New App Fights Food Waste In Philadelphia

A technological solution to the problem of food waste is coming to Philadelphia.

Food Connect, a new mobile app, will connect party hosts and restaurants with food pantries and shelters. The rollout comes just in time for the Democratic National Convention, a time when Philadelphia will be awash in gatherings serving food; Food Connect will make sure that food does not go to waste.

Tom Mahon of Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger said that anyone can download the application. To start, users signal that they have food that they want to donate it. Then, Mahon said, "as soon as they enter their location, their information is connected with a driver who has volunteered their time to drive and deliver the food to one of these food providers in the city." The app will continue to run after the convention.

This is not the first app to target food waste. An app recently launched in Canada is helping grocery stores sell food about to be thrown out at a steep discount. Food Connect is available on iTunes and Android devices.