Easy Tips to Prevent Food Waste!

Kickstart 2024 with eco-friendly habits to minimize food waste! By preventing food waste, we not only safeguard the environment by saving resources and cutting down on greenhouse gases from landfill food waste, but we also pocket some savings.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) champions food waste prevention as the top method to mitigate the environmental impacts of food waste. The hierarchy of solutions includes donating or repurposing food, feeding animals, and composting, with landfill disposal as a last resort.

Here's how to make a difference for a sustainable 2024:

• Plan weekly meals and shop precisely to avoid excess.
• Opt for "ugly" produce that's perfectly edible.
• Prep and store fresh produce correctly upon buying to extend freshness.
• Inventory your pantry to use what you have and freeze perishables for use later on.
• Get innovative with leftovers; transform mature produce into desserts or juices, and use vegetable scraps for stock. For more ideas, check out savethefood.com.
• Bring containers for restaurant leftovers.
• Donate surplus food to local drives or banks.

Engage in Ventura's Food Waste Recycling Program for composting with a complimentary kitchen pail.

Join us in reducing food waste and contributing to Ventura’s sustainability this year!

This edition, we’re highlighting STEMbassadors for their exceptional sustainable business practices! Their IDEA Center on Ventura’s westside repurposes industrial waste by providing disadvantaged community members with free access to it. From wood donated by a local cabinet shop to aluminum sheet metal from Innovative Spaces, a local Airstream refurbishment shop, these vast amounts of waste produced by industrial manufacturing processes now have a second life converted into entirely new creations with equipment available to the community at their IDEA Center. Discover more of STEMbassadors work.

New Environmental Services Assistant Diana Orozco!

Diana Orozco is our new Environmental Services Assistant. She received a B.S in Environmental Science & Management with a focus on Planning & Policy from Cal Poly Humboldt. She previously worked as a Soil Conservationist with the USDA agency Natural Resources Conservation Service helping farmers and ranchers of Ventura County with sustainable agricultural practices. Now joining our Environmental Sustainability Division to help conserve the beautiful hills and open space of Ventura's community and educate local residents with resources to keep our City safe and clean. Some of her favorite hobbies consist of cooking with harvested crops from the local farms and gardens of the community, as well as other hobbies such as going out on nature walks, hiking, and bicycling.

New Environmental Services Assistant Megan Araghi!

Megan Araghi completed her Masters in international development, focusing on natural resource-rich developing countries and conducted research on the global cobalt supply chain for electric vehicles for her graduate thesis. She has prior experience with environmental nonprofits such as the Natural Resource Governance Institute and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, where her work supported the National Park Service. A native of Ventura County, she is passionate about conserving the beauty of California's landscapes and is excited to contribute to Ventura's environmental stewardship by helping residents learn more about how they can practice sustainable habits everyday. Adventurous and curious, she loves being outdoors and learning about the natural world, cooking new recipes, and discovering new places to travel.

City of Ventura's Student Art Calendar

Contest!

As of July 1, 2021 the City of Ventura prohibits businesses selling food and beverages from using Styrofoam containers such as cups, plates, bowls, meat trays, clamshells and coolers. Styrofoam is a prevalent form of litter found in storm drains, creeks, rivers, beaches, parks, and open spaces. For more information and resources, please visit: EPS Ban

You can help support our community's efforts to preserve the health and beauty of Ventura's open spaces for the enjoyment of all!

FoodKeeper App to Maximize Food and Beverage Storage

Storing food properly to prolong freshness is an important key to preventing food waste. Keep handy tips for thousands of food items at your fingertips by downloading the FoodKeeper app to your phone.

Download the FoodKeeper app for iPhone

Download the FoodKeeper app for Android

Good Food on a Tight Budget

Use the Environmental Working Group's shopping guide to buy the healthiest foods for the best value. Learn useful tips like:

• Cut and freeze fresh fruit that's on sale or overripe to use later in smoothies and yogurts.
• Watermelons and bananas pack the most nutritional value for their cost.
• Visit EWG's shopping guide here to learn much more.

View employment opportunities with the City of Ventura here.

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