The Hidden Price Tag: How Food Waste Drains Michigan’s Finances

Let's talk about two things we're both, more than likely, fond of as Michiganders: Money and food. Specifically, how you and I are tossing both straight into the garbage. No, this isn't about throwing your 10-cent deposit away (although you should get that dime). It's about food waste. Yes, that sad, limp, funky-smellin' lettuce rotting in your fridge costs you big time.

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You might think you're budget conscious with your thrifty grocery budget--coupon clipping, shopping farmers markets, and taking advantage of irresistible buy-one-get-one-free deals at Meijer. But what about the food you buy that never makes it to the dinner table? You know, the healthy, perishable stuff you swore you would eat?

How Much Michiganders Are Throwing Away Without Realizing It

It turns out Michiganders are guilty of tossing away THOUSANDS of dollars ANNUALLY. Here's the thing: We often overestimate how much we'll eat or fool ourselves into thinking we will eat healthier foods.

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Those vegetables you swore would steam now sit next to the hamburger you but in to thaw--last week. Your fridge has become the graveyard of your good intentions. Before you know it, all the food's gone bad, and you wasted part of your meticulously planned grocery budget.

But wait--how much are we really wasting? Curious? Keep scrolling for a state-by-state ranking to see which states waste the most food and how much, on average, you throw away every year in Michigan. So next time you're tempted to grab that extra bag of baby carrots, remember: it's not just food you're tossing; it's cold, hard cash.