# Crowdsourced Produce Maps Food Cowboy Helps Charities By Providing Real Time Food Waste Logistics By Alyson Wyers | Published 2014-08-28 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-waste-logistics References: [fastcoexist](http://www.fastcoexist.com/3034376/food-charities-can-now-be-more-like-food-companies-with-just-in-time-food-waste-logistics) & [foodcowboy](http://foodcowboy.com/about/) [Food Cowboy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-wise-pal) is endeavoring to ensure charities can function like companies with access to proper food waste logistics information. Based out of Maryland, Food Cowboy provides a live crowdsourced map that indicates where food is being wasted by retailers and wholesale distributors. According to Fast Company's Co.Exist, 40% of America's food waste is due to the fact that people can't get to it fast enough. Since charities don't have the knowledge or infrastructure to gather the 'ugly' live produce retailers can't sell, they tend to rely on dry goods and non-perishable items. Thanks to the food waste logistics Food Cowboy can provide, charities will gain insight into where and when waste is occurring and behave more like food companies. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 54% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Crowdsourced Food Logistics:** Crowdsourcing food logistics can provide real-time data that can help charities and retailers reduce waste and operate more efficiently. - **Live Food Waste Map:** A live crowdsourced map can help identify where and when food waste is occurring, providing insight that can be used to reduce food waste and feed more people. - **Ugly Produce Redistribution:** Redistributing 'ugly' produce that retailers cannot sell can provide a new source of food for charities and increase overall food recovery efforts. ### Where This Applies - **Food Distribution:** Efforts to reduce food waste and streamline logistics can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency in the food industry. - **Charitable Organizations:** Access to real-time food waste logistics information can help charities maximize food recovery efforts and serve more people in need. - **Technology:** Innovative technology solutions like live food waste maps can drive social impact by enabling more efficient food recovery efforts and reducing waste. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Discounted Food Waste Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-waste-apps.md) - [Automated Food Supply Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/choco-software.md) - [Hunger Relief Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hunger-relief.md) - [Food Insecurity-Fighting Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/feeding-americas-mission.md) - [Food Management Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-wise-pal.md) - [Affordable Grocery Store Subscriptions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/affordable-grocery-store.md) - [Puerto Rican Food Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/produce-application.md) - [Online Anti-Food Waste Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fresh-take-on-food-waste.md) - [Waste-Combatting Food Scanners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-scanners.md)