Food Waste Prevention Week 2026



From social media, webinars, and in-person events, Food Waste Prevention Week offers a way for everyone to get involved in promoting food waste awareness and education.
​Join the fun September 28 - October 4!

Events in Minnesota

Save Food, Spend Less Challenge

(for residents of Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties) 
Join the Save Food, Spend Less Challenge and be a food hero in your household. The challenge will help improve your skills in cooking, planning, shopping, and storage to save time, money, and resources. 
Team up with your community to make a real difference in reducing waste. The challenge kicks off during Food Waste Prevention Week and runs October 1 to 31.

Workshops & Webinars


Use It Up: Cooking Skills to Waste Less Food 
Saturday, Sept. 26, 10–11:30 a.m., Oakdale Library
Join Chef Blong Vang for a free demonstration-based class where you'll learn practical cooking and meal-planning techniques to make the most of your groceries, use leftovers creatively, and reduce food waste at home.
Register here. Space is limited. 

Food Waste Reduction Workshop
 Every Tuesday, Sept. 29-Oct. 27, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Coon Rapids Civic Center
In this five week course, you will learn tips and strategies you can put into place to help save you money and reduce your food waste, including meal planning with bulk purchasing and giving leftovers a second life. 
Register here.

Why Food Waste Prevention Fails – Even in Well-Intentioned Companies
Thursday, Oct. 1, 10 - 11 a.m., virtual webinar  
Despite best intentions, many companies struggle to effectively prevent food waste. Join us for a panel discussion exploring the organizational alignment and execution gaps that often undermine food waste prevention efforts. Hosted by The Brass Tacks Initiative, the session will feature three experts from Innovative Waste Recycling (IWR)—Kyle Sabol, Steve Widdicombe, and Blake Kosanda—who bring extensive experience in managing and optimizing food and organic waste solutions for the food production sector.
Register here. 

Find more webinars on the national Food Waste Prevention Week website.

Chef Demonstrations at Farmers Markets

Hennepin County and Homegrown Minneapolis are partners with local chefs to share their top tips for using up food during this harvest season. Stop by one of these farmers markets to see chef demonstrations:
  • Sunday, Sept. 27, 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the Kingfield Farmers Market
  • Sunday, Sept. 27 from 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the Golden Valley Farmers Market
  • Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 5 - 6 p.m. at the Nokomis Farmers Market
  • Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 - 11 a.m. at the Mill City Farmers Market
  • Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 - 11 a.m. at the Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market
  • Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Bloomington Farmers Market

Fun at Libraries

Several libraries will be showcasing books that will help you plan, shop, and cook to waste less food and money. Stop by these libraries during Food Waste Prevention Week: 
  • Dayton’s Bluff Library, St. Paul
  • St. Anthony Library, St. Paul
  • Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka 

Grab the scanner and learn how to make the most of the food in your fridge. An interactive fridge will be on display at these Hennepin County libraries:
  • September 18 to 30: Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka 
  • October 1 to 14: Hopkins Library
  • October 15 to 30: St. Louis Park Library

Restaurant Heroes Reducing Food Waste

Local restaurants want to make the most of their food, too. They are sharing what they are doing and tips to make sure your delicious leftovers don't go to waste.
Visit and support participating businesses during Food Waste Prevention Week:
  • Churchill Street
  • Central Mix
  • Chowgirls
  • CRAVE Catering
  • El Gordo Hamburguesas
  • Ichigo Crepes
  • Indigena by Owamni
  • Lito's Burritos
  • Nice Time Market and More
  • Ruam Mit
  • Queermunity
  • The Central Mix
  • The Doghouse Bar and Grill
  • The Sota Fountain
  • Urban Growler
  • Wise Acre Eatery
This project is coordinated by Hennepin County, Homegrown Minneapolis, and Minnesota Waste Wise.

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