The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is once again excited to recognize National Food Waste Prevention Week. This year’s observance will span the week of April 1-7, 2024 and will feature a dynamic schedule of virtual and in-person educational events for a variety of audiences. Events include workshops, student art contests, food waste trivia and quizzes, upcycled food events, and a new video contest open to all kindergarten-12^th grade students and teachers in the State of Oregon. Partner organizations have the opportunity to utilize a robust communications toolkit with digital advertising materials, event and messaging templates, and more. This year's partner resources also include many materials in Spanish.

"We're so pleased to continue to support this major national event highlighting an issue of importance in the State of Oregon," said Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Senior Policy and Program Analyst, Elaine Blatt. "The resources available through Food Waste Prevention Week really help us augment our outreach efforts for food waste education."

The inaugural Food Heroes: Save Food, Save the Planet Video Contest will accept video entries until May 10, 2024. Students and teachers will create short videos with messages related to food waste and how to prevent waste in their communities and upload the video to an approved streaming platform through DEQ’s dontletgoodfoodgobad.org/contest website. Prizes for submissions include a $100 gift card for individuals, a $200 gift card for groups, and a $300 gift card for classrooms.

Additional virtual and in-person events around the State of Oregon will include, but are not limited to:

• Food Waste Prevention Week PublicHouse Event hosted by Lane County and City of Eugene
  • Date: April 3, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Location: PublicHouse, 418 A St #4606, Springfield, OR 97477
• Sustainable Living Series - Community Composting: A Hero for the Future hosted by Southern Oregon Food Solutions
  • Date: April 3, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Location: 569 Hanley Rd, Central Point, OR 97502 (Auditorium)
• Come Mejor Ahorrando Más - Semana de Prevención de Desperdicio de Alimentos hosted by Washington County
  • Date: April 4, 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: Virtual Webinar
• Bread to Tap Event hosted by No Food Left Behind Corvallis, Old World Deli, Oregon Trails Brewery
  • Date: April 6, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Location: Old World Deli: 341 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis, OR 97333
• Food Waste Prevention Week Storytime hosted by the City of Gresham
  • Date: April 6, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Location: Maggie Mae’s Bookshop: 50 NW 1^st St, Gresham, OR 97030
• Food Waste Prevention Week Lane County Farmers Market Booth hosted by Lane County and City of Eugene
  • Date: April 6, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Location: Lane County Farmer’s Market, 85 E 8th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401
• Umpqua Valley Farmers’ Market Booth hosted by Thrive Umpqua, Umpqua Valley Farm to School, HealTerra & Umpqua Valley Farmers’ Market
  • Date: April 6, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Location: Umpqua Valley Farmers Market, 1771 W Harvard Ave, Roseburg, OR 97471
• Thrifty Gardening Workshop
  • Date: April 13, 1:00 p.m.
  • Location: Roseburg Senior Center, 1614 SE Stephens St, Roseburg, OR 97470
• Vermicomposting Workshop hosted by Thrive Umpqua, Umpqua Valley Farm to School, HealTerra & Umpqua Valley Farmers’ Market
  • Date: April 19, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Location: HealTerra, 13921 Glide Disposal Site Rd, Roseburg, OR 97470
• The Green Fork Initiative, a short film by Chef Andre Uribe of Rebel Root Films, hosted by Hillsboro Farmer’s Markets and Washington County
  • Date/Location: Individuals can use the link to view the film on Vimeo throughout Food Waste Prevention Week