How To Categorize Your Loop Load For Data Entry

Not sure which department to select when entering your pickup data? We’ve got you covered! Use this guide to make sure your Loop loads are reported under the right categories. Accurate data helps us keep track of what’s being rescued from stores and put to good use on farms. 🌱

📦 First Things First: Banana Box Math

All items need to be reported as banana box equivalents, even if your load comes in bags, partial boxes, or oversized boxes.

• Combine smaller boxes: Five half-full banana boxes = 2.5 boxes.
• Estimate larger boxes or bags: Divide them into your best estimate of full banana box equivalents.
• Include leftovers: Use decimals to account for partial boxes.

Not sure where something belongs? Leave a comment when entering your data! If you still have questions, email data@loopresource.ca.

🥕 Department Breakdown: What Goes Where?

🥦 Produce

Fresh fruits and vegetables, including apples, carrots, potatoes, onions, berries, pumpkins, watermelons, and corn husks.

A few surprises that belong here:

• Tofu
• Refrigerated salad dressings
• Refrigerated individual-size juices

Remember: Fresh produce always goes under Produce, no matter where it’s stocked or sold in the store.

Produce scraps from deli fruit trays and salad prep also belong here! Think pineapple tops, melon rinds, orange peels, and chopped lettuce.

🥛 Dairy & Eggs

Milk, butter, yogurt, cheese, and eggs.

Also includes:

• Refrigerated family-size juices
• Refrigerated non-dairy alternatives, like oat milk, almond milk, and plant-based cheese
• Branded raw cookie dough

🍞 Bakery

All bread, buns, wraps, pastries, and baked desserts, including cookies, pies, and cakes.

Also includes: Fresh unbranded dough and gallon buckets of icing.

🍱 Deli & Kitchen

Cold cuts and meat trim, specialty meats and cheeses, fully cooked or hot meals, prepared side dishes, and pre-made sandwiches.

Other items that belong here:

• Sushi
• Fresh pasta
• Fresh-squeezed juices
• Fresh dips, like hummus and spinach dip

Quick reminder: Produce scraps from fruit trays and salad prep belong under Produce, not Deli & Kitchen.

🥫 Grocery

Think pantry items! These are shelf-stable products that don't need to be refrigerated, frozen, kept fresh, or served hot.

Examples include flour, canned goods, cereal, branded cookies and crackers, dry pasta, chocolate, pop, and bulk goods.

Unusual items that still count as Grocery:

• Pet food
• Baby formula
• Non-alcoholic beer
• Bottled water

Your store might call this department Pantry or Packaged Foods.

🥩 Meat & Seafood

Fresh, raw meat and seafood, including trim and fat.

Meat alternatives, such as Beyond Meat or veggie-based meat products, also belong here unless they are normally stocked frozen.

⚠️ Important: Canadian law prohibits feeding meat or seafood to livestock, including chickens and pigs. Follow Loop's guidance for handling these items.

🧊 Frozen

Anything normally stocked frozen in the store, including ice cream, frozen treats, vegetables, meat, and prepared meals.

Frozen is the trump category! If an item is kept frozen in the store, report it under Frozen, even if it would normally fit another department.

💐 Floral

Flowers and potted plants sold inside the store.

Items stocked outdoors in a seasonal Garden Centre belong under Garden Centre instead.

☕ Coffee

Anything from your store's in-house coffee shop, including used coffee grounds, packaged sandwiches, cookies, and pastries.

The exception: Unopened coffee beans or grounds from the regular store aisles belong under Grocery, unless they're the in-house coffee shop's own products.

🌻 Garden Centre

Seasonal garden items, including Christmas trees, hanging pots, wreaths, soil, and summer annuals.

If Garden Centre isn't available as a reporting category, include these items in the Comment section.

🧴 Non-Organics

Received something that doesn't fit any of the categories above? Examples include health and beauty products, soaps, cleaners, and toys.

List these items in the Comment section. Non-food items are accepted at your discretion and are not covered under the personal-use waiver.

Important: Pharmaceuticals should never come to Loop. If you receive any medications, contact your regional steward.

✅ Before You Hit Submit

• 📦 Enter everything as banana box equivalents.
• 🏷️ Choose the department where the item belongs, using the special rules above.
• ❄️ Remember that Frozen takes priority when an item is normally stocked frozen.
• 💬 Leave a comment if you're unsure or an item doesn't fit a category.
• 📧 Need a hand? Email data@loopresource.ca.

Thanks for keeping your data accurate! Good reporting helps Loop track the food and other materials being rescued and put to use. Every box counts! 🌱