Partnership will support Ventura County businesses in implementing food recovery programs
VENTURA — Responsible for managing SB 1383 compliance on behalf of unincorporated Ventura County, the Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) has contracted with Abound Food Care, an Orange County-based food recovery organization, to implement a regional food recovery program on behalf of the County of Ventura and the cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley and Ventura. In addition to compliance management, VCPWA is also responsible for preparing countywide capacity studies and supporting the area with regionally beneficial programs such as edible food recovery.
California State Senate Bill SB 1383 was passed to address food insecurity and reduce unnecessary food waste, and requires, by 2025, that California recover at least 20% of edible food that would have otherwise been sent to landfills.
Under SB 1383, businesses considered Tier 1 or Tier 2 edible food generators must recover the maximum amount of edible food that would have otherwise been disposed of and, while doing so, must also contract with food recovery organizations or services and maintain food donation records.
Tier 1 edible food generators include food distributors, wholesale food vendors, food service providers, and grocery stores and supermarkets (10,000 square feet or greater).
Tier 2 edible food generators include hotels with at least 200 rooms and an on-site food facility, restaurant facilities (5,000 square feet or larger, or seating more than 250), local education agencies with an on-site food facility, health care facilities with an on-site food facility and 100+ beds, and large venues (including shopping centers and malls) and events with 2,000+ daily visitors.
Over the next several months, Abound Food Care will work countywide with Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators to support SB 1383 compliance and provide information about local food donation options. As part of this effort, Abound Food Care will interact with business via phone calls, mail and in-person visits to confirm businesses are currently participating in food donation or assist them with implementing a compliant donation program.
To learn more about this contract, please contact VCPWA contract manager Tobie Mitchell at Tobie.mitchell@ventura.org or Abound Food Care project manager Rachel Parris at rparris@aboundfoodcare.org
About Ventura County Public Works Agency — Established in 1954, Ventura County Public Works Agency strives to deliver innovative, efficient and cost-effective regional services that are essential to the health, safety, natural resources protection, and economic vitality of Ventura County and its residents. VCPWA employs approximately 400 employees and consists of five departments: Central Services, Engineering Services, Roads & Transportation, Water & Sanitation, and Watershed Protection. VCPWA continues to receive nationwide attention for its effective operations in improving, innovating and ensuring projects for Ventura County’s unincorporated 572 miles of roads, watersheds, levees, bridges, infrastructures, water and sanitation facilities, and billing services. To learn more, visit www.vcpublicworks.org.
About Abound Food Care — Abound Food Care is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to guiding communities, businesses and nonprofit organizations to achieve efficiencies in their own food supply chain to eliminate food waste, reduce hunger, and improve our environment. Leveraging our public, private, and nonprofit partnerships, and utilizing data and technology, Abound Food Care applies real-world practices and creative solutions to empower our partners to improve efficiencies in supply chain and inventory management. This helps organizations drive profitability and build capacity. Working in collaboration with public, healthcare and nonprofit entities, we aim to end food insecurity by increasing public access to healthy, nutritious food. For additional information, visit www.aboundfoodcare.org