Let’s Connect!

Stay tuned for member opportunities at Expo West!

March 4 - March 8

UFA is a Supporting Organization for the Sustainable Foods Summit North America, which will be held in San Francisco from 22-23rd January 2025.

On December 11, RTI convenes global experts for a discussion on integrated strategies to reduce FLW. Addressing FLW presents an opportunity for enhancing climate resilience and advancing food security, nutrition, and stronger economies.

October 2024 marked five years for the Upcycled Food Association and the Upcycled Food Foundation!

Watch a weekly deep dive webinar recording to explore topics across the wide world of upcycled food.

How can food and beverage processors innovate and incorporate sustainable, earth-friendly attributes into the next generation of new products? Join our CEO, Amanda Oenbring, for a lively webinar panel discussion.

July 31st, 2pm EDT

UFA participated at Chicago’s IFT FIRST show July 14-17, 2024!

Hear UFA's origin story and highlights of its first five years alongside member stories spanning the journey of upcycling across sectors: pet products, CPG/beverage, research, ingredients and technical innovation.

June 28th, 11am PDT / 1pm EDT

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest research and innovative methodologies transforming food waste into valuable products. Each fellow will present their research in a concise, engaging format, providing insights into the processes, benefits, and sustainability impacts of upcycled food.

June 27th, 8am PDT/ 11am EDT

Join Upcycled Food Association at Rethink Food in NYC for a wrap up celebration of Upcycled Food Month! This evening will follow the last day of the Summer Fancy Food. We’ll be serving upcycled light bites and beverages featuring UFA member products. Thank you to our generous sponsor, Planet FWD!

Join Upcycled Food Association, ReFED, and Where Food Comes From for a special webinar about the future of upcycling. How do we build on the recent success of this food waste solution? What challenges remain in expanding its viability? And how do we get more people to be part of the upcycling revolution?

June 24th, 10 am PDT/ 1pm EDT

Since our inception in 2019, the Upcycled Food Association (UFA) has witnessed significant growth in both the market and the movement, along with a heightened awareness of upcycling, both domestically within the U.S. and globally. As the UFA embarks on its fifth year and June heralds the inaugural Upcycled Food Month, hear directly from UFA's new CEO Amanda Oenbring about the real-world impact of upcycling, the current state of upcycling efforts and innovation, and what can we anticipate in the future. 

Summer Fancy Food, Big Idea Stage, Tuesday, June 25th 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

UFA’s CEO, Amanda Oenbring and many UFA members attended the 2024 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit June 11-13, 2024 in Baltimore, MD.

Hear from Misfits Market buyers to learn about their product selection process and how to be a part. Registration is exclusive to members.

June 4th, 10am PDT/1pm EDT

In the US, 182 billion pounds of food is wasted every year. That equates to 149 billion meals and more than $444 billion wasted. Not only is this harmful for the planet, but from a business perspective, we are leaving money on the table. In this session, hear from leading food waste experts on different approaches to turning food waste into impactful products. From using more of your harvest, to upcycling food & ingredients to working with businesses and government, this session will dive into key steps to minimize food waste, maximize profits and improve the health of our planet & our people.

Retail focused discussion designed to think into and address issues that affect retailer’s ability to meet consumers’ expectations. The panel discussion provides a behind-the-scenes look at the dynamics of upcycling and what can retailers do to support the move towards upcycling.

UFA is excited to act as a sponsor for ECRM's Sustainable Products -Food & Beverage Session virtual event happening June 20-21.

This session is 100% dedicated to connecting buyers and suppliers that are Earth-friendly, and sustainability-focused through one-on-one, pre-scheduled meetings! Buyers and sellers are paired based on categories, capabilities, and buyer objectives.

UFA members will receive 25% off the registration fee.

June 20-21, 2023

How Upcycled Foods Serve Up a Sweet Solution to the Sticky Food Waste Problem

This summer, UFA Member company, Salt & Straw, will be featuring Upcycled Certified® ingredients from fellow Member companies in their upcycling-themed ice cream menu during the month of June. These unique, specialty flavors will be offered for a limited time in Salt & Straw locations across the nation!

Join us for a virtual panel discussion including UFA Members who have come together to tackle food waste by doing what they do best: upcycling would-be 'waste' into high quality, irresistibly tasty, and environmentally friendly treats.

UFA’s former CEO, Angie Crone, moderated an upcycling panel at ReFED Summit.

May 17, 11-12 PM EST

June 25-27, 2023

New York, NY

Hear UFA’s CEO, Angie Crone speak: Supply Chain as a Competitive Advantage - Opportunities in Upcycled Food

Wednesday, January 11, 12 – 12:45 p.m. PT

Free, Virtual Event

Hear UFA’s CEO, Angie Crone speak: How to Make Food Waste Tasty: Upcycled Ingredients and Products for a Sustainable Future

Sunday, January 15, 2023, 1:30 p.m.

Big Idea Stage, Las Vegas, NV

Hear UFA’s CEO, Angie Crone speak: Upcycled foods is one of the fastest growing sectors in the sustainable food industry.

