According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, nearly 40 percent of food waste in the United States originates from consumers. This loss not only harms the environment but also impacts the finances of average households. Fortunately, by making slight adjustments to our shopping habits, we can rescue perfectly good, tasty, and sometimes even gourmet food from being discarded.
Why just help the environment when you can potentially save hundreds of dollars on your food expenses? Here are some excellent venues to discover salvage groceries.
1. Discount grocery outlets
Discount grocery stores, often referred to as salvage grocery stores or grocery outlets, carry items that other retailers are unable to sell. This may include products with damaged packaging, those nearing their expiration dates, excess inventory, or seasonal goods that are no longer in season.
Typically, these stores offer substantial discounts on brand-name products, often around 50 percent, with even deeper reductions possible based on packaging condition. My neighborhood grocery outlet allows the use of coupons, providing additional savings. If you’re new to shopping at these establishments, consult with store personnel for tips on maximizing your budget.
While some of my neighbors exclusively shop at our local salvage grocery store, one challenge is that the inventory changes frequently, so availability can vary from one visit to the next. Staff members can inform you about delivery schedules, so you don’t miss out on fresh items or unique snacks.
Salvage grocery stores source their products from grocery reclamation centers—both being regulated and inspected, ensuring the food quality is safe for consumption. (See also: 10 Affordable Alternatives to the Grocery Store)
2. The markdown section
Countless standard grocery stores maintain a discount section featuring items that may be close to expiration or otherwise marked down. Typically located at the back of the store, this markdown area can sometimes take up several aisles, especially following holidays. I always stock up on Easter candies the day after the holiday; no one needs to know that my cookie recipes are enhanced with leftover chocolate eggs or bunnies. Discounts in these sections typically range from 30 to 50 percent off regular pricing.
3. Save on imperfect produce
Imperfect Produce is a subscription service offering weekly farm boxes delivered directly to your door. So what qualifies as imperfect? It may include irregularly shaped cucumbers, oversized or undersized avocados, or any fruits and vegetables lacking a uniform appearance. Subscribers benefit from prices that are 30 to 50 percent lower than those at conventional grocery stores. Unlike most Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, Imperfect Produce allows you to customize your selections, ensuring you only receive items you enjoy.
4. Local farmers markets
Farmers incur significant costs to transport their goods to markets, and the returns on unsold produce can be disappointing. To snag the best deals, visit your local farmers market near closing time; farmers often prefer selling their goods at a lower price rather than having to take them back home.
As a regular at my local market, I often receive free produce from several vendor stands. Instead of discarding damaged or unsellable items, farmers may give them away to customers for use in creating jams, pickles, or salads. (See also: Buy This—Not That—at the Farmers Market)
5. Directly from the farm
If you’re situated in a rural area, you might consider visiting farms directly. Many farms offer produce as an employee perk, which is how I have managed to secure free avocados during a shortage last year by working a few hours each week as a beekeeper on a local farm.
During that time, I enjoyed approximately $350 worth of avocados that had fallen from trees, as well as countless plums that were too damaged for sale but perfect for making jam. Currently, I’m making salads with small lettuces and tiny carrots that wouldn’t have made it to the market.
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF-USA) lists organic farms looking for workers in exchange for food and accommodations.
6. Food management at home
On average, an American family discards over $1,500 worth of food annually. Imagine what you could accomplish with that extra income each year!
There are numerous ways to manage your food storage and reduce waste. Even if meal prep isn’t your favorite activity, you might try using ingredient calculators to transform leftovers into new recipes, or perhaps you could enjoy last night’s uneaten items for lunch. Adventurous eaters might even consider creating “Thursday Night Soup” from random ingredients.
To encourage my husband to pack leftovers for lunch, I place items nearing their “use by” dates on a designated top shelf in our refrigerator, clearly labeled “Eat Me First.” This straightforward method has significantly decreased our food waste. (See also: 11 Ways to Turn Leftover Sweet Potatoes and Other Starchy Foods Into Something Special)
7. Dumpster diving
Dumpster diving has become a modern form of recycling, often embraced by sustainability advocates, professors, and activists who have learned to dine elegantly on a shoestring budget. (See also: Dumpster-Diving 101: 6 Strategies for Success)
Contrary to common beliefs, dumpster diving for food is often less unpleasant than one might imagine. Most of the debris found in grocery store dumpsters consists of food, typically safeguarded by plastic bags from contamination. You won’t encounter anything truly unpleasant, such as medical waste. Food retailers are generally mindful of vermin, taking precautions to keep their waste safe.
Sustainable living advocate Rob Greenfield documented his experiences biking between cities, eating solely from around 300 different dumpsters. He shares remarkable insights and visuals of the food awaiting rescue behind grocery stores on his blog.
Much like any foraging activity, dumpster diving does have a learning curve. If doing it solo feels overwhelming, there are numerous Meetup and Facebook groups dedicated to those interested in salvaging food, often organizing dumpster tours and communal meals. It has gained popularity and acceptance more than most might believe. Even I, who consider myself relatively experienced in urban salvaging, was surprised to find Yelp reviews for dumpsters in my city! New Yorkers even maintain a directory of dumpsters by borough on the freegan.info website.
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