A not-for-profit organization providing a sustainable solution to feed food insecure communities and mitigate food waste.

Your Produce Recovery and Waste Solution

March 2024

Welcome to Food Forward’s Wholesale Recovery Program quarterly update.

Since its founding in 2009, Food Forward has diverted over 390 million pounds of fruits and vegetables from landfills and into food insecure communities free of charge.

Our refrigerated warehouse in Bell, California is the receiving and distribution hub for nearly 200,000 pounds of daily donations from the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, its surrounding district, and from growers and shippers across the region and the country. This is enough produce to meet the USDA’s recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day for nearly 260,000 people.

Photo Credit: Jack Sutton

WHITE HOUSE RECOGNITION

Our commitment to help end hunger

Food Forward is proud to announce our recognition by the White House for our commitment to the national effort to end hunger and build healthy, sustainable communities.

As part of its commitment to the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, Food Forward recently pledged to recover and distribute over 290 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables by 2026, increasing our current annual recovery volume from 80 million to 100 million pounds.

2023 In Review

In 2023, Food Forward set out to recover 80 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and donate them to communities experiencing food insecurity. Not only did we meet that goal, we exceeded it, recovering a total of 87 million pounds! We could not recover at such a high volume without the generosity of donors in the wholesale industry.

WHOLESALE RECOVERY BY THE NUMBERS

87 million pounds

This high volume recovery was made possible through partnerships with over 500 wholesale donors.

87 million pounds is a TON of produce (43500 tons, to be exact). Let’s break down just how much we recovered and where it ended up.

Last year, Food Forward recovered the equivalent of over 2,000 truckloads of fruits and vegetables. That’s over 69,000 pallets, which translates to over 488 million servings.

87 million pounds is a TON of produce (43500 tons, to be exact). Let’s break down just how much we recovered and where it ended up.

Last year, Food Forward recovered the equivalent of over 2,000 truckloads of fruits and vegetables. That’s over 69,000 pallets, which translates to over 488 million servings.

SPRING MELT FUNDRAISER

Meet Food Forward

Photo Credit: Eron Rauch

Join us at an evening of friends, food, and cocktails in an historic Hollywood location. It’s sure to be a night of fun under the stars, all for a good cause!

Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 7:00 PM

The Jim Henson Company Lot, Hollywood, California

Sponsorship opportunities | Tickets on sale

Wondering how you got on this list? You may have signed up or a friend of Food Forward staff member may have recommended you. You may Manage Preferences anytime.

New wholesale donors are always welcome!

wholesalerecovery@foodforward.org

foodforward.org/produce-industry

(323) 307-9882

Help us Build Generational Health

Fight food waste and food insecurity with a donation today.

Make a financial donation today