Food Forward
Interest forms
We accept applications on a rolling basis for cohorts taking place in fall 2026 and winter 2027. Fill out our interest form if you would like to learn more about the program.
Benefits
There are many benefits for restaurants going through this program:
- Boost profits by cutting down on wasted food
- Improve kitchen efficiency and the customer experience
- Business recognition and promotion for taking action
- Hands-on support from experts in:
- Wasted food prevention
- Food rescue
- Organics recycling
- Meet and connect with other local restaurants taking action
- Get paid for training hours
- Earn a Food Forward certificate of completion
Why to prevent wasted food
Wasted food
Restaurants in Minneapolis create 30% of the city’s food waste. Join other restaurants in being part of the solution.
By keeping food from going to waste, you can:
- Save your restaurant money
- Feed your community
- Support the environment
On average, every dollar your restaurant spends on preventing wasted food will save you seven dollars.
Local leaders in wasted food prevention
Program participants
These businesses work closely with us and our community partners to:
- Put food waste prevention strategies in place
- Improve food repurposing practices
- Find new and creative ways to support community food access
- Add organics recycling and/or compostable products
Current participants
Meet the August 2026 Food Forward cohort:
Alumni
See our Food Forward fall 2025 participants:
- Intown Sushi
- Pham's Rice Bowl
- El Taco Torro
- Andy's Garage
- Cultural Wellness Center
- Rollin Nolen's BBQ
Food Forward process
Schedule and complete a site visit
Strategy selection
Training courses
Coaching support
Follow-up and evaluation
USDA statement
This work is supported by the Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreement pilot program, project award no. 2025-70510-44325, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.
The USDA requires this funding acknowledgement language. See USDA required language
Contact us
Minneapolis Health Department
Phone
Address
Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 520
Minneapolis, MN 55415