Industry Viewpoint: From farms to food banks, a vital link in the supply chain

I will never forget the first time I stood in a field full of cabbage, as the director of produce recovery at Feeding Florida, and a grower asked me, “what options do we have?”  The grower missed the sales window due to inclement weather events early in the season, and hundreds of acres of beautiful cabbage were nearing the point of becoming compost.

What felt like an impossible task of moving over 40 loads in a three-day time frame became a reality with a solid partnership, ingenuity, and an established network of food banks across the country willing and ready to move quickly at the opportunity to nourish their neighbors. Since that time, I have joined Feeding America and have had the chance to witness hundreds of transactions similar to that one, supporting farms while feeding millions of people in the process. 

Every year, billions of pounds of food are wasted, even as millions of Americans face food insecurity. Bridging this gap is Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, which has established innovative partnerships with growers at the local, regional and national levels to create a food-sourcing solution. Last year, Feeding America rescued 4.1 billion pounds of food of which 1 billion pounds was fresh produce. 

Moving highly nutritious foods from farms to food banks represents a crucial link in the supply chain, connecting agricultural surplus with families experiencing hunger.

The need for a farm-to-food bank approach
Food waste is a pressing issue in the United States, with 92 billion pounds of surplus food produced each year. On farms, cosmetic imperfections, overproduction or unpredictable market demands leave perfectly good produce without a destination.

Simultaneously, more than 47 million Americans — including 14 million children — experience food insecurity. Feeding America offers a practical solution, channeling surplus food from farms to food banks and ultimately to the tables of families facing hunger.

How it works
Feeding America’s approach begins at the source: farms. Through partnerships with growers, farmers donate or sell excess produce at reduced costs to Feeding America’s network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs.

• Local Partnerships: Growers play a pivotal role in ensuring their local food banks have access to fresh, seasonal produce.
• Regional Collaboration: Regional partnerships with partner state associations, regional cooperatives, and grower associations enable food banks to access larger quantities of diverse crops, especially in agriculturally rich regions. These collaborations help improve distribution efficiency, ensuring fresh produce reaches food banks and neighbors before spoiling.
• National Scale: At the national level, Feeding America partners with major agricultural organizations and corporations. These partnerships help standardize processes, expand food rescue efforts, and secure funding to support transportation and logistics.

Mutual benefits for farmers and families
A farm-to-food bank approach not only addresses hunger but also offers significant advantages to growers.

• Reducing excess: Farmers can redirect surplus crops that would otherwise go to waste.
• Tax Incentives: In many cases, growers can benefit from tax deductions for their contributions to food banks.
• Strengthening Communities: By donating to local food banks, farmers directly support their neighbors and strengthen community ties.

For families, these partnerships provide access to fresh, nutritious food. Using a farm-to-food bank approach ensures millions of people can enjoy the benefits of fresh produce, contributing to better overall health outcomes.

A Collective Effort for a Stronger Food System
On-farm food recovery is a testament to the power of collaboration. By forging strong relationships with growers and leveraging its extensive network, Feeding America has created a model that simultaneously addresses hunger and surplus food.

This vital link in the supply chain ensures that surplus food finds its way to the families who need it most, offering a lifeline to millions while promoting a more resilient food system.

To meet the growing need, Feeding America set an ambitious goal to rescue an additional 1 billion pounds of food annually by teaming up with more partners. Everyone can play a part in our mission to end hunger.

To learn more and join the Food Rescue Challenge, please reach out to [email protected].