Produce from within a hundred-mile region is weekly cataloged online at Ipickhere.com where locals can buy the exact amount of food they need.
While we were unable to find local statistics, nationally in 2010, thirty-one percent of food was lost at consumer and retail level, which is approximately 133 billion pounds of food worth $161 billion, according to the United State Department of Agriculture.
CEO and founder Karen Conaway says local farmers are producing less food waste which reduces the region’s environmental footprint.
“ So, what they’re able to do now is chose several days a week where they can sell things online and deliver them and they don’t have as much waste.”
In hopes of stimulating the local economy, Ipickhere.com makes it practical for business owners to buy. Local entrepreneur Zac Parsons stopped by the Ipickhere.com pick-up location to check out produce for his business which is opening soon.
“We’re all about having the whole journey of the food from its farm, or wherever it was produced, to your mouth and then also extra food and where that goes and compostable bottles.”
Another benefit is that through Ipickhere.com, farmers and gardeners donate the excess food to local non-profit organizations.
