Farmers, fresh produce markets, food manufacturers and food retailers routinely generate surplus foods. Much of this ends up as waste. If diverted in time, a sizeable share of this food can instead be redirected for human consumption, helping to alleviate hunger, and creating several benefits for the generating firms. Redirecting surplus food will also avoid the loss of significant amounts of energy, water and financial capital embedded in wasted food, and the greenhouse gases resulting from its decomposition at landfills.
