No Food Left Behind

The report analyzes food loss in the US specialty crop sector, contrasting the high loss rates of the fresh market with the relatively lower rates of the vertically integrated processing market. It highlights how contract-based purchasing and mechanical harvesting in the processing sector reduce in-field waste, while the fresh market suffers from strict cosmetic standards and labor shortages. The document proposes using real-time measurement and alternative harvesting models, such as the Whole Crops Harvest pilot, to rescue surplus produce for secondary markets and donations.

• Loss rates for specialty crops vary significantly by market, with fresh leafy greens experiencing losses up to 50% while processing vegetables can be as low as 2%.
• The processing market is generally more efficient at the farm level due to vertical integration, where buyers typically purchase entire fields through contracts rather than using spot buying.
• While in-field losses are lower for processing crops, waste may shift further up the supply chain; for example, cucumbers can see losses up to 20% at the processing facility due to quality specifications for pickles.
• Fresh market losses are primarily driven by labor shortages, high costs of harvesting below-grade products, and strict aesthetic standards required by retailers.
• The Whole Crops Harvest (WCH) pilot demonstrated that combining in-field measurement with online marketplaces and student harvest crews can successfully rescue surplus produce for revenue and donation.
• Robotic harvesting technology, such as the Agrobot for strawberries, is being developed to address seasonal labor shortages and improve harvesting efficiency for delicate fresh crops.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). No Food Left Behind. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/180/31q2mdxzra_NFLB_Part_II__V4_Final__Low_res.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. No Food Left Behind. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/180/31q2mdxzra_NFLB_Part_II__V4_Final__Low_res.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=No Food Left Behind |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/180/31q2mdxzra_NFLB_Part_II__V4_Final__Low_res.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndfood, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{No Food Left Behind}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/180/31q2mdxzra_NFLB_Part_II__V4_Final__Low_res.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }