Grocery stores reject produce

[duckyfromoz]

My teenaged daughter has a part time job at a local supermarket, she often comes home with a bag of lettuce leaves- and sometimes whole boxes of assorted bits and pieces. There are a heap of people who go in regularly to ask for the offcuts of the leafy greens so I count myself lucky to have an " insider" that can get them while they are so fresh.

 

[Rosebud 18]

I live in a small town (less than 1500 pop.) with only one grocery store. I ask if I could have their throw away produce and they said no. Wouldn't give a reason.

 

[galgo98]

I too tried to get some scraps from a grocery store, and they said no also. However, we have many farmers/flea markets in the area. This summer I asked a lady about a box of lettuce leaves I saw under the table. She got a bag and filled it with lettuce leaves, cauliflower, tomatoes, and cucumbers. She said she saves everything for her rabbits and horses, and she had plenty to give me. Since then, whenever she sees me coming, she grabs a bag and fills it for me. I have brought her extra eggs when I have them. One thing I have learned since I got the ducks is the barter system!!

 

[Amiga]

Seems to me there is a federal law that allows people to have food that would otherwise be discarded, and the source is held harmless, but I cannot find the reference I saw some months ago. I was looking into the movie Dive! which is about dumpster diving.

I'll see if I can dig that up

.... ETA:

For what it's worth: http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/appc.htm

This applies to food for human consumption, but it may be helpful to know about this when it comes to seeking a "donation" for other living things. (c: (or, maybe not . . .

)

 

[grawg]

Quote:
Sorry sorta off topic,

Did you know there is a thread on feeding your flock dedicated to mealworm farming? I believe my start-up costs would have been $10-$15 if I had to buy the container and bedding, since I already had those on hand it was $1.50 for the mealworms. I started with way too few mealworms from a bait shop so I can't tell you if it is worth it yet.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
For that kind of money I would grow my own. It isn't hard all you need is a place that doesn't freeze. When I had ducks I did it, but geese aren't huge fans so I now sprout grain for them over the winter.

 

[newbyduckmom]

Quote:
We have actually asked about thrown out produce for the ducks and the answer was "No! Too much of a liability if we were to eat it and become ill."

Yeah, Runnerwhisper, since we are so close, I suspected that would be the response I got. At least from the bigger stores.