2026 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit

May 19-21, 2026 | Charlotte, NC

The Westin Charlotte

Emcee

Chef, television host, influencer, entrepeneur, and zero-waste advocate Joel Gamoran returned to the Summit stage for the first time since 2019 as this year's emcee—and he kept the proceedings informative, inspiring, and fun.

Joel Gamoran

Founder

Homemade

Learn More

Speakers

Here are the food system experts, innovators, and advocates speaking at this year's Summit:

Sara Burnett

Executive Director

ReFED

Jeana Cadby

Environment and Climate Director

Western Growers

Rebecca Chesney

Director of Sustainability Innovation

ISS Guckenheimer

Dana Gunders

President

ReFED

Megan Holler

Director of Food Recovery and Compost

Toward Zero Waste

Pete Pearson

Vice President Food, Food Loss and Waste

World Wildlife Fund

Minnie Ringland

Senior Manager, Climate & Insights

ReFED

Angel Veza

Director, Innovation Initiatives

ReFED

Christine Wittmeier

Organics Recycling Team Lead

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Andrew Zimmern

Chef, Restaurateur, Entrepreneur, Television & Radio Host

"This is an issue that should unite us all. There are countless reasons for each of us to commit to this cause, as it simply makes sense for our country to stop wasting food. And in doing so, perhaps—just perhaps—through the collaborations, partnerships, and connections you help facilitate, we can begin to rediscover the true meaning of community in this country."

Thomas J. Vilsack
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, at the 2024 Summit in Baltimore, MD

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