40% of food grown in the U.S. is thrown away — here’s a solution | Patrick Bultema | TEDxMileHigh

so what I have right here is a pretty

so what I have right here is a pretty typical grocery store tomato if I threw

typical grocery store tomato if I threw

typical grocery store tomato if I threw this really hard against that wall

this really hard against that wall

this really hard against that wall it breaks the wall not the tomato why

it breaks the wall not the tomato why

it breaks the wall not the tomato why because this is one tough tomato you see

because this is one tough tomato you see

because this is one tough tomato you see this tomato was bred engineered and

this tomato was bred engineered and

this tomato was bred engineered and designed to survive the u.s. food system

designed to survive the u.s. food system

designed to survive the u.s. food system it was bred to have a tough skin so it’s

it was bred to have a tough skin so it’s

it was bred to have a tough skin so it’s not damaged by mechanical harvesters and

not damaged by mechanical harvesters and

not damaged by mechanical harvesters and processing equipment it was engineered

processing equipment it was engineered

processing equipment it was engineered to endure the rigors of long haul

to endure the rigors of long haul

to endure the rigors of long haul logistics and it was designed to look

logistics and it was designed to look

logistics and it was designed to look good on a shelf all this so you and I

good on a shelf all this so you and I

good on a shelf all this so you and I can get this tomato for a really low

can get this tomato for a really low

can get this tomato for a really low price any time of the year

price any time of the year

price any time of the year you see we’ve designed the food for the

you see we’ve designed the food for the

you see we’ve designed the food for the system instead of the other way around

system instead of the other way around

system instead of the other way around now what’s really when you think about

now what’s really when you think about

now what’s really when you think about it what’s really kind of absurd about

it what’s really kind of absurd about

it what’s really kind of absurd about that is no one here would pick this

that is no one here would pick this

that is no one here would pick this tomato over one you grew in your

tomato over one you grew in your

tomato over one you grew in your backyard right but I’ll tell you that’s

backyard right but I’ll tell you that’s

backyard right but I’ll tell you that’s not the craziest part because we throw

not the craziest part because we throw

not the craziest part because we throw away a shocking percentage of those

away a shocking percentage of those

away a shocking percentage of those tomatoes fact the US Department of

tomatoes fact the US Department of

tomatoes fact the US Department of Agriculture tells us that 40 percent of

Agriculture tells us that 40 percent of

Agriculture tells us that 40 percent of all food that farmers produce is thrown

all food that farmers produce is thrown

all food that farmers produce is thrown away now it’s a kid who grew up on a

away now it’s a kid who grew up on a

away now it’s a kid who grew up on a family farm kills me because I know how

family farm kills me because I know how

family farm kills me because I know how hard we worked to make that food fact

hard we worked to make that food fact

hard we worked to make that food fact this is my younger brother who’s still

this is my younger brother who’s still

this is my younger brother who’s still on our family farm out with his little

on our family farm out with his little

on our family farm out with his little daughter irrigating and harvesting the

daughter irrigating and harvesting the

daughter irrigating and harvesting the crop the estimate is something

crop the estimate is something

crop the estimate is something approaching 300 billion dollars of food

approaching 300 billion dollars of food

approaching 300 billion dollars of food is what we throw away every year in this

is what we throw away every year in this

is what we throw away every year in this country and the ugly corollary food

country and the ugly corollary food

country and the ugly corollary food waste makes up one-third of what’s going

waste makes up one-third of what’s going

waste makes up one-third of what’s going into landfills today the EPA estimates

into landfills today the EPA estimates

into landfills today the EPA estimates that it amounts to hundreds of billions

that it amounts to hundreds of billions

that it amounts to hundreds of billions of pounds

of pounds

of pounds of food getting hauled to the dump each

of food getting hauled to the dump each

of food getting hauled to the dump each and every year it’s an environmental hot

and every year it’s an environmental hot

and every year it’s an environmental hot mess

mess

mess that gives off enormous amounts of

that gives off enormous amounts of

that gives off enormous amounts of methane not to mention the wasted

methane not to mention the wasted