January 25-26, 2023

San Francisco, CA

James Kwon, Founder, CEO, & Lead Strategist at Figmints Digital Creative Marketing is eager to share his digital marketing expertise with those who want to hone their messaging, target key audiences, and ultimately increase sales.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 2 p.m. EST

Each year 108 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States. That equates to 130 billion meals and more than $408 billion in food thrown away each year! Upcycling food - the process of transforming ingredients that would otherwise be wasted - is a way to make your specialty product more special, more sustainable and just as delicious and nutritious. Join the CEO of the Upcycled Food Association, Angie Crone, Founder and CEO of Pulp Pantry, Kaitlin Mogentale, and Brand CEO of Octonuts, Greg Nielsen for an inspiring conversation about how innovative companies are turning surplus food and byproducts into high-value, specialty food items for the modern foodie!

Hear UFA’s CEO, Angie Crone speak: Current trends and insights on the market and consumer preferences for upcycled food.

February 14, 2023

Online webinar

Valorization, or upcycling, turns waste streams into higher-value ingredients and products. Many food companies want to either valorize waste streams or include valorized ingredients in their products. But where to start? This talk will provide an overview of how to valorize waste streams and review some examples.

February 23, 2023, 2 p.m. EST

Join UFA Certification Program Manager, Mariel Nunley, for a quarterly session focused on UFA's Upcycled Certified™ program. This casual, 30 minute session is a space dedicated to address questions about Upcycled Certified™, requirements of the program, and set expectations for brands ready to begin the process.

February 28, 2023, 2 p.m. EST

Visit us in booth #5194 to explore and sample tasty upcycled food products from our members. Learn more about what it means to be Upcycled CertifiedTM .

March 7-11, 2023

Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA

Expo West Upcycling Challenge After Party and Award Ceremony

Join the Upcycling Challenge award ceremony and gather for food + fun

Friday, March 10, 2023

Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA

Upcycled Food Association and Where Food Comes From (Upcycled Certified™ program certifying body) are hosting our first-ever workshop series designed to clarify the Certification journey from start to finish.

Join UFA and WFCF for four weekly 30-45 minute sessions on Tuesdays from March 28 - April 18 to learn more about the Upcycled Certified™ Standard, explore the benefits of certification, prepare your program paperwork and documentation, share your upcycling story with your customers and consumers, and more.

Tuesday, March 28th- Tuesday, April 18th

Hear UFA’s Certification Manager, Mariel Nunley speak: Learn about Upcycled Food Certification during Earth Month

April 11, 5-8 PM PDT

Hear UFA’s CEO, Angie Crone, and other industry experts discuss how we can use innovation and ingenuity to reduce food waste. This lunchtime event will consist of a short panel followed by an opportunity to network and mingle with panelists, students, and community members. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Lunch will be provided.

April 12, 2023, 12 PM PDT

Haas School of Business, Cheit Hall, Wells Fargo Room 2200 Piedmont Ave Berkeley, CA 94720

Hear UFA’s Joy Nemerson moderate Naturally Network's annual Sustainability Summit, which brings together members, advocates, experts, brands, solution seekers, and consumer product industry professionals interested in building a more sustainable and equitable consumer products industry.

Apr 12, 2023 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM (GMT-5)

Virtual Event

Upcycled Food Association and Specialty Food Association are going IG LIVE! Join us and hear from 3 companies that make delicious Upcycled Certified foods- Rind Snacks, Spare Food Co., and Daily Crunch. It’s going to be fun, and you won’t want to miss it!

Monday, April 17th, 2023, 1 PM EST

Instagram

Is formulating with upcycled ingredients difficult—or easy? In this webcast, experts discuss how upcycled food and drink ingredients are advancing—and the safety challenges and requirements for manufacturers working with upcycled ingredients. Hear UFA’s Certification Manager, Mariel Nunley present.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 1pm EST (10am PST)

Expert speakers, local vendors, and public and private organizations come together to spotlight food waste reduction in Portland and around the world. Come have some fun and learn what we can accomplish when we make every day Stop Food Waste Day!

Wednesday, April 26 · 4 - 6:30pm PDT

Oregon Convention Center - OREGON BALLROOM 777 Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard OREGON BALLROOM Portland, OR 97232

The upcycled food and beverage industry is projected to reach nearly $100 billion within a decade, with a compound annual growth rate of 5% over that period.

How is upcycling – finding new, higher-value uses for items that would otherwise go to waste – impacting businesses and consumers? What’s driving the movement? And, what opportunities does upcycling offer businesses and investors?

Insights provided by Paul Mariani, Managing Director of Mesirow Investment Banking, Eric Markin, Director of Mesirow Investment Banking and Angie Crone, CEO of the Upcycled Food Association.

Thu, Apr 27, 2023 · 2:00 PM · Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Hear UFA’s Certification Manager, Mariel Nunley speak: Redesigning Food for Circularity: How Upcycled Foods Reduce Waste, Capture Nutrition and Tackle the Climate Crisis

May 4, 2023

Are You Prepared to Represent Your Brand at Trade Shows?

UFA is grateful to partner with the Food Export team to provide UFA Members with resources to aid in business development, including financial support. Food Export is eager to be involved in the upcycling movement and industry by supporting UFA Members - whether you are currently exporting or not!

Register to join this virtual webinar on May 3rd to learn the basics, as well as expert tips for successful exhibiting at key industry trade shows from Food Export representative, Ron Tanner!

Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 2 PM EST