Fighting food waste? There’s an app for that, and MetroWest eateries use it – MetroWest Daily News

Each day, staff at Northborough's Aero Coffee Roasters pack a "magic bag" with leftover baked goods, such as muffins, scones and croissants.

It's then sold for $3.99 through Too Good to Go. The Copenhagen-based mobile app helps restaurants and grocery stores curb food waste by connecting them with hungry customers who pay discounted prices for meals that would otherwise be tossed out.

Over the course of a year, users have "rescued" more than 250-plus meals at Aero Coffee Roasters, according to the app. The cafe previously donated extra food to a local pantry, before learning it was being thrown out because items were not individually packaged.

"I know all this food that would have been thrown away is going to good use," said owner Peter Femino.

Forty percent of food is wasted in the United States. It exacerbates climate change asonce it hits municipal landfillsfood emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Never mind the land, water, labor, energyand other resources used to produce, process, transport, prepare, storeand dispose the discarded food.

The app launched in October 2020 in Massachusetts. It's now available in 15 international markets including Paris, London and Amsterdam, with more than 25 million downloads.

Nationally, users have "saved" 1.5 million meals.

"It's the carbon equivalent to more than 700 flights around the world," said Claire Oliverson, head of marketing.

After downloading the mobile app, users can scroll through a list of restaurants, bakeries, cafes, farmsor other businesses offering "magic" or surprise bags in their immediate area. When they settle on a place, they reserve an order and collect it from the store during a pre-set pick-up window.

Prices usually range between $3.99 to $5.99.

You could snag vegetable lo mein, sundried tomato and garlic risotto, and three ears of corn from Verrill Farm in Concord; a carton of half-and-half, Greek yogurt, strawberries, and pastries from BazaAr West in Framingham; or scoops of surplus ice cream from Abbott's Frozen Custard in Needham.

Other participating local businesses include Richdale Food Shops in Milford, Old School Italian Pizzeria in Wellesley, Cilicia Mediterranean Market in Natick and El Huipil in Maynard.

Surprise bags vary every day and can be comprised of anything from the business' menu. Those with allergies or concerned about ingredients should ask the store for more information. Food could be past the sell-by date, but the app notes that's "simply a recommendation from the manufacturer" and does not mean it's inedible.

"We encourage you to look, smell taste, before you waste," reads the app.

Too Good to Go receives a flat fee of $1.79 on every transaction, said Oliverson, while the seller keeps the rest.

She said they keep a "golden rule" with restaurants and businesses that sign on: "Always donate first and donate as much as you possibly can" to those in need. They work with food-insecurity organizations

"It's really, really important to us that stays in place and hopefully it's even strengthened," said Oliverson. "We actually work with food-insecurity organizations in every place we operate."

Just 3.5% of food wastedin the U.S. is donated, said Oliverson. It's due to a host of factors, such as some homeless shelters or food pantries do not logistically havethe resources to come and pick up a few slices of pizza.

"We really fill a space that is focused on helping the partners, helping the climate and helping consumers get great food, but we absolutely want to urge donations first and foremost," said Oliverson.

She'd recommend novices download the app and start out by exploring a restaurant or cafe they've never visited before. She often picks up orders from a bakery where she'll sometimes score eight bagels.

"With bread, you can always freeze it and there's always fun ways you can transform your food," said Oliverson.

Fresh Start Market in Franklin began using the app about six months ago, said owner Bonnie Corso. It gives the storean outlet for unsold prepared foods and other items.

"It's basically another means of saving food waste, getting the word out there that were open, and letting people try the food that we make here," said Corso.

She said it's brought new faces into the store and she's noticed they'll often stay to shop the aisles and buy additional products.

Concord Teacakes started using Too Good to Go about six months ago, said supervisor Amelia Arsenault. The Commonwealth Avenue business typically turns to the app to unload baked goods, but it also sometimes offers unsold prepared foods, such as soups or salads.

"We make them fresh on the daily and they only last that one day," said Arsenault. "It's nice to have more of a use for those."

Femino, owner of the Northborough bakery, called it beneficial on many levels. The business decreases food waste, brings in new customers, and gets extra exposure.

"But most importantly the majority of people who are buying may not be able to afford this food, theyre getting a great deal," said Femino.

Zane Razzaq writes about education. Reach her at 508-626-3919 or zrazzaq@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

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Fighting food waste? There's an app for that, and MetroWest eateries use it - MetroWest Daily News