The value of retail- and consumer-level fruit and vegetable losses in the United States
Abstract
Food loss at the retail and consumer levels in the United States includes 14.8 billion pounds of fruit and 23.4 billion pounds of vegetables, valued at $15.1 billion and $27.7 billion, respectively, in 2008 retail market prices. The total value of these losses is $42.8 billion per year, or roughly $141 per capita. To most efficiently reduce the annual food loss, it may be beneficial to focus efforts on the four fruits (fresh apples, grapes, peaches and strawberries) and four vegetables (fresh and canned tomatoes and fresh and frozen potatoes) that have the greatest amount of loss.
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Some work has found a lack of concern and awareness regarding food waste and a perception that food waste prevention is not a priority.
“Some work has found a lack of concern and awareness regarding food waste (Buzby et al. 2011, Pearson et al. 2013) and a perception that food waste prevention is not a priority (Graham-Rowe et al. 2014).”
From Drivers of food waste and their implications for sustainable policy development (2016) · cites this paper as Buzby et al. 2011
Effective approaches to food waste prevention may also differ.
“This indicates that effective approaches to food waste prevention may also differ (Buzby et al. 2011).”
From Drivers of food waste and their implications for sustainable policy development (2016) · cites this paper as Buzby et al. 2011
Prevention activities may not broadly appeal to consumers.
“Furthermore, prevention activities may not broadly appeal to consumers and they may be costly (Buzby et al. 2011).”
From Drivers of food waste and their implications for sustainable policy development (2016) · cites this paper as Buzby et al. 2011
Prevention activities may be costly.
“Furthermore, prevention activities may not broadly appeal to consumers and they may be costly (Buzby et al. 2011).”
From Drivers of food waste and their implications for sustainable policy development (2016) · cites this paper as Buzby et al. 2011
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Self-citation
- Authors
- BUZBY, J. C., HYMAN, J., STEWART, H., & WELLS, H. F.
- Affiliations
- Economic Research Service (US)
- Corresponding author
- BUZBY, JEAN C.
- HYMAN, JEFFREY
- STEWART, HAYDEN
- WELLS, HODAN F.
- Venue
- Journal of Consumer Affairs
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-09
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 492-515
- ISSN
- 0022-0078 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-6606
- OpenAlex
- W1979955432
- Cited by
- 178
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 9.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Consumer Affairs (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management
- Keywords
- food loss, fruit losses, retail food waste, consumer food waste, apple, grapes, peach, strawberry, tomato, potato, United States
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