Nearly 1 million. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried explained that one answer was to save surplus products that would otherwise be thrown away.

In the greenhouse at the Traders Hill Farm in Hilliard, various varieties of lettuce are grown. The aquapone growing system significantly reduces waste. But even the most sustainable farms are capable of producing more products than they can sell.

Commissioner Fried calls for a bill that would set aside $ 500,000 to help preserve fresh food. Otherwise, they could have been wasted.

“By helping to move leftover products from the fields to food cans, we can reduce food waste, break the food insecurity cycle, and provide needy families with fresh food from Florida,” Commissioner Fried said.

At Traders Hill Farms, they are already collaborating with food banks and hope that others in the industry will follow suit.

A bill to fund additional efforts to save food in the state is expected to be presented at the 2020 legislative session.