Nat’l Bulk Foods Week 2013 Set for October

The Bulk is Green Council (BIG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising consumer, retailer and grocer awareness of the environmental and economic advantages of buying foods from bulk bins, will once more join with retailers across the country to mark National Bulk Foods Week. Now in its third year, the event will take place Oct. 13-19 at grocery stores and co-ops across the United States.

Citing information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that about 30-40 percent of the U.S. food supply goes to waste, BIG noted that buying bulk foods, which enables shoppers to buy the exact quantity needed, results in less food waste. The organization also provided an infographic (left) showing how bulk foods helps address the issue of food waste in America.

With more than 1,000 retailers set to take part in 2013 National Bulk Foods Week, the annual observance is one way BIG hopes to make food waste top-of-mind for consumers. During the week, the companies that make up BIG will offer special discounts on select natural and organic bulk foods to retailers. A list of participating retailers is available online.

Founded in 2008, BIG also serves as a research and advocacy group, conducting and publishing studies on industry trends, and offering educational tools and resources online. Its board includes such food companies as Attune Foods, Frontier Natural Products Co-Op, Lundberg Family Farms, SunRidge Farms and Trade Fixtures.