[Music] [Applause]
each of us is accountable for spending a
each of us is accountable for spending a dollar 50 on food that we throw away
dollar 50 on food that we throw away
dollar 50 on food that we throw away every single day to put that in
every single day to put that in
every single day to put that in perspective there are 1.5 billion people
perspective there are 1.5 billion people
perspective there are 1.5 billion people on this planet that live on less than a
on this planet that live on less than a
on this planet that live on less than a dollar 50 per day and across America we
dollar 50 per day and across America we
dollar 50 per day and across America we spend a hundred and sixty five billion
spend a hundred and sixty five billion
spend a hundred and sixty five billion dollars on food that we throw away every
dollars on food that we throw away every
dollars on food that we throw away every single year so for the past three years
single year so for the past three years
single year so for the past three years I’ve been fighting food waste and hunger
I’ve been fighting food waste and hunger
I’ve been fighting food waste and hunger and my whole life I’ve wanted become a
and my whole life I’ve wanted become a
and my whole life I’ve wanted become a social entrepreneur and when I was at
social entrepreneur and when I was at
social entrepreneur and when I was at the University of Maryland I chose to
the University of Maryland I chose to
the University of Maryland I chose to pursue that dream in the food space at
pursue that dream in the food space at
pursue that dream in the food space at the time I had no idea what I’d be
the time I had no idea what I’d be
the time I had no idea what I’d be getting myself into but I recently found
getting myself into but I recently found
getting myself into but I recently found that key to ending hunger is actually to
that key to ending hunger is actually to
that key to ending hunger is actually to waste less and there are 49 million
waste less and there are 49 million
waste less and there are 49 million Americans that are food insecure what if
Americans that are food insecure what if
Americans that are food insecure what if we could spend that hundred and sixty
we could spend that hundred and sixty
we could spend that hundred and sixty five billion dollars on feeding them
five billion dollars on feeding them
five billion dollars on feeding them right and we I found the solution
right and we I found the solution
right and we I found the solution through a couple years of research and I
through a couple years of research and I
through a couple years of research and I think I’ve also found this the really
think I’ve also found this the really
think I’ve also found this the really the key to making sure that we can all
the key to making sure that we can all
the key to making sure that we can all take accountability for food waste
take accountability for food waste
take accountability for food waste because I think that’s the core of the
because I think that’s the core of the
because I think that’s the core of the problem our lack of accountability we
problem our lack of accountability we
problem our lack of accountability we never think this is our problem
never think this is our problem
never think this is our problem we think it’s someone else’s we think
we think it’s someone else’s we think
we think it’s someone else’s we think it’s the farmers problem the grocery
it’s the farmers problem the grocery
it’s the farmers problem the grocery store the restaurant why are they
store the restaurant why are they
store the restaurant why are they wasting so much food we ask well I think
wasting so much food we ask well I think
wasting so much food we ask well I think we need to switch to the question and
we need to switch to the question and
we need to switch to the question and ask ourselves why am I wasting so much
ask ourselves why am I wasting so much
ask ourselves why am I wasting so much food what can I do to stop it this is
food what can I do to stop it this is
food what can I do to stop it this is important because food is a foundation
important because food is a foundation
important because food is a foundation of human development and societal
of human development and societal
of human development and societal advancement it’s an essential need that
advancement it’s an essential need that
advancement it’s an essential need that we can’t take for granted think of all
we can’t take for granted think of all
we can’t take for granted think of all the innovation that’s happened after the
the innovation that’s happened after the
the innovation that’s happened after the past 20 50 a hundred a thousand years
past 20 50 a hundred a thousand years
past 20 50 a hundred a thousand years none of that happens without food right
none of that happens without food right
none of that happens without food right and by the end of this talk I want to
and by the end of this talk I want to
and by the end of this talk I want to show you how you can prevent food from
show you how you can prevent food from
show you how you can prevent food from being wasted but before I get into what
being wasted but before I get into what
being wasted but before I get into what we do and what you can do we have to
we do and what you can do we have to
we do and what you can do we have to dive deeper into the abyss of food waste
dive deeper into the abyss of food waste
dive deeper into the abyss of food waste so this is Corey he’s a sixth generation
so this is Corey he’s a sixth generation
so this is Corey he’s a sixth generation farmer from biglerville Pennsylvania and
farmer from biglerville Pennsylvania and
farmer from biglerville Pennsylvania and he has thousands of pounds of apples
