Here's a new dinner option: Pick up a mystery bag of food items from a local spot at a discounted price and help prevent food waste in the process.

The Too Good To Go app is now available here in Asheville, and connects users to perfectly good food that might otherwise be headed for a dumpster.

In the US, 30-40% of our food supply goes to waste, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Even more surprising? A whopping 31% of that happens at the retail and consumer level.

How it works

Download the app.
Select your location.
Browse options based on availability + pick-up times.
Select your items and complete your purchase.
Pick up your mystery bag during the restaurant's designated time frame and enjoy.

As you make purchases, the app will track how much carbon dioxide you've diverted from the atmosphere by preventing food waste, and how much money you've saved.

Since the app is new to Asheville, the current options are limited. But we want to know, which local spots do you hope to see join the app?

Reducing food waste at the local level

An estimated 57,500 tons of food waste is generated each year in Buncombe County alone. The Too Good To Go app is just one of the many resources available to help us cut the scraps.

WNC Food Waste Solutions | Find resources on composting, food storage tips, mindful shopping, and creative recipes to use all parts of your produce.
Food Connection | The nonprofit rescues surplus food from local restaurants, repacks it into meals and distributes it throughout the community.
12 Baskets Cafe | The Asheville Poverty Initiative's cafe collects surplus food from local restaurants and serves it "by donation" style, where the emphasis is on building community while sharing a meal.