Waste to Worth: Redirecting Food Surplus to Combat Hunger

The United States of America is a major producer and the largest exporter of agricultural commodities. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the United States produced $1.14 trillion worth of agricultural products in 2021. But nearly 50% was wasted due to improper food management practices and over-portioning.

While the whole world wastes about 2.5 billion tons of food every year, the United States discards more food than any other country in the world – nearly 60 million tons (or 120 billion pounds) each year. Simultaneously, about one in 8 households experience food insecurity in America, meaning they don’t have access to an adequate supply of nutritious, affordable food. That’s an estimated number of 44.2 million Americans. 

In the state of California alone, nearly one in four residents suffer from food insecurity. Yet more than 11 billion pounds of edible food is wasted every year in California. 

So why is it so hard to redirect this food into the hands of the hungry? 

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Hunger at Home organization at its community drive at PayPal Park in San Jose. The nonprofit was founded when 8 year old Casidy Sterner volunteered at a food bank, and was upset by the plight of those he served. His father, Ewell Sterner, who worked in the hospitality industry with Hilton Torrey Pines in San Diego, decided to step up and serve the community. He saw an opportunity to connect the food he saw wasted each day with individuals and families suffering from hunger. Upon arriving at Hunger at Home’s setup in the parking lot, I had the chance to talk with Fred, one of their clients and ambassadors. 

Fred Galindez, a resident of San Jose, turns 80 years old this August. Having worked as a technician in an electronics store, Fred has now retired, relying solely on the $1000 he receives each month in Social Security payments. 

A recent analysis from Consumer Affairs reveals that San Jose residents must earn at least about $120,000 yearly to live comfortably. Living off a tenth of that is extremely difficult. Faced with high housing costs and increasing prices in stores, individuals like Fred often find themselves unable to buy groceries, leading to constant worry about where their next meal will come from. This is where food banks and food recovery organizations (FRO’s) come into the picture. Fred relies on Hunger at Home for his weekly groceries, receiving an assortment of milk, eggs, protein, vegetables, and ready-to-eat meals. Hunger at Home sources its products from corporations such as Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and local wineries that donate their surplus food. Volunteers also visit restaurants at places such as Santana Row, collecting any meals that would otherwise have been tossed into the waste bin. However, Ewell expressed that the organization faces difficulties in collecting donations.  

In September of 2016, the SB 1383 bill was passed in California. The SB 1383 regulations require that jurisdictions conduct education and outreach on organics recycling to all residents, businesses (including those that generate edible food that can be donated), solid waste facilities, and local food banks and other food recovery organizations. Additionally, the bill mandates certain food businesses to donate the maximum amount of edible food they would otherwise dispose of to FRO's. One of the main statewide targets of SB 1383 was to divert 50% of organic waste landfill disposal by 2020. California failed to meet the target. This is largely due to the failure of the bill to set up a framework to help businesses do so, leaving a gap in the system that prevents efficient redistribution of excess food to those in need.

A key issue is the lack of funding. Although the bill mandates donations, there is no financial support to back it up, and state budgets do not consistently allocate funds to be granted to corporations to cover the costs of doing so. At the same time, no business wants to pay out of pocket for the costs of storing and transporting their surplus products. FRO’s typically don’t receive enough funding as well. Last year, Hunger at Home was able to amass $1.2 million in grants. This year, they’ve gotten zero so far, and are forced to rely on donations from nonprofits such as Martha’s Kitchen and City Team Ministries. Due to this cut in funding, Hunger at Home’s ability to recover and distribute food has been severely impacted, as they struggle to continue to meet the growing demand and address food insecurity in the community. 

Another contributing factor to food wastage is food labels. According to the FDA, consumer uncertainty about the meaning of the dates that appear on the labels of packaged foods is believed to contribute to about 20% of food waste in the home. Yet the federal government doesn’t have regulations standardizing the use of date labels on foods in place, and only regulates baby food labels. Introducing policies to address this issue by standardizing date labels and educating consumers about their meaning could significantly reduce food waste. 

Yet, in the face of all these obstacles, there is hope. Organizations like Hunger at Home continue to make a difference in the community, but they cannot do it alone. There needs to be a concerted effort from all sectors – government, businesses, and individuals – to address the system issues that lead to food waste and food insecurity. 

In this fight against hunger, community involvement is essential. Individuals can contribute by volunteering their time, donating to food banks, and advocating for change. I encourage readers in the Bay Area to learn more about Hunger at Home and find ways to get involved at www.hungerathome.org. 

Sources: 
"Food Waste in America in 2024: Statistics & Facts." RTS Recycle Track Systems, 2024, www.rts.com/resources/guides/food-waste-in-america-2024-statistics-facts/.

"Food Waste: Part 5." Utah State University Extension, 2024, extension.usu.edu/nutrition/research/food-waste-part-5.

"Federal Incentives for Businesses to Donate Food." USDA, 8 July 2020, www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/07/08/federal-incentives-businesses-donate-food.

"Organic Waste Reduction Local Assistance Grant Program." California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/owrlocalassistancegrant/.