he has thousands of pounds of apples
he has thousands of pounds of apples that he can’t sell because some are too
that he can’t sell because some are too
that he can’t sell because some are too big some are too small
big some are too small
big some are too small Corey works hard to support his farm and
Corey works hard to support his farm and
Corey works hard to support his farm and he can’t afford to have that valuable
he can’t afford to have that valuable
he can’t afford to have that valuable delicious
delicious
delicious Herbies get thrown away that he put so
Herbies get thrown away that he put so
Herbies get thrown away that he put so much back-breaking work into now a
much back-breaking work into now a
much back-breaking work into now a couple weeks ago we got a call about a
couple weeks ago we got a call about a
couple weeks ago we got a call about a truckload of cabbage 17,000 pounds that
truckload of cabbage 17,000 pounds that
truckload of cabbage 17,000 pounds that were rejected because of specks of dirt
were rejected because of specks of dirt
were rejected because of specks of dirt on the cabbage specks of dirt on the
on the cabbage specks of dirt on the
on the cabbage specks of dirt on the cabbage that grows in the ground raise
cabbage that grows in the ground raise
cabbage that grows in the ground raise your hand if you would eat this cabbage
your hand if you would eat this cabbage
your hand if you would eat this cabbage and wash it off right is this this is
and wash it off right is this this is
and wash it off right is this this is crazy and the sad part is this directly
crazy and the sad part is this directly
crazy and the sad part is this directly affects the other half of the equation
affects the other half of the equation
affects the other half of the equation which are the 50 million people living
which are the 50 million people living
which are the 50 million people living in food insecurity in this country so
in food insecurity in this country so
in food insecurity in this country so this is a map of my hometown of
this is a map of my hometown of
this is a map of my hometown of Baltimore and in these gray areas you’ll
Baltimore and in these gray areas you’ll
Baltimore and in these gray areas you’ll see school districts that are
see school districts that are
see school districts that are underserved and have poor facilities and
underserved and have poor facilities and
underserved and have poor facilities and poor performance now in this next map
poor performance now in this next map
poor performance now in this next map you’ll see the areas marked in red which
you’ll see the areas marked in red which
you’ll see the areas marked in red which are food deserts how are we expecting
are food deserts how are we expecting
are food deserts how are we expecting kids growing up in these neighborhoods
kids growing up in these neighborhoods
kids growing up in these neighborhoods to succeed when they have no access to
to succeed when they have no access to
to succeed when they have no access to healthy food outside of school and
healthy food outside of school and
healthy food outside of school and inside of school Congress literally
inside of school Congress literally
inside of school Congress literally declares this to be a vegetable I cannot
declares this to be a vegetable I cannot
declares this to be a vegetable I cannot make this up look it up Congress
make this up look it up Congress
make this up look it up Congress declares pizza a vegetable it’s insane
declares pizza a vegetable it’s insane
declares pizza a vegetable it’s insane and I can’t stand by I refuse to stand
and I can’t stand by I refuse to stand
and I can’t stand by I refuse to stand by well this problem persists so when I
by well this problem persists so when I
by well this problem persists so when I was at Maryland I decided to take a
was at Maryland I decided to take a
was at Maryland I decided to take a different approach to solving this issue
different approach to solving this issue
different approach to solving this issue I decided to start selling recovered
I decided to start selling recovered
I decided to start selling recovered fruits and vegetables and herbs in the
fruits and vegetables and herbs in the
fruits and vegetables and herbs in the basement of my dorm and I basically
basement of my dorm and I basically
basement of my dorm and I basically became the underground produce kingpin
became the underground produce kingpin
became the underground produce kingpin of College Park except don’t get me
of College Park except don’t get me
of College Park except don’t get me wrong I was selling legal herbs
wrong I was selling legal herbs
wrong I was selling legal herbs I was selling legal herbs okay and and
I was selling legal herbs okay and and
I was selling legal herbs okay and and in May 2014 I officially launched hungry
in May 2014 I officially launched hungry
in May 2014 I officially launched hungry harvest and we provide far farmers a
harvest and we provide far farmers a
harvest and we provide far farmers a return on their otherwise wasted crops
return on their otherwise wasted crops
return on their otherwise wasted crops that look just like this or beautiful
that look just like this or beautiful
that look just like this or beautiful things you know we got a little bit of
things you know we got a little bit of
things you know we got a little bit of scarring on the zucchini that shouldn’t
scarring on the zucchini that shouldn’t
scarring on the zucchini that shouldn’t go to waste we build balanced variety
go to waste we build balanced variety
go to waste we build balanced variety boxes just like this and deliver it to
boxes just like this and deliver it to