methane not to mention the wasted resource that it represents but you know

resource that it represents but you know

resource that it represents but you know those are just the symptoms where it

those are just the symptoms where it

those are just the symptoms where it actually happens is in the big food

actually happens is in the big food

actually happens is in the big food system and our food system is this kind

system and our food system is this kind

system and our food system is this kind of complex thing that got created in the

of complex thing that got created in the

of complex thing that got created in the 1950s and really hasn’t materially

1950s and really hasn’t materially

1950s and really hasn’t materially changed since so what can be done now

changed since so what can be done now

changed since so what can be done now you’ve probably all heard the

you’ve probably all heard the

you’ve probably all heard the catchphrase follow the money as a way to

catchphrase follow the money as a way to

catchphrase follow the money as a way to get to the bottom of a complicated

get to the bottom of a complicated

get to the bottom of a complicated scheme and so here’s what I think if you

scheme and so here’s what I think if you

scheme and so here’s what I think if you want to get to the bottom of the issue

want to get to the bottom of the issue

want to get to the bottom of the issue if you want to fix a 300 billion dollar

if you want to fix a 300 billion dollar

if you want to fix a 300 billion dollar system that’s throwing away all this

system that’s throwing away all this

system that’s throwing away all this food you follow the waste back into the

food you follow the waste back into the

food you follow the waste back into the system to understand how and where it

system to understand how and where it

system to understand how and where it happens and then if you can figure out

happens and then if you can figure out

happens and then if you can figure out how to capture that food well I think

how to capture that food well I think

how to capture that food well I think you gained some real insight into how to

you gained some real insight into how to

you gained some real insight into how to transform the system that’s what I’ve

transform the system that’s what I’ve

transform the system that’s what I’ve been doing for the last number of of

been doing for the last number of of

been doing for the last number of of years I’ve been following the waste back

years I’ve been following the waste back

years I’ve been following the waste back into the system so let me share today a

into the system so let me share today a

into the system so let me share today a little bit of what of what I’ve learned

little bit of what of what I’ve learned

little bit of what of what I’ve learned first the food system is really good at

first the food system is really good at

first the food system is really good at moving a lot of food it’s just not

moving a lot of food it’s just not

moving a lot of food it’s just not particularly good at being flexible it’s

particularly good at being flexible it’s

particularly good at being flexible it’s kind of a pretty rigid 1950s style

kind of a pretty rigid 1950s style

kind of a pretty rigid 1950s style system in a 21st century world so let me

system in a 21st century world so let me

system in a 21st century world so let me unpack that a little bit more starting

unpack that a little bit more starting

unpack that a little bit more starting off a little historical perspective if

off a little historical perspective if

off a little historical perspective if you look at the food system before the

you look at the food system before the

you look at the food system before the 1940s almost all food was local you

1940s almost all food was local you

1940s almost all food was local you would have local produce companies that

would have local produce companies that

would have local produce companies that would grow food and contract with local

would grow food and contract with local

would grow food and contract with local grocers local dairies local egg

grocers local dairies local egg

grocers local dairies local egg companies and so on now sure there have

companies and so on now sure there have

companies and so on now sure there have been some national brands around for a

been some national brands around for a

been some national brands around for a long time

long time

long time VanCamp pork and beans founded in 1851

VanCamp pork and beans founded in 1851

VanCamp pork and beans founded in 1851 but again the food system was really

but again the food system was really

but again the food system was really overwhelmingly local so the issue with

overwhelmingly local so the issue with

overwhelmingly local so the issue with this local system well it was largely

this local system well it was largely

this local system well it was largely seasonal and not terribly consistent and

seasonal and not terribly consistent and

seasonal and not terribly consistent and so in the 1940s and 50s

so in the 1940s and 50s

so in the 1940s and 50s we saw the creation of the industrial

