Trash Empire

Of all the documentaries I have worked on, Trash Empire is the one that has followed me most closely. During its production, I only spent $5.50 on food for more than two years. The stunt was designed to draw attention and—more importantly—to create access. I used the absurdity of my diet to get people in industry and in government to talk to me.

What emerged was a story far deeper than “ugly fruits and vegetables”; it was actually a story about the underbelly of American agriculture. Food waste isn’t happening in a vacuum, it’s happening in an ecosystem of powerful industries and lobbies. Reporting on this system is what set Trash Empire apart from other food-waste documentaries and helped it to influence the conversation in agricultural and policy spaces.

The film has been written about in 9 languages, screened at the World Bank, in the offices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, and at universities and public spaces around the world. Since premiering at the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival, Trash Empire has continued to find a home with audiences who care about a sustainable and healthy agriculture free of corporate influence.

Reach out to schedule a screening or discussion at your institution.