Community Corner

Chowdafest is a Zero Waste Event

“It’s not easy being green” according to Kermit the Frog but it’s an important thing to do according to the folks who put on Chowdafest.  With the help of two sponsors and many volunteers, Chowdafest is a zero waste event ensuring its garbage doesn’t reach landfills.

“Our friends at World Centric from Petaluma California, are providing us with plant-based spoons and cups that can all be composted so they can turn back into soil” said Jim Keenan, event director in a release. 

World Centric is a leading manufacturer of compostable products for both food service and home use. This is the second year World Centric has been a Chowdafest sponsor. “The soufflé cups that World Centric is providing are 100% made from plant fibers and can withstand heat up to 200 degrees but they’re cool to the touch making them perfect for sampling all our chowder, soup & bisque."

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World Centric is also providing Chowdafest with additional tableware products including hot and cold cups, spoons and plates. World Centric’s mission is to provide sustainable products and solutions for a better world.  The watchwords of sustainability – reduce, reuse, recycle – are the foundation of a zero waste event.  “We’re thrilled to play an important role at Chowdafest” said marketing director Annie Davis, in the release.  “Chowdafest is not only showcasing our products but is also serving as a role model for other events and the food service industry."

Using compostable and recyclable products is only half of the equation. Making sure these products don’t end up in landfills or incinerators is the other.  

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Chowdafest also teamed up with Sustainable America, a national non-profit organization based in Stamford, whose mission is to make the nation’s food and fuel systems more resilient, efficient and sustainable.  More specifically, the organization aims to reduce oil consumption by 50% and to increase food availability by 50% over the next two decades. 

Sustainable America will be on-hand supervising over 30 local college and high school volunteers that will help event attendees separate their compostable and recycled products into designated receptacles.  The food waste and tableware will then be sent to a commercial composting facility where it will become rich soil.

 

 

 

Chowdafest Talks Trash
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“We’re thrilled to see marquee events like Chowdafest do much more than just talk the talk” said Jeremy Kranowitz, executive director Sustainable America. “They are walking the walk.  Our partnership allows us to educate the public further on the importance of reducing food waste, composting and using locally grown foods”. 

Chowdafest is the premier culinary competition in Connecticut and second largest such event in all of New England.  It’s an annual fundraiser benefiting Connecticut Food Bank where attendees sample decadent chowders, soups and bisque, then rate each soup which determines the winners.  Admission is just $12 adults and $5 for kids 6-12.  Save $2 per adult ticket with an advanced purchase at any New Haven and Fairfield County Stop & Shop location.

Chowdafest is a pre-Super Bowl event held Feb. 2, from 11am to 3pm at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard conveniently off exit 27 on I-95 in Bridgeport.  Chowdafest is presented by Stop & Shop and sponsored by The Farmer’s Cow, FIAT of Fairfield County, World Centric, Cracker Barrel, Sierra Nevada Brewery, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Chabaso Artisan Bakery, Frontier Soups, Victoria Fine Foods, Westminster Crackers, The Trumbull Marriott, Star 99.9, CT Bites.com, Omnon.com, HamletHub.com, Sustainable America and Clarke, New England’s Official Sub-Zero & Wolf Showroom and Test Kitchen.

For more information, please visit:

www.Chowdafest.org

www.SustainableAmerica.org


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