Whether it's the destructive wildfires that swept through Los Angeles or the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Californians have endured upheaval over the past five years.
Food Forward, Inc., on a mission rooted in sustainability and equity, has been there to meet both emergency and ongoing needs in the community.
Since its founding in 2009, the nonprofit is on track to reach a staggering 500 million pounds of rescued produce this summer, redistributing fresh fruit and vegetables that might otherwise go to waste. Its efforts, including the growing Wholesale Produce Recovery initiative, demonstrate the power of community-driven food systems to respond to both emergency needs and long-term hunger relief.
According to its 2024 Impact Report, in the past year alone, Food Forward recovered over 94 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables that were then redirected to hunger relief agencies, meeting vital needs in nutrient-insecure communities.
Food Forward is preventing food waste at scale while nourishing millions, according to the report. This effort is deeply rooted in a partnership with the wholesale produce industry, making it a compelling case study for sustainable innovation across the sector. Food Forward's Wholesale Produce Recovery initiative now stands as one of the largest produce recovery programs in the U.S., the report says.
According to the impact report, July 2024 was the most prolific month in Food Forward's history, citing in that month alone, Food Forward recovered over 10.5 million pounds of fruits and vegetables. This is $20 million worth of produce delivered to people in the community facing food and nutrition insecurity. The emissions prevented from this month alone are the equivalent of taking over 2,000 cars off the road for one year, the report shows.
“We're incredibly proud of this year's wholesale produce recovery efforts — not only because they allow us to redistribute food to over 250 hunger relief partners, but because the collaboration with growers, shippers and packers tells the story of what's possible when the produce industry and nonprofit sector work hand-in-hand,” says Rick Nahmias, founder and CEO of Food Forward. “As we look ahead, this work serves as a springboard for deepening and expanding our partnerships with wholesale providers who are eager to be part of a more sustainable, equitable food system.”
Food Forward is also proud to have David Lake and Stevie Shandler — longtime leaders in governance and sustainability within the produce industry, who are passionate about redressing food insecurity — on their board of directors. Their expertise continues to shape and strengthen the organization's cross-sector partnerships and mission to foster food access and climate responsibility, especially in light of this year's emergency response efforts, according to a news release.
In 2024, Food Forward recovered and donated more than 250 varieties of produce to serve more than 250 nonprofit partners, showcasing the power of industrywide collaboration in building a more resilient food system. This work not only supports the produce industry's waste reduction and Environmental and Social Governance goals, but also directly addresses nutritional equity at scale, the organization says.