boxes just like this and deliver it to our subscribers doors once a week and
our subscribers doors once a week and
our subscribers doors once a week and for every box we deliver to a customer
for every box we deliver to a customer
for every box we deliver to a customer we also enable somebody in need to eat
we also enable somebody in need to eat
we also enable somebody in need to eat healthy so for example we set up produce
healthy so for example we set up produce
healthy so for example we set up produce pickup sites farm stands in schools that
pickup sites farm stands in schools that
pickup sites farm stands in schools that are in food deserts so parents picking
are in food deserts so parents picking
are in food deserts so parents picking up their kids after school can have
up their kids after school can have
up their kids after school can have access to affordable produce now imagine
access to affordable produce now imagine
access to affordable produce now imagine a world with me where Congress declares
a world with me where Congress declares
a world with me where Congress declares that we can have food stands and that
that we can have food stands and that
that we can have food stands and that are selling healthy fruits and
are selling healthy fruits and
are selling healthy fruits and vegetables in schools and in food
vegetables in schools and in food
vegetables in schools and in food deserts nationwide right doesn’t that
deserts nationwide right doesn’t that
deserts nationwide right doesn’t that make
make
make doesn’t make so much sense well we’re
doesn’t make so much sense well we’re
doesn’t make so much sense well we’re not going to wait for Congress to do
not going to wait for Congress to do
not going to wait for Congress to do that that’s our dream that’s our mission
that that’s our dream that’s our mission
that that’s our dream that’s our mission and so how close are we to accomplishing
and so how close are we to accomplishing
and so how close are we to accomplishing that mission well earlier this year we
that mission well earlier this year we
that mission well earlier this year we were featured on the show shark tank and
were featured on the show shark tank and
were featured on the show shark tank and that really helped propel our efforts to
that really helped propel our efforts to
that really helped propel our efforts to educate Americans why these issues
educate Americans why these issues
educate Americans why these issues matter and yes if you’re wondering this
matter and yes if you’re wondering this
matter and yes if you’re wondering this is the same exact jacket that I was
is the same exact jacket that I was
is the same exact jacket that I was wearing up there in case anybody’s
wearing up there in case anybody’s
wearing up there in case anybody’s wondering so today I’m really proud to
wondering so today I’m really proud to
wondering so today I’m really proud to announce that this small project that
announce that this small project that
announce that this small project that started in the basement of my dorm has
started in the basement of my dorm has
started in the basement of my dorm has now recovered 1 million pounds of
now recovered 1 million pounds of
now recovered 1 million pounds of produce from going to waste and we’re
produce from going to waste and we’re
produce from going to waste and we’re just getting started thank you thank you
just getting started thank you thank you
just getting started thank you thank you we’re just getting started there’s six
we’re just getting started there’s six
we’re just getting started there’s six billion that gets wasted every single
billion that gets wasted every single
billion that gets wasted every single year so here are five ways that you you
year so here are five ways that you you
year so here are five ways that you you guys can help actually save food from
guys can help actually save food from
guys can help actually save food from being wasted as consumers we need to be
being wasted as consumers we need to be
being wasted as consumers we need to be the drivers of change when you’re
the drivers of change when you’re
the drivers of change when you’re walking down a grocery store aisle pick
walking down a grocery store aisle pick
walking down a grocery store aisle pick out the produce that might not otherwise
out the produce that might not otherwise
out the produce that might not otherwise be taken and don’t be influenced by the
be taken and don’t be influenced by the
be taken and don’t be influenced by the reception’s of perfect food it all
reception’s of perfect food it all
reception’s of perfect food it all tastes perfectly good right second thing
tastes perfectly good right second thing
tastes perfectly good right second thing is we need to stop wasting so much food
is we need to stop wasting so much food
is we need to stop wasting so much food at home
at home
at home 25% of everything we buy at the store
25% of everything we buy at the store
25% of everything we buy at the store ultimately goes to waste it’s like you
ultimately goes to waste it’s like you
ultimately goes to waste it’s like you go to the grocery store you buy four
go to the grocery store you buy four
go to the grocery store you buy four bags of groceries you drop one right in
bags of groceries you drop one right in
bags of groceries you drop one right in the parking lot without bothering to
the parking lot without bothering to
the parking lot without bothering to pick it up isn’t that absurd right and
pick it up isn’t that absurd right and
pick it up isn’t that absurd right and actually the key to not wasting food at
actually the key to not wasting food at
actually the key to not wasting food at home is proper use of your fridge
home is proper use of your fridge
