Household Information

Household Planning Links

According to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Americans throw away approximately $165 billion worth of food each year, and for the average American family, that can be up to $2,200 per household, according to a recent NRDC study.  Click on the following links to learn how to reduce food waste in your household and keep it out of the landfill! 

Plan Well Tips for reducing food waste from Save The Food

Store Well Information on proper food storage from Save The Food

Eat Well Recipes for reducing food waste from Save The Food

Preserve Well Recipes & preservation tips from the UC Master Food Preservers

Compost Well at home Composting basics from the UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County

Compost Well at the curb Information about what you can & can't put in your green bin

Expiration Dates & Product Dates

Food date labels are an attempt to indicate quality not safety. In fact, there are no federal regulations for date labeling for products other than infant formula. 

• A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale.
• A "Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
• A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.