we saw the creation of the industrial

we saw the creation of the industrial food

food

food system it’s a top-down hierarchical

system it’s a top-down hierarchical

system it’s a top-down hierarchical system of long hauls all organized

system of long hauls all organized

system of long hauls all organized around a hub-and-spoke kind of a model

around a hub-and-spoke kind of a model

around a hub-and-spoke kind of a model it involves gathering enormous amounts

it involves gathering enormous amounts

it involves gathering enormous amounts of food to large manufacturing and

of food to large manufacturing and

of food to large manufacturing and distribution centers and then shipped

distribution centers and then shipped

distribution centers and then shipped all the way back out to the tens of

all the way back out to the tens of

all the way back out to the tens of thousands of grocery stores across our

thousands of grocery stores across our

thousands of grocery stores across our country you may be aware that we

country you may be aware that we

country you may be aware that we actually grow a lot of melons in

actually grow a lot of melons in

actually grow a lot of melons in Colorado out east in the Rocky Ford area

Colorado out east in the Rocky Ford area

Colorado out east in the Rocky Ford area so let’s follow the waist of the melons

so let’s follow the waist of the melons

so let’s follow the waist of the melons about five to ten percent of the melons

about five to ten percent of the melons

about five to ten percent of the melons actually get left in the field at the

actually get left in the field at the

actually get left in the field at the farm another 10% or so of the melons get

farm another 10% or so of the melons get

farm another 10% or so of the melons get culled out abandoned lost at the packing

culled out abandoned lost at the packing

culled out abandoned lost at the packing shed those that actually make it into

shed those that actually make it into

shed those that actually make it into cartons will they get shipped to a fruit

cartons will they get shipped to a fruit

cartons will they get shipped to a fruit company in California before a little

company in California before a little

company in California before a little bit more processing and then they get

bit more processing and then they get

bit more processing and then they get shipped all across the nation to these

shipped all across the nation to these

shipped all across the nation to these large distribution centers and again

large distribution centers and again

large distribution centers and again ultimately to grocery stores because of

ultimately to grocery stores because of

ultimately to grocery stores because of this long haul system another 20% or so

this long haul system another 20% or so

this long haul system another 20% or so gets lost and that gets us to 40% wasted

gets lost and that gets us to 40% wasted

gets lost and that gets us to 40% wasted and by the way yes if you’re wondering

and by the way yes if you’re wondering

and by the way yes if you’re wondering those melons that get shipped from

those melons that get shipped from

those melons that get shipped from growing in Colorado shipped to

growing in Colorado shipped to

growing in Colorado shipped to California a significant percentage of

California a significant percentage of

California a significant percentage of them get shipped all the way back to

them get shipped all the way back to

them get shipped all the way back to Colorado I know you couldn’t actually

Colorado I know you couldn’t actually

Colorado I know you couldn’t actually make this up right then there are those

make this up right then there are those

make this up right then there are those confusing days by the way did you know

confusing days by the way did you know

confusing days by the way did you know that the only dates that are actually

that the only dates that are actually

that the only dates that are actually regulated by the federal government is

regulated by the federal government is

regulated by the federal government is baby formula that’s it and the dates

baby formula that’s it and the dates

baby formula that’s it and the dates have almost nothing to do with food

have almost nothing to do with food

have almost nothing to do with food safety they are overwhelmingly applied

safety they are overwhelmingly applied

safety they are overwhelmingly applied by the manufacturers and they are a

by the manufacturers and they are a

by the manufacturers and they are a crazy conservative but but what are

crazy conservative but but what are

crazy conservative but but what are those dates even mean best buy sell buy

those dates even mean best buy sell buy

those dates even mean best buy sell buy more delicious buy

more delicious buy

more delicious buy I mean they’re just confusing right and

I mean they’re just confusing right and

I mean they’re just confusing right and this actually adds to more waste because

this actually adds to more waste because

this actually adds to more waste because if a product is shortened eight industry

