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Sustainable Management of Food

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Food Recovery Challenge Results and Award Winners

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Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative

The Food Recovery Challenge is one of EPA’s contributions to the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, a partnership among EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration, to reduce food loss and waste through combined federal action.

Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) awards are given in two categories – data driven and narrative. Participants do not apply for the data driven awards, as these awards are given based on the information submitted in the SMM Data Management System and are based on percent changes comparing an organization’s data to the previous year’s data. Participants and endorsers apply for narrative awards in the following areas: Source Reduction, Leadership, Innovation, Education and Outreach, and Endorsers.

Food Recovery Challenge Results

In 2018, more than 1,000 Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers prevented and diverted over 815,000 tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. Of this amount, participants and endorsers:

  • prevented over 18,000 tons of wasted food from being created through source reduction (prevention) activities,
  • donated approximately 317,000 tons of food,
  • anaerobically digested nearly 47,000 tons of food and
  • composted more than 269,000 tons of food.

FRc participants saved up to $42.3 million in avoided tipping fees

EPA is pleased to recognize the following organizations for their outstanding efforts in 2018 to advance sustainable materials management and for their leadership in the sustainable management of food. Their accomplishments, along with all the other FRC participants and endorsers play a role in meeting the United States’ national goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2030.

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2019 Food Recovery Challenge Awards - National Winners

Read about the 2019 National Award Winners

Learn more about the successes of the 2019 national award winners

Data-driven Improvement by Sector – highest percent increase over previous years

  • Grocers: Sprouts Farmers Market Store # 407, Alhambra, California
  • Food Manufacturing: Signature Breads, Inc., Chelsea, Massachusetts
  • Colleges/Universities: Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire
  • K-12 Schools: Katharine Lee Bates Elementary School, Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts
  • Sports and Entertainment Venues: Savor...Chicago at McCormick Place - South Building, Chicago, Illinois
  • Hospitality: MGM Resorts International - Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada
  • State/Tribal/Local Government: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works - Environmental Programs Division, Los Angeles, California
  • Non-profits: ProduceGood, Encinitas, California
  • Restaurants and Food Service Providers: Captain's Galley Restaurant at Pickwick Landing State Park, Counce, Tennessee

Narrative Categories

  • Source Reduction, Winner: Wylie Independent School District (ISD) Birmingham Elementary, Wylie, Texas
  • Leadership, Winner: Firekeepers Casino Hotel - Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Battle Creek, Michigan
  • Leadership, Honorable Mention: Wylie ISD Harrison Intermediate School, Wylie, Texas
  • Innovation, Winner: Windward Zero Waste School Hui, Kailua, Hawaii
  • Education and Outreach, Winner: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California
  • Endorser, Winner: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville, Tennessee

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2019 Food Recovery Challenge Awards - Regional Winners

Learn More About the Regional Award Winners

Read more about the successes of the 2019 regional award winners

In addition to national awards, EPA regional offices across the country provided recognition to Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers for outstanding accomplishments in preventing and diverting wasted food. Regional winners are listed below by EPA Region and then by U.S. state:

EPA New England Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

Connecticut

  • Center for EcoTechnology, Inc.

Massachusetts

  • Island Grown Initiative

Vermont

  • Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District

Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island Department of Health

EPA's Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

New York

  • Rock and Wrap it Up!
    • Costco of the Five Towns
    • Cincinnati Reds
  • Golub Corporation (Price Chopper, Market 32, Market Bistro)
  • Wegmans Food Markets

New Jersey

  • Ravitz Family Markets:
    • Shoprite: Union Mill Rd., Mount Laurel Supermarkets Inc.
    • Shoprite: Marlton Supermarkets Inc.
    • Shoprite: Cherry Hill Supermarkets, Inc.
    • Price Rite Supermarkets, Inc.
  • Raritan Valley Community College

EPA's Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia

Maryland

  • Towson University

EPA's Region 5: Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin

Michigan

  • Stella’s Lounge - Barfly Ventures

EPA's Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska

Iowa

  • Food Rescue Partnership

Kansas

  • Rising Star Elementary - Shawnee Mission School District
  • Johnson County Department of Health and Environment

Missouri

  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Solid Waste Management District

EPA's Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

Colorado

  • Sprouts Farmers Market Store #305
  • Sprouts Farmers Market Store #325

EPA's Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau

California

  • City of Cupertino

EPA's Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 271 native tribes

Oregon

  • University of Oregon
  • Rudy's Markets Inc. doing business as (dba) Newport Ave. Market

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Previous Winners

2018 Food Recovery Challenge Awards - National Winners

Data-driven Improvement by Sector – highest percent increase over previous years

Learn About the Award Winners

  • Grocers: Sprouts Farmers Market Store # 256, Tustin, California
  • Colleges/Universities: California State University, Northridge, California
  • K-12 Schools: Shawnee Mission School District - Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, Shawnee, Kansas
  • Sports and Entertainment Venues: Seattle Mariners/Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
  • Hospitality: MGM Resorts International - Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada
  • State/Tribal/Local Government: City of Philadelphia – Department of Prisons, Pennsylvania
  • Non-profits: ProduceGood, Encinitas, California

Narrative Categories

  • Source Reduction, Winner: The Forge Restaurant at Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee
  • Leadership, Winner: University of Texas at Arlington, Texas
  • Innovation, Winner: Food Forward, Los Angeles, California
  • Education and Outreach, Winner: Andover Public Schools - Green Schools Andover, Massachusetts
  • Endorser, Winner: Sodexo, Gaithersburg, Maryland
  • Endorser, Honorable Mention: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville, Tennessee

2018 Food Recovery Challenge Awards - Regional Winners

Learn More About the Regional Award Winners

In addition to national awards, EPA regional offices across the country provided recognition to FRC participants and endorsers for outstanding accomplishments in preventing and diverting wasted food. Regional winners are listed below by EPA Region and then by U.S. state:

EPA New England Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont

Massachusetts

  • Boston College
  • Food for Free

Vermont

  • The Skinny Pancake

EPA's Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

New York

  • Golub Corporation (Price Chopper, Market 32)
  • Rock and Wrap it Up!
  • Skidmore College

New Jersey

  • Ravitz Family Markets, Price Rite Supermarkets, Inc.

