The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show

Episode: The Shocking Truth About Produce Waste In America & Fixing The Broken Food Supply Chain

Guests: Melissa Ackerman, CEO of Planet Harvest

Hosts: Lauryn Bosstick & Michael Bosstick

Air Date: March 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the surprising realities of America’s food supply chain, focusing on staggering produce waste, the reasons behind it, and what’s being done to fix it. Lauryn and Michael host Melissa Ackerman, CEO and co-founder (with Ivanka Trump) of Planet Harvest, a company dedicated to connecting farm excess with people who need it most, improving access, supporting farmers, and promoting sustainable solutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shocking Statistics on Produce Waste

• Major Origins & Waste:
  • “60% of our lettuce is grown in California, about an hour from San Francisco.” – Melissa (01:05)
  • “30% of produce is grown and left in the fields because it’s not the right size for the grocery store or food service industry… 400 million pounds of strawberries left every year.” – Melissa (01:05)
• Why So Much Is Discarded:
  • Retailers have strict requirements for size and uniformity; off-spec produce is left in fields or simply discarded, not because of taste but appearance. (02:28)

2. The Broken Supply Chain

• Pandemic Exposed Issues:

  • “...All this excess... Why can’t we take that and bring it to food banks? The answer is the supply chain… it just can’t move that easily from what is left to being able to get to the people that need it most.” – Melissa (01:51)

• Sourcing Realities:

  • Small, idealized “local” farms are the exception; most produce comes from large, business-oriented enterprises, often backed by private equity or venture capital. (03:36)
  • Romantic notions of small farmers can obscure the underlying complexity and scale of modern agriculture.

3. Retail & Consumer Expectations

• Uniform Appearance Drives Waste:

  • “If it’s a little big or small, it has no way of leaving the field… They literally leave it on the tree like a cherry…” – Melissa (02:46)
  • Lauryn expresses a preference for “Charlie Brown” fruit—imperfect and natural—but acknowledges that most US consumers still want perfect produce. (05:48-06:10)

• Contrasts with Other Countries:

  • Europe and Australia have mechanisms to market or sell “imperfect” produce (like Australia’s “Odd Bunch” tables); US consumer habits and retail standards lag behind. (06:37, 07:34)
  • “Odd Bunch” concept: A designated section in supermarkets sells excess or cosmetically imperfect produce at lower prices. (07:34)

4. The Food Supply Chain as a System

• From Farm to Table Is Complex and Fragile:

  • “We’re against a clock. This isn’t toilet paper—you’ve got seven to ten days to get it from the minute it’s cut to your plate.” – Melissa (46:23)

• Economic Pressures:

  • “If it costs more for them to pick it, pack it, and ship it than it would to leave it on the ground, that’s what they’re going to do.” – Melissa (21:52)

5. Solutions and Initiatives

• Planet Harvest's Approach:

  • Aggregates excess and “imperfect” produce, connecting farmers, distributors, charities, and impact partners.
  • Pilots with major partners (like Chobani) and with data tools (World Wildlife Fund) to measure and move surplus produce. (32:16)
  • Work with Thrive (Arianna Huffington’s company) providing “Food as Medicine” boxes tailored for patient populations with chronic disease. (26:50)

• Government and Policy:

  • The USDA “Farmers to Families Food Box” program, co-led by Ivanka Trump, delivered billions in aid during the pandemic and became a model for ongoing work. (09:08)
  • Barriers: Current government buyback programs (e.g., Section 32) only purchase top-grade produce, limiting access for less-than-perfect but still nutritious produce. (28:24)
  • “Specs have to change, and the allowance and tolerance has to change.” – Melissa (29:17)

6. The Human Impact

• Changing the Narrative:
  • Storytelling humanizes farmers, highlights generational commitment, and draws attention to often-overlooked struggles and contributions. (03:36, 31:00)
  • Farmers are moved and emotional when offered support and long-term contracts for their crop surplus.
    • “Tears in their eyes… nobody asked them why.” – Melissa (31:00)

