It's Pumpkin Season!

Each year, Americans produce 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins to decorate our homes or use in recipes, however an estimated 900,000 lbs. of pumpkin are thrown away in the United States annually.

Our modern food system is a driver of climate change, with dependence up on electricity and water to efficiently produce enough food to feed our nation. Despite our ability to efficiently produce high volumes of food, our modern food system creates a great deal of waste. In the United States in 2010, Americans wasted 30-40% or 133 billion pounds of food. This waste is created across the entire food chain, from the farm, distribution, sale and even uneaten food from our plates.

This fall, we can reduce our carbon by looking at our own food waste. Some tips to reduce food waste this fall:

• Reduce travel time-purchase pumpkins from local farmers (this also supports your local economy!)
• Don’t throw away your seeds! Toast pumpkin seeds for a tasty treat. Plant excess seeds in your garden for next year!
• Let pumpkins decompose naturally. Avoid using bleach, paint or plastic decorations for your pumpkins so that they can degrade naturally and provide food for wildlife.
• Purchase candy locally. Look for options with minimal packaging.