Kickstarter

THE CONCEPT

In 1995 the USDA reported that 27% of food was lossed in America.  That year 356 billion pounds of food was produced in the country and a full 96 billion was not used to feed its citizens.

I work at an organic farm cooperative here in Lancaster and before that I worked at a small independent natural foods store in suburban Philadelphia.  I have worked in the food industry for 10 years and have seen my fair share of waste.  The number quoted above is 16 years old, but in my opinion, nothing has changed. In the produce sector of food production waste is a primary issue.  Sometimes I question, "If only the kale didn’t break its stem or become a little brown.  What if the orange didn't get a little moldy or the apple didn’t become bruised.  If not for these negligible defects these food items could still be consumed - if they were just pared a little."

Every day In grocery stores across the country - and the world - the produce section is culled for 'unmarketables'  The rejected food is typically destined for the waste pile.  But in a majority of cases they can still be used.   Which is what I did.  At the end of my workday I snatched the rejects and brought them into my studio to capture their good sides and make them appealing once more.  

THE PHOTOS

The distinct forms of vegetable, fruits and herbs have captivated me for ages.  Or maybe I have spent so much time with produce through my years of working in grocery stores that I developed a rather healthy obsession with their shapes.  Or both.  At any rate I have chosen to present these plants in monochrome with a slight color wash to enhance their unique shape.  The collection of photos, which have been titled ‘Edibles’ is technically a series of stilllifes but I prefer the term portraits.  The form and character of each produce item is revealed through these images.  

The choice of palette is also deliberate because I wanted to present an alternative to the typical produce advertisements.  The standard practice is to present clear, crisp and vibrant images of fruits and vegetables.  These images are eye-catching but also misleading.  Produce used in these photos are selected for their ideal form and unblemished surfaces.  What I did was take old, discarded produce and cut out the decaying portions and expose the interior - which most often is of good quality.

THE AGENDA

With your help, I can print, mat and frame these images for display in an exhibition this January.  Funds will also go into the marketing of the show.  Through this exhibition I wish to raise awareness for the incomprehensible - and largely irresponsible - amount of food waste in America.  The show will feature the images above plus twenty others which appear in my website, linked to below.   The photos will also be accompanied by information gathered during research concerning the current state of affairs in our food culture.  I will also present solutions and ways to advocate for better food distribution, management of our food shelters and attitude towards the less appealing produce that are still perfectly edible.

To view the rest of the images follow this link: GALLERY

Thank you.