if a product is shortened eight industry

if a product is shortened eight industry speak meaning it doesn’t have very much

speak meaning it doesn’t have very much

speak meaning it doesn’t have very much time left on the date it won’t get

time left on the date it won’t get

time left on the date it won’t get pushed out to the grocery store

pushed out to the grocery store

pushed out to the grocery store it just gets thrown away and then

it just gets thrown away and then

it just gets thrown away and then there’s you know our system has the food

there’s you know our system has the food

there’s you know our system has the food system has really adapted to this

system has really adapted to this

system has really adapted to this abundance expectation in our society you

abundance expectation in our society you

abundance expectation in our society you and I have come to a place where we

and I have come to a place where we

and I have come to a place where we expect everything all the time in the

expect everything all the time in the

expect everything all the time in the grocery store in fact the accepted

grocery store in fact the accepted

grocery store in fact the accepted wisdom of the grocery industry is that

wisdom of the grocery industry is that

wisdom of the grocery industry is that if you or I walk into a grocery store to

if you or I walk into a grocery store to

if you or I walk into a grocery store to buy a specific item and they’re out of

buy a specific item and they’re out of

buy a specific item and they’re out of that item there’s a 40% chance on that

that item there’s a 40% chance on that

that item there’s a 40% chance on that one event that we will change our

one event that we will change our

one event that we will change our preferred grocery store and so the

preferred grocery store and so the

preferred grocery store and so the stores not wanting to lose your you as a

stores not wanting to lose your you as a

stores not wanting to lose your you as a customer strive to always have

customer strive to always have

customer strive to always have everything all the time what’s more the

everything all the time what’s more the

everything all the time what’s more the freakin tomato has to look perfect

freakin tomato has to look perfect

freakin tomato has to look perfect anything that is just slightly out of

anything that is just slightly out of

anything that is just slightly out of that kind of arbitrary perfect cosmetic

that kind of arbitrary perfect cosmetic

that kind of arbitrary perfect cosmetic standard it gets thrown away the

standard it gets thrown away the

standard it gets thrown away the abundance expectation the tomatoes

abundance expectation the tomatoes

abundance expectation the tomatoes results in a requirement for oversupply

results in a requirement for oversupply

results in a requirement for oversupply because again if you have to have

because again if you have to have

because again if you have to have everything all the time then the only

everything all the time then the only

everything all the time then the only way you can do that is specific

way you can do that is specific

way you can do that is specific significantly oversupply the system

significantly oversupply the system

significantly oversupply the system again resulting in more waste then

again resulting in more waste then

again resulting in more waste then finally local food you know farmers and

finally local food you know farmers and

finally local food you know farmers and ranchers struggle to get a fair shake

ranchers struggle to get a fair shake

ranchers struggle to get a fair shake from the big food system so while

from the big food system so while

from the big food system so while there’s a lot of talk about

there’s a lot of talk about

there’s a lot of talk about farm-to-table the industrialized food

farm-to-table the industrialized food

farm-to-table the industrialized food system makes it almost impossible for

system makes it almost impossible for

system makes it almost impossible for farmers to get access to their local

farmers to get access to their local

farmers to get access to their local markets song Grey’s best beef up in the

markets song Grey’s best beef up in the

markets song Grey’s best beef up in the mountains in West Cliff Colorado ranch

mountains in West Cliff Colorado ranch

mountains in West Cliff Colorado ranch owner and cowgirl Elin produces hundreds

owner and cowgirl Elin produces hundreds

owner and cowgirl Elin produces hundreds of head of beef every year and it is

of head of beef every year and it is

of head of beef every year and it is wonderful product grass-fed natural beef

wonderful product grass-fed natural beef

wonderful product grass-fed natural beef great stuff but she has a hard time

great stuff but she has a hard time

great stuff but she has a hard time getting a fair shake from the big food

getting a fair shake from the big food

getting a fair shake from the big food system and so she sells some of

system and so she sells some of

system and so she sells some of beef direct to consumers and some to

beef direct to consumers and some to

beef direct to consumers and some to local independent markets but these

local independent markets but these

local independent markets but these outlets really can’t take all the supply

outlets really can’t take all the supply

outlets really can’t take all the supply that she has but she’s not big enough to

that she has but she’s not big enough to

that she has but she’s not big enough to actually break into the big food system

actually break into the big food system

actually break into the big food system what’s more the industrialized food

what’s more the industrialized food

what’s more the industrialized food system really only wants some of the

system really only wants some of the

system really only wants some of the cuts of beef so parts like tongue or

cuts of beef so parts like tongue or

cuts of beef so parts like tongue or beef knuckles largely lost in the system

beef knuckles largely lost in the system

beef knuckles largely lost in the system and thrown away you know I could go on

and thrown away you know I could go on

and thrown away you know I could go on but you get the point right this

but you get the point right this

but you get the point right this antiquated kind of outdated 1950 system

antiquated kind of outdated 1950 system

antiquated kind of outdated 1950 system confusing dates or abundance expectation

confusing dates or abundance expectation

confusing dates or abundance expectation that leads to leads us to oversupply and

