CFCWR Blog
Announcing a new website for the Center for Food Conservation and Waste Reduction
Written by Karen Byrd,, PhD, RDN, Research Administrator and Outreach Coordinator, Center for Food Conservation and Waste Reduction
What’s that mysterious container lurking in the back of your refrigerator? You know the one — those forgotten leftovers that are now hosting their own science experiment? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce you to the newly launched website for the USDA-funded Center for Food Conservation and Waste Reduction (CFCWR). Think of it as your friendly guide to becoming a food-conserving superhero.
Why be a food conserver?
It’s shocking by true — the average U.S. household of four loses $3,000 annually because of the food they waste (Yikes!). That’s not only bad for your wallet, it’s also bad for the planet. Most food waste ends up in landfills, making valuable land unusable and producing harmful methane gases. But it doesn’t have to be this way; we’re here to help. Our website has great resources that provide tips and tricks on how to waste less food (and money and resources!). So, let’s get to work conserving our food!
Top 3 reasons for visiting our website
We totally get it – everyone’s relationship with food is unique – and that’s okay! Whether you’re a meal-prep master or more of a “let’s see what’s in the fridge tonight” improviser (hello, that’s me!), we’ve got something for you. We designed our website to be useful to all consumers, no matter if you’re a bona fide foodie or not and no matter your life stage or household size! Here are some things we are really excited about:
Resource Library
Say goodbye to endless googling! We’ve done the detective work, gathering the best and most trustworthy food conservation and waste reduction resources all in one place. Whether you’re looking for quick tips, mouth-watering recipes, or handy apps — we’ve got you covered! Plus, we’ll also be creating our own content as we go, sharing our own successes (and, let’s be honest, sometimes our failures) with food conservation – and we hope you’ll be willing to tell us what works for you. Let’s face it – we all have something to learn from each other!
Tips to Conserve Food and Reduce Waste
Need quick ideas without searching our resource library? Check out these practical tips to help prevent food waste at home. We’ve got you covered with everything from smart shopping to clever storage solutions. Not sure what to do with those leftovers? We have tips for that as well – trust me, your future self will thank you when Tuesday’s dinner transforms into Thursday’s amazing lunch!
Policies & Legislation
Curious about how your community is tackling food waste? We’ve got the scoop on local, state, and national efforts to reduce waste. Want to help change policy? Explore proposed policies and regulations so you can advocate with legislators for policy changes you are passionate about.
And we’re just getting started! We’ll also be launching a podcast and posting regularly to our blog to share new resources, Q&A sessions with food conservers, and so much more! Want to be first to know what’s new? Sign up for our mailing list! And don’t forget to follow us on social media! Together, we can conserve food and reduce waste to create a healthier future for our families and our planet.
This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, project award no. 2024-68015-42110, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.
Microsoft Copilot and Claude.ai were used for editorial purposes.