Food Pantry from Dubuque's Farmers' Markets in 2022 alone.

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Join the Effort to Reduce Food Waste

In 2015, the EPA and USDA set a goal to reduce the nation’s food waste by 50 percent before 2030. Meeting this goal requires all of us to make mindful choices, like buying only what is necessary to feed our families.  Personal involvement in these efforts further enhances their impact. The Food Recovery Program continually seeks volunteers to assist with the collection of food donations at the end of each market day. Contributions from market-goers are also welcome, and greatly appreciated!

 

Purchasing produce or baked goods from market vendors and donating them to the Food Pantry through the Food Recovery Program provides many significant benefits. Vendors receive full compensation for their market contributions, which justifies their investment in time, resources, and effort. This encourages future production and delivery of those goods to Dubuque's Farmers' Market. The Food Recovery Program tracks these donations to demonstrate the added value to the community, which helps attract local support and funding. This enables the Food Pantry to provide a greater variety of fresh food to those in need. Your donation helps prevent food waste and supports your community in a meaningful way.

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Other Ways to Contribute

You can also donate wooden Farmers' Market Tokens at the market info tent directly to the Food Pantry. This allows Food Pantry personnel to buy necessary produce missing from their current selection and supports local farmers and producers along the way. Don't forget that you can always donate your own "will-be food waste" to the Food Pantry yourself during their donation hours. Whenever you see a BOGO sale or great deals on food, share what you won't eat with your community!

 

 

Double Up Food Bucks

Matches the value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases at farmers markets and grocery stores. If someone spends $10 at a participating farmers market, they will get $10 DUFB to spend on local food. This program provides access to fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers and economies.

 

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide coupons that can be exchanged for fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs at farmers markets and farm stands.

 

While several efforts are underway, there is much to be done to educate all parties how to amplify the focus and availability of healthy, local food for everyone in Iowa. If you have examples of how you’ve addressed the inclusion of local food in food access, please reach out to us!

 

 

 

Resources for Food Donors

Bill Emerson Act of 1996

The Bill Emerson Act outlines the federal liability protection for food donors. Businesses and nonprofits that provide or receive donated food are generally well-protected by laws designed to provide immunity from liability related to food donations. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (the Emerson Act) provides a federal baseline of protection for food donors. The Emerson Act covers individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, the officers of businesses and nonprofit organizations, and gleaners—individuals that harvest donated agricultural crops for a nonprofit organization that distributes the food to the needy.

 

Food Donation Improvement Act of 2022

The Food Donation Improvement Act expands and clarifies liability protections for food donors originally outlined in the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. The Food Donation Improvement Act (FDIA) in 2022 amended the Emerson Act with small clarifications and additions. “Good Samaritan Reduced Price” was added which limits the price allowable to charge for apparently wholesome food to an amount no greater than the handling costs. “Qualified Direct Donor” clarified to include retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, agricultural processor, agricultural distributor, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or institution of higher education.

 

 

Resources for Farmers and Producers

Iowa's Farm to Food Donation Tax Credit

Provides a tax credit equaling the lesser of $5,000 or 15% of the value of the food donated during the tax year for which the credit is claimed. The food must go to a registered Farm to Food Donation organization, and farmers must submit with their taxes a Farm to Food Tax Donation Credit Donation Receipt.

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Other Food Programs Offered at Market ​​

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide coupons that can be exchanged for fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs at farmers markets and farm stands.

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While several efforts are underway, there is much to be done to educate all parties how to amplify the focus and availability of healthy, local food for everyone in Iowa.  If you have examples of how you’ve addressed the inclusion of local food in food access, please reach out to us!