that leads to leads us to oversupply and

that leads to leads us to oversupply and local food lost in the system all this

local food lost in the system all this

local food lost in the system all this and more contributes to massive waste in

and more contributes to massive waste in

and more contributes to massive waste in all these cases there is a common root

all these cases there is a common root

all these cases there is a common root cause a key ingredient that’s missing

cause a key ingredient that’s missing

cause a key ingredient that’s missing from the system and that’s agility as I

from the system and that’s agility as I

from the system and that’s agility as I said at the start our food system is

said at the start our food system is

said at the start our food system is really good at moving a lot of food it’s

really good at moving a lot of food it’s

really good at moving a lot of food it’s just not good at being flexible at being

just not good at being flexible at being

just not good at being flexible at being agile especially at these points where

agile especially at these points where

agile especially at these points where waste happens in the system so how can

waste happens in the system so how can

waste happens in the system so how can we bring agility to the big food system

we bring agility to the big food system

we bring agility to the big food system that’s really the core question that

that’s really the core question that

that’s really the core question that I’ve been grappling with for the last

I’ve been grappling with for the last

I’ve been grappling with for the last four years given the fact that hundreds

four years given the fact that hundreds

four years given the fact that hundreds of billions of dollars is getting lost I

of billions of dollars is getting lost I

of billions of dollars is getting lost I thought there had to be an economic

thought there had to be an economic

thought there had to be an economic opportunity in there somewhere and so

opportunity in there somewhere and so

opportunity in there somewhere and so what we’re doing that food maven

what we’re doing that food maven

what we’re doing that food maven initially is we’re focusing on this

initially is we’re focusing on this

initially is we’re focusing on this arbitrage opportunity and arbitrage is

arbitrage opportunity and arbitrage is

arbitrage opportunity and arbitrage is really just a fancy word for capturing

really just a fancy word for capturing

really just a fancy word for capturing something that’s getting lost where

something that’s getting lost where

something that’s getting lost where value can be recovered what we’ve

value can be recovered what we’ve

value can be recovered what we’ve figured out is how to capture and sell

figured out is how to capture and sell

figured out is how to capture and sell this lost food for our suppliers

this lost food for our suppliers

this lost food for our suppliers this means reclaimed revenues from food

this means reclaimed revenues from food

this means reclaimed revenues from food that they were otherwise going to a

that they were otherwise going to a

that they were otherwise going to a perfectly good food that they were going

perfectly good food that they were going

perfectly good food that they were going to throw away and then we sell at a

to throw away and then we sell at a

to throw away and then we sell at a discount to our food service buyers so

discount to our food service buyers so

discount to our food service buyers so we’re selling to rest

we’re selling to rest

we’re selling to rest institutional kitchens commercial food

institutional kitchens commercial food

institutional kitchens commercial food businesses for whatever doesn’t rapidly

businesses for whatever doesn’t rapidly

businesses for whatever doesn’t rapidly sell in our system we donate to our

sell in our system we donate to our

sell in our system we donate to our charity partners for hunger relief after

charity partners for hunger relief after

charity partners for hunger relief after all when you think about it I mean it’s

all when you think about it I mean it’s

all when you think about it I mean it’s crazy that anybody in the United States

crazy that anybody in the United States

crazy that anybody in the United States would not have enough or enough quality

would not have enough or enough quality

would not have enough or enough quality food to eat when we’re throwing away

food to eat when we’re throwing away

food to eat when we’re throwing away hundreds of billions and then for the

hundreds of billions and then for the

hundreds of billions and then for the small percentage that’s not fit for

small percentage that’s not fit for

small percentage that’s not fit for donation we seek more economically

donation we seek more economically

donation we seek more economically enlightened and environmentally sound

enlightened and environmentally sound

enlightened and environmentally sound options than landfills

we really are passionate about what we

we really are passionate about what we do and view that you were trying to be

do and view that you were trying to be

do and view that you were trying to be good for profits good for people and

good for profits good for people and

good for profits good for people and good for the planet so how do we do this

good for the planet so how do we do this

good for the planet so how do we do this what’s different about what we’re doing

what’s different about what we’re doing

what’s different about what we’re doing well we’re actually a leveraging kind of

well we’re actually a leveraging kind of

well we’re actually a leveraging kind of best practices and creating an online

best practices and creating an online

