On-farm food loss in northern and central California: Results of field survey measurementsAuthor links open overlay panel

Prevailing estimates of food loss at the farm level are sparse and often reliant upon grower surveys. A more comprehensive review of food loss at the farm level using field surveys is required to gain an adequate understanding of the depth of this issue. This paper details the results of 123 in-field surveys and 18 in-depth interviews of 20 different, hand-harvested field crops performed largely on midsize to large conventional farms in northern and central California. We also provide estimates of the percentage of fields that go unharvested, commonly known as walk-by fields. The results show that food loss is highly variable and largely dependent upon the crop, variety, market price, labor costs, grower practices, buyer specifications, and environmental conditions. On average, we found 11,299 kg/ha of food loss at the farm level, which equates to 31.3% of the marketed yield. When walk-by losses are included, this figure rises to 33.7%. Our paper also demonstrates that grower estimates are typically very unreliable for estimating on-farm food losses. Actual, measured edible food loss exceeded growers’ estimates by a median value of 157%. Strategies to utilize this lost produce could play a significant role in reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment and providing food for the rapidly growing population

Fresh Produce Donations in California: Opportunities for and Challenges to Increasing Volume and Reducing Food Insecurity

This study explores opportunities for increasing access to fresh produce by the emergency food system. Results of extensive interviews of managers of farming operations, food bank distributors, food banks, and food pantries were analyzed using thematic analysis to gain insights into the major challenges to increasing access to fresh produce by the emergency food system. The principal recommendations focus on the need to increase the availability of fresh produce in order to meet expected future growth in demand, better utilizing and communicating grower tax incentives, and investing in building the capacity of the food bank system