home is proper use of your fridge refrigerators have been around for 50
refrigerators have been around for 50
refrigerators have been around for 50 years and somehow we still don’t know
years and somehow we still don’t know
years and somehow we still don’t know how to use them so we made this handy
how to use them so we made this handy
how to use them so we made this handy fridge storage guide which you can go on
fridge storage guide which you can go on
fridge storage guide which you can go on our website and find and it provides
our website and find and it provides
our website and find and it provides tips such as store the don’t store all
tips such as store the don’t store all
tips such as store the don’t store all your produce since what I like to call
your produce since what I like to call
your produce since what I like to call the produce golf in here that drawer you
the produce golf in here that drawer you
the produce golf in here that drawer you open up after a couple weeks and
open up after a couple weeks and
open up after a couple weeks and everything’s molding it lets because not
everything’s molding it lets because not
everything’s molding it lets because not all produce is supposed to be stored in
all produce is supposed to be stored in
all produce is supposed to be stored in the same environment it likes different
the same environment it likes different
the same environment it likes different environments as temperatures humidity
environments as temperatures humidity
environments as temperatures humidity right and the fourth thing we can do is
right and the fourth thing we can do is
right and the fourth thing we can do is actually President Obama wrote an
actually President Obama wrote an
actually President Obama wrote an article in Wired magazine the other week
article in Wired magazine the other week
article in Wired magazine the other week where he said that means creating not
where he said that means creating not
where he said that means creating not just a quicker way to deliver takeout
just a quicker way to deliver takeout
just a quicker way to deliver takeout downtown but also a system that
downtown but also a system that
downtown but also a system that distributes excess produce to
distributes excess produce to
distributes excess produce to communities where too many kids go to
communities where too many kids go to
communities where too many kids go to bed hungry what a novel idea I wonder if
bed hungry what a novel idea I wonder if
bed hungry what a novel idea I wonder if anybody’s doing that already so let’s
anybody’s doing that already so let’s
anybody’s doing that already so let’s let President Obama know that we are on
let President Obama know that we are on
let President Obama know that we are on it on Twitter that would be awesome
it on Twitter that would be awesome
it on Twitter that would be awesome and finally our team was thinking about
and finally our team was thinking about
and finally our team was thinking about how we can change the conversation about
how we can change the conversation about
how we can change the conversation about food that that’s going to waste and we
food that that’s going to waste and we
food that that’s going to waste and we were thinking what’s something that
were thinking what’s something that
were thinking what’s something that everybody uses really often and that can
everybody uses really often and that can
everybody uses really often and that can relate to everybody and the answer was
relate to everybody and the answer was
relate to everybody and the answer was really obvious emojis right well from my
really obvious emojis right well from my
really obvious emojis right well from my experience food doesn’t exactly look
experience food doesn’t exactly look
experience food doesn’t exactly look like this so what we do we made our own
like this so what we do we made our own
like this so what we do we made our own set of ugly produce emojis which you can
set of ugly produce emojis which you can
set of ugly produce emojis which you can download on the App Store and that’ll
download on the App Store and that’ll
download on the App Store and that’ll help change your perception of what food
help change your perception of what food
help change your perception of what food should look like so I’ll leave you with
should look like so I’ll leave you with
should look like so I’ll leave you with this note I believe in two fundamental
this note I believe in two fundamental
this note I believe in two fundamental principles that guide my life and guide
principles that guide my life and guide
principles that guide my life and guide hungry harvest I believe that no food
hungry harvest I believe that no food
hungry harvest I believe that no food should go to waste no matter where it’s
should go to waste no matter where it’s
should go to waste no matter where it’s grown what it looks like or how it’s
grown what it looks like or how it’s
grown what it looks like or how it’s packaged and I believe that no person
packaged and I believe that no person
packaged and I believe that no person should go hungry no matter where they
should go hungry no matter where they
should go hungry no matter where they live what their income is or how the
live what their income is or how the
live what their income is or how the economy is doing and I won’t stop until
economy is doing and I won’t stop until
economy is doing and I won’t stop until that dream comes a reality let’s change
that dream comes a reality let’s change
that dream comes a reality let’s change the world one ugly apple at a time thank
the world one ugly apple at a time thank
the world one ugly apple at a time thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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