My Dive for Good Food in a Twin Cities Dumpster
Published by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Avocados are amazing. The possibilities are endless: guacamole, sushi, sandwiches and more. So when my friend Greg told me a story of how he once salvaged 40 ripe avocados from a dumpster, I was dumbfounded. I needed to see this wanton waste with my own eyes. I asked Greg to take me along on one of his late-night scavenging missions.
“Whatever grinds your gears,” my boyfriend said, cringing. “Be careful for rats and snakes,” my mom cautioned.
On the night of the outing, Greg sent me a text with the details. “How about we meet at my place at 10 p.m.? Dress in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring gloves, bags and a headlamp. If we’re prompt, maybe we can get back by 2.”
My friend invited an acquaintance, Steve, to serve as our guide in this odd adventure. Steve was a rugged man in his mid-30s with wild blonde hair past his shoulders. A father of five and a coin trader by profession, Steve claimed to dumpster dive 100 percent of his food, adding that he hadn’t been to a store in more than six months.