best practices and creating an online digital marketplace we’re applying all

digital marketplace we’re applying all

digital marketplace we’re applying all of the Big Data technologies and

of the Big Data technologies and

of the Big Data technologies and techniques to optimize everything and

techniques to optimize everything and

techniques to optimize everything and we’re creating this very flexible agile

we’re creating this very flexible agile

we’re creating this very flexible agile local logistics system we built systems

local logistics system we built systems

local logistics system we built systems and technology to do all of the best

and technology to do all of the best

and technology to do all of the best practices on food handling and delivery

practices on food handling and delivery

practices on food handling and delivery and I realized sounds a little bit

and I realized sounds a little bit

and I realized sounds a little bit complicated but you know if you think

complicated but you know if you think

complicated but you know if you think about what Amazon does every single day

about what Amazon does every single day

about what Amazon does every single day Amazon has four hundred million products

Amazon has four hundred million products

Amazon has four hundred million products in their inventory they receive hundreds

in their inventory they receive hundreds

in their inventory they receive hundreds of orders per second but somehow your

of orders per second but somehow your

of orders per second but somehow your order ends up on your doorstep in two

order ends up on your doorstep in two

order ends up on your doorstep in two days and here shortly with Amazon Prime

days and here shortly with Amazon Prime

days and here shortly with Amazon Prime now coming to Denver you’ll get it in

now coming to Denver you’ll get it in

now coming to Denver you’ll get it in two hours so imagine with me if we

two hours so imagine with me if we

two hours so imagine with me if we applied that same kind of technology and

applied that same kind of technology and

applied that same kind of technology and system sophistication to the food system

system sophistication to the food system

system sophistication to the food system that’s the kind of agility and

that’s the kind of agility and

that’s the kind of agility and flexibility that I’m talking about and I

flexibility that I’m talking about and I

flexibility that I’m talking about and I think the future of the food system

think the future of the food system

think the future of the food system won’t struggle so much to be able to do

won’t struggle so much to be able to do

won’t struggle so much to be able to do farm-to-table where local farmers will

farm-to-table where local farmers will

farm-to-table where local farmers will be able to much more seamlessly and

be able to much more seamlessly and

be able to much more seamlessly and easily participate in the system where

easily participate in the system where

easily participate in the system where the system is designed for the food

the system is designed for the food

the system is designed for the food instead of the other way around

instead of the other way around

instead of the other way around read better Tomatoes and a more agile

read better Tomatoes and a more agile

read better Tomatoes and a more agile system means less waste and friends

system means less waste and friends

system means less waste and friends that’s good for everybody it’s good

that’s good for everybody it’s good

that’s good for everybody it’s good economics it’s good for the environment

economics it’s good for the environment

economics it’s good for the environment it’s good for farmers and producers you

it’s good for farmers and producers you

it’s good for farmers and producers you know I’m encouraged that we’re beginning

know I’m encouraged that we’re beginning

know I’m encouraged that we’re beginning to see some real signs of this change

to see some real signs of this change

to see some real signs of this change coming there’s a dramatic increase in

coming there’s a dramatic increase in

coming there’s a dramatic increase in new healthier local food companies and

new healthier local food companies and

new healthier local food companies and it’s being met by a consumer awareness

it’s being met by a consumer awareness

it’s being met by a consumer awareness and thoughtfulness about the food you’re

and thoughtfulness about the food you’re

and thoughtfulness about the food you’re eating and where it comes

eating and where it comes

eating and where it comes we can no longer accept the unintended

we can no longer accept the unintended

we can no longer accept the unintended consequences of an outdated food system

consequences of an outdated food system

consequences of an outdated food system where hundreds of millions of dollars of

where hundreds of millions of dollars of

where hundreds of millions of dollars of food is lost and just accepted as a cost

food is lost and just accepted as a cost

food is lost and just accepted as a cost of doing business we can and we must do

of doing business we can and we must do

of doing business we can and we must do better I invite you to be part of one of

better I invite you to be part of one of

better I invite you to be part of one of the great opportunities of our days to

the great opportunities of our days to

the great opportunities of our days to be better stewards of one of our most

be better stewards of one of our most

be better stewards of one of our most fundamental resources the food that

fundamental resources the food that

fundamental resources the food that nourishes and sustains us thank you

nourishes and sustains us thank you

nourishes and sustains us thank you [Applause]