EPA's Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia

Maryland

  • UEmpower of Maryland

Pennsylvania

  • GIANT Food Stores, LLC

  • University of Pittsburgh

EPA's Region 5: Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin

Illinois

  • SAVOR...Chicago - McCormick Place West Building

Michigan

  • Electric Forest and Bright Beat

EPA's Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

Texas

  • Aramark at The University of Texas at San Antonio - Residential Dining Hall, Roadrunner Café
  • Sprouts Farmers Market Store #126

EPA's Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska

Kansas

  • Haskell Indian Nations University
  • Kansas State University

Missouri

  • Missouri Recycling Association

EPA's Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

Colorado

  • Boulder County Jail

Montana

  • Montana Department of Environmental Quality

EPA's Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau

California

  • 99 Ranch Market: Store 3
  • 168 Market: Store 806
  • EcoSet Consulting
  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Works – Environmental Programs Division
  • Sprouts Farmers Market Store #s 207, 211, 212, 221, 222, 227, 235, 242, 243, 245, 246, 248, 251, 255, 257, 262, 268 and 280

EPA's Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 271 native tribes

Washington

  • CenturyLink Field
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

2017 Food Recovery Challenge Awards - National Winners

Data-driven Improvement by Sector – highest percent increase over previous years

Learn About the Award Winners

  • Grocers: Sprouts Farmers Market - 247, Carlsbad, California
  • Colleges/Universities: University of Houston, Houston, Texas
  • K-12 Schools: Ramona High School, Ramona, California
  • Venues: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, Dallas, Texas
  • Hospitality: Xanterra Parks and Resorts at Zion National Park Lodge, Springdale, Utah
  • Restaurants and Food Service Providers: Café de Novo, Dallas, Texas
  • State/Tribal/Local Government: Town of New Paltz, New Paltz, New York
  • Non-profit: Food Forward, North Hollywood, California
  • Newcomer: Sprouts Farmers Market - 276, Daly City, California
  • Food Manufacturing: Signature Breads, Inc., Chelsea, Massachusetts

Narrative Categories

  • Source Reduction, Winner: Cherokee Point Elementary – San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, California
  • Leadership, Winner: City of San Diego, San Diego, California
  • Innovation, Winner: Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival, Honesdale, Pennsylvania
  • Innovation, Winner: San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California
  • Education and Outreach, Winner: Spoiler Alert, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Endorsers, Winner: Corporate Waste Consultants, Greentown, Pennsylvania

2017 Food Recovery Challenge Awards - Regional Winners

Learn More About the Regional Award Winners

In addition to national awards, EPA regional offices across the country provided recognition to FRC participants and endorsers for outstanding accomplishments in preventing and diverting wasted food. Regional winners are listed below by EPA Region and then by U.S. state:

EPA New England Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont
Connecticut

  • Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut
  • Southern Connecticut State University
  • Whole Foods Market, Northeast Region: Milford

Maine

  • Colby College
  • Hannaford Supermarkets
  • University of Southern Maine

Massachusetts

  • Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Medical Center
  • Big Y World Class Markets
  • Boston College
  • Café de Boston
  • Clark University
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Gillette Stadium
  • Katharine Lee Bates Elementary School
  • Northeastern University
  • Raytheon Company & Eurest
  • Salem State University
  • University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
  • University of Massachusetts - Lowell

New Hampshire

  • Parkland Medical Center

Rhode Island

  • Johnson and Wales University

Vermont

  • Harvest Market
  • Stratton Mountain Resort
  • Vermont Lake Monsters

EPA's Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
New Jersey

  • Ravitz Family Markets: Evesham Rd
  • Ravitz Family Markets: Price Rite
  • Whole Foods: Edgewater
  • Whole Foods: Paramus

New York

  • Daemen College
  • Golub Corporation
  • Rock and Wrap It up! – Animal Kingdom
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! – Atlanta Braves
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! - Billions
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! – Black Sabbath
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! – Chicago White Sox
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! – Cincinnati Reds
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! – Jones Beach Live
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! – Milwaukee Brewers
  • Rock and Wrap It Up! – NY Yankees
  • Wegmans
  • Whole Foods: Albany
  • Whole Foods: Jericho
  • Whole Food: Lake Grove
  • Whole Foods: Tribeca
  • Whole Foods: Upper West Side

EPA's Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee
Georgia

  • Georgia World Congress Center Authority

North Carolina

  • Food Lion Grocery Stores

South Carolina

  • Clemson University

EPA's Region 5: Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin

Illinois

  • The Field Museum
  • Green Music Fest 2016

Indiana

  • HopCat Broad Ripple

Ohio

  • The Kroger Company

Michigan

  • Central Michigan University

Minnesota

  • Saint Paul River Centre/Xcel Energy Center

EPA's Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska

Iowa

  • Drake University - Next Course Food Recovery
  • Food Rescue Partnership
  • Grinnell College
  • Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC)

Kansas

  • Johnson County Department of Health and Environment
  • Shawnee Mission School District

Missouri

  • Green Dining Alliance
  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)
  • St. Louis Cardinals

EPA's Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

Colorado

  • Aurora Public Schools

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Sustainable Management of Food