The Retail Food Recovery Program relies on the donation data you put into the Diversion Tracker App, so our retail partners can see in real-time the volume of the food they are donating and the impact those donations are having.
The Retail Food Recovery Program relies on the donation data you put into the Diversion Tracker App, so our retail partners can see in real-time the volume of the food they are donating and the impact those donations are having.
Per the Memorandum of Understanding, donation data must be inputted and synced into the Diversion Tracker App before 12pm PST the next business day following a donation pickup
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Includes answers to your most frequently asked questions, from how to sync data on the Diversion Tracker App, to what to do if another charity is picking up on your behalf.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties that are preventing you from inputting data into the Diversion Tracker App, FoodMesh Support is here to help you.
Check you are connected to Wi-Fi
If you can't connect to Wi-Fi, you'll need to remember to manually sync your data when you're connected
Make sure you have the right store selected
If you’ve set a backdate recently, remember to reset the date to the day you're inputting data for
Weight should be enetered in round numbers
You can update your weight from kg to lbs in the weight settings
You can edit/delete your donation data up until 6pm on the day of your pickup
If you have been provided with a FoodMesh tablet, follow the instructions below.
The tablet needs a Google account associated with it. We recommend creating a new one for use with the Diversion Tracker App since the tablet and app will have full access to all the Google services on the Google account. Before logging in, we will need to grant your email address access to the app, so please email us with your name and Organization name (if applicable) to support@foodmesh.ca.
The tablet is now configured for use.
In order to log into the Diversion Tracker App you will need a Gmail address or an email linked to a google account. Before logging in, we will need to grant your email address access to the app, so please email us with your name and organization name (if applicable) to support@foodmesh.ca.
If your organization will have multiple people accessing the App with this login, we recommend creating an email address specifically for the app as volunteers will need access to the password.
This process protects your food donations from being given away to unknown third parties. Please ensure any drivers or volunteers are aware of this identification protocol before going to the store.
Only FoodMesh Verified charities will be given donations at the stores. If you do not follow these identification protocols, the store will turn you away.
To ensure that store staff are aware of who is receiving donated products, FoodMesh verified charities must follow the identification protocol below:
For your reference, these are the best practice guidelines we distribute to the stores participating in the program:
Best Practice Guidelines – Full Diversion / Bloom 2.1
Watch this quick video to see how to record donation data in the Diversion Tracker App
Alternatively, follow these step by step instructions:
Below is a list of example products according to the department they belong to:
Bread, buns, bulk-bin buns and rolls, cookies, muffins, pastries, cakes, creamed cakes, etc.
Milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, kefir, cheese, plant-based milk, plant-based yogurt, refrigerated juice, eggs, etc.
Prepared meals (sandwiches, mixed salads, hot meals, cold meals), cold cut deli meats, preserved dry/hard meats, commercially packaged meats, deli cheeses, dips, etc.
Dry goods: cereals, grains, legumes, pasta, flour, spices, bottled seasonings, canned items, snacks, beverages, candies, chocolates, cookies, chips, etc.
Raw meat: beef, lamb, pork, veal, poultry, chicken, turkey, ground meat, sausages, bacon, meat alternatives*, seafood, fish, etc.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, salad mixes, pre-cut fruits and vegetables, single-serve juice, refrigerated salad dressings, etc.
Non-food items: paper towels, cleaning products, flowers, pet food, etc.
*Meat alternatives are often found in different departments depending on the store, such as in Meat, Produce, and Deli departments.
How to track donations offline
If you don’t have access to the Diversion Tracker App during your donation pick up, please write down the weights of the donations by department, the destination and the date of the pick up on a piece of paper. We have also created these offline tracking sheets for you to print out and keep in your vehicle, in case this would be useful to you.
FoodMesh Offline Donation Tracking Sheet – Donation Weights (PDF)
FoodMesh Offline Donation Tracking Sheets – Farm Weights (PDF) – Bloom only
Please add the information to the Diversion Tracker App as soon as your access has been restored.
To help remind your volunteers about when to input donation data into the Diversion Tracker App, we have created a poster for you to print and hang in your facility:
Per the Memorandum of Understanding, please ensure that donation data is inputted and synced into the Diversion Tracker App before 12pm PST the next business day following a donation pickup. If you are picking up donations on a Friday or over the weekend, you have an additional 48 hours to input the data.
If you are a Lead charity, every scheduled pickup that is missing donation data will automatically result in no payment of your financial stipend for that pickup.
If you don’t have donation data from your pick-up, please indicate the reason using the “No Data” button in the Diversion Tracker App.
If you don’t have access to the app, please contact us at support@foodmesh.ca.
Here are a few things you can check:
1. Check your Wi-Fi
Are you connected to the Wi-Fi? Is your Wi-Fi signal strong? Disable and enable the Wi-Fi to reset the connection.
2. Check the battery of the tablet
Does the tablet have a sufficient battery charge? Make sure to plug in the tablet on a regular basis.
3. Restart the tablet
To restart the tablet, hold down the power button until you see the option to restart the device. Tap Restart.
4. Delete old photos from the photo album on the tablet
The tablet saves all the photos taken via the app, which could slow down the tablet and app.
To delete all photos on your device, tap on the tablet’s Photo Album app (Gallery). Once the Gallery app is open, click on Albums at the bottom. Click and hold on an album until a small circle appears and then apply a checkmark by selecting the circle. Select all Albums you wish to delete from and then select the Trash icon. Once all the photos have been moved to the Trash, the trash will then need to be emptied.
5. Close other apps
Are there too many apps open on the tablet at once? Close other apps that are running in the background. Hold the Home button on the tablet until the Task Manager app appears. Close the apps you are not currently using by tapping their “X” icon.
Still experiencing challenges?
If you are still encountering technical issues with the tablet, please do not hesitate to reach out to FoodMesh Support:
Email: support@foodmesh.ca
Call: 1-844-888-6374 (MESH)
Text: 604-330-8614
Tap on the circular arrow at the top right corner. If there are entries yet to be synced, there will be a small red number on the top right-hand side of the App window. Tap the circular arrow again to sync. If you are in a Wi-Fi area and the App is not syncing, please contact FoodMesh Support:
Email: support@foodmesh.ca
Call: 1-844-888-6374 (MESH)
Text: 604-330-8614
It is your responsibility to ensure that the donation data for your scheduled pick-up is inputted into the Diversion Tracker App, even if another charity is doing the pick-up on your behalf. In order to receive your financial stipend for your scheduled pick-up, you will need to ensure your replacement charity provides you with the donation data and that you put it into the Diversion Tracker App within the agreed timeframe. If you are unable to do so, please let us know in advance by contacting FoodMesh Support.
If you experience technical difficulties that prevent you from being able to input the data into the Diversion Tracker App, please let us know ASAP
Call us at 1-844-888-6374 (extension 3)
Text us at 604-330-8614
If you have received an email informing you of missing donation data in the Diversion Tracker App, use this troubleshooting guide to help you find a resolution.
Check it is charged
Close any other apps that are running
Delete old photos from the device
Restart it
Still having trouble? Contact FoodMesh Support