7. Call to Action for Consumers

• “Eat produce. Love produce. Ask for produce. And stop only eating with your eyes.” – Melissa (24:57)
• “Think about it like a Dove commercial… all bodies are beautiful, all produce is beautiful.” – Melissa (25:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Food Waste:

  • “400 million pounds of strawberries that are left in the fields every year in the USA because they're just not the right size, not because they don't taste good.”
    – Melissa (01:05)

• On Farmer Challenges:

  • “If it costs more for them to pick it, pack it and ship it than it would to leave it on the ground, that's what they're going to do. And they don't want to. They've already put in the water, they've already put in the labor… but ultimately, if it doesn't make sense financially, they are businesses after all.”
    – Melissa (21:52)

• On Consumer Mindset:

  • “Stop only eating with your eyes. Think about when you see something that might be a little big or small. Think about where it came from and the route it took to get there.”
    – Melissa (24:57)

• On Solutions:

  • “A perfect world would be a little bit more like Australia. They have this thing called Odd Bunch—where they have a section in grocery stores for the excess.”
    – Melissa (07:34)

• On Farmer Emotions:

  • “Tears in their eyes… they've never had anybody… ask them why.”
    – Melissa (31:00)

• On Instagram Myths:

  • “It’s that idea that it’s just so easy to get something from the farm, the idyllic farm, to your table… and we're against a clock. This isn't toilet paper.”
    – Melissa (46:23)

• On Systemic Change:

  • “We need the supply chain. And if we break this bigger system that is coming from all these different places, you won't be able to have the variety and the things that you want to be able to have the nutrient dense that you need for your bodies.”
    – Melissa (47:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:54–01:41: Introduction to Melissa Ackerman and the scope of produce waste in the US
• 01:51–02:28: Why excess can’t just be sent to food banks and supply chain hurdles
• 03:36: The reality versus romanticism of farming in America
• 04:54–06:10: The Bossticks and Melissa on shopping habits, consumer responsibility, and “imperfect” produce
• 07:24–07:34: “Fixing it with the Odd Bunch Table” — international perspectives
• 08:44–09:08: How Melissa and Ivanka Trump partnered and the origin of Planet Harvest
• 20:08–22:18: Risks if the supply chain fails and why farmers might stop producing
• 26:50–27:51: What happens to excess produce—innovation in food as medicine, charity, and food access
• 29:51: Push for changing grading/specs to allow more produce into schools and food programs
• 31:00: Emotional impact of excess produce and supporting farmers directly
• 32:16: Role of the World Wildlife Fund in measuring field waste and pilot programs for “number two” produce
• 43:12–43:54: The vulnerability of concentrated crop production (e.g., lettuce in California)
• 46:23: Instagram misconceptions versus supply chain realities
• 47:37–48:25: The need for both local and industrial produce—and why mass supply chains are essential

Action Steps & How to Support

• Consumer Education: Buy and request imperfect produce; support retailers and policies that value sustainability over looks.
• Support Planet Harvest:
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Businesses can consult with Planet Harvest to incorporate excess produce into supply chains or charitable impact programs.
    “If you do anything for impact work… we would love to talk to you about getting fresh fruits and vegetables into what you do to give to communities.” – Melissa (48:40)

Final Takeaways

• American produce waste is less about abundance and more about a fragmented, outdated supply chain and cosmetic standards.
• Fixing the problem requires consumer education, supply chain restructuring, and policy tweaks to value nutrition and sustainability over perfect aesthetics.
• Farmers, industry, and consumers must work together—with real empathy and bold, systems-level changes—to redistribute abundance where it’s needed most.

For more:

• Follow @PlanetHarvest
• Listen at [Dear Media/The Skinny Confidential’s website]
• Learn more about reducing food waste and supporting resilient food systems in your area.