Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sarah Grace Edison April 9, 2019 Manager, Communications (202) 296-9680 [email protected]

State Ag Officials Pledge to Reduce Food Loss, Waste Year-Round During “Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) pledged today to work with federal partners to build on new and existing efforts to reduce food loss and food waste in the United States. NASDA President and New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte, Commissioner of Agriculture and NASDA CEO Dr. Barbara P. Glenn participated in the event organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to recognize April as “Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month” and discuss the impacts of reducing food loss and waste.

“We are identifying opportunities to mitigate food waste with our federal and industry partners,” Witte said. “It is estimated that 30-40 percent of food is lost throughout the supply chain, including unharvested crops. Regaining lost food is a must to sustainably provide for everyone.”

Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture also signed the pledge. Connect with NASDA at nasda.org/news or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to learn more about how state departments of agriculture are reducing food waste. NEWSRELEASE NASDA represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances agriculture by forging partnerships and creating consensus to achieve sound policy outcomes between state departments of agriculture, the federal government and stakeholders.

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National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 4350 North Fairfax Drive #910 Arlington, VA 22203 Tel: 202-296-9680 www.nasda.org

Dr. Barb Glenn signs on behalf of NASDA to pledge to reduce food waste.

(Left to Right) NASDA CEO Dr. Barb Glenn, Florida Department of Nikki Fried, and NASDA President and New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte participate in the food waste event.

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 4350 North Fairfax Drive #910 Arlington, VA 22203 Tel: 202-296-9680 www.nasda.org