PALMDALE – The city of Palmdale is inviting residents to attend a special screening
of the documentary “Dive!” on Wednesday, March 16.
Doors open at 2 p.m., and the movie will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Chimbole Cultural
Center, located at 38250 Sierra Highway in Palmdale.
Seating is limited. Interested persons should RSVP by calling 661-267-5300 or emailing foodwaste@cityofpalmdale.org.
Inspired by a curiosity about our country’s habit of sending food straight to landfills, the documentary DIVE! follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of Los Angeles’ supermarkets. In the process, they salvage thousands of dollars’ worth of edible food — resulting in a documentary that is equal parts entertainment, guerrilla journalism and call to action.
Following the special screening will be a panel discussion on local solutions to the problem and a short video featuring culinary students from the University of Antelope Valley who prepared meals for local families from donated food.
For more information about the documentary, visit www.divethefilm.com/default.aspx.
[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]
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PalmdaleFoodWaste says
Thank you for your observations. The issues you have noticed are part of the reason why we are holding the event. That is also the reason for the time of day for the event, since it is set on the time of day when activities at many restaurants and grocery stores slow down (after lunch/before dinner) in hopes that we can have more restaurants and grocery store managers/owners go to the event, and we have been performing a more concentrated outreach effort to the managers/owners in order to maximize their attendance. Our discussion panel will discuss why so few donate food and what laws are in place to protect the ones who would like their food waste to go to good use. Also, there are some local businesses and groups that have made the decision to donate their food and they will receive recognition at the event for their actions. With the important message from the documentary, the discussion panel, and the recognitions; we believe that this will be a very educational and entertaining event and encourage anyone with an interest in the issue to attend.
Why? says
Wish this panel could be held during a timeframe when more residents who work could attend because it’s one that I have looked into for many years. Quick anecdote: went to local supermarket around 7:30 pm and ordered chicken dinner. young man said it would take a bit since he had to cook a fresh batch. OK and off I went shopping for other items. Upon my return, my order was hot and ready and a couple of other folks also got an order when we noticed the young man taking all the food in the area including the rest of this chicken and dumping it all into rolling trash cans. I questioned this and said it was fit to sell a minute ago and now you’re trashing it. He said “we can’t keep anything overnight.” I then asked if I could take it to the shelter and I gave my word I would do so. He said absolutely not because he would get in trouble. Suppose someone chocked and sued them. He went on to state that he locks all his dumpsters in the back to stop the homeless from coming there to rummage for food. This is just one establishment in the AV multiplied by all the buffet places, super centers, and eateries from “the Blvd” to the AV mall area. So much waste where there is much need.
Jason Zink says
My uncle was a diver locally he would pull out hundreds of gallons of ice cream, meat, vegetables, bread, caned items, and even Beer! Should invite all the managers of our local supermarkets and see about donating it to local shelter, or our local livestock farms and create a movement. Very sad so much waste. We would throw thousands of tons of fruit and vegetables we produced in our local AV farms too, invite them, call AV Fair & US Dept of Farm Bureau. Just like Las Vegas Hotels are saving the unused bottle of shampoo-conditioner-lotion to local shelters.