Janet Kalish, center, with a papaya she collected during a New York City trash tour for people interested in becoming freegans -- anti-consumerists who, in the words of one advocate, are “opting out of capitalism in any way that we can.” (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Cindy Rosin, left, and Janet Kalish sort through the available fare. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Deirdre Rennert looks for edibles on the trash tour. She concedes that she was somewhat surprised once when she did not not get sick after eating salmon retrieved from a trash container. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Although some markets in New York City donate edible leftover food to agencies that prepare it for the poor, freegans insist that large amounts still get thrown away. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
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Some of the discoveries on the New York City trash tour: dog food, an artichoke, soy milk and packaged crab meat. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)