Someone could eat that: Fruit tree gleaning and food bank donations in New Orleans

In the world of food rescue, there is no single net that will catch the millions of pounds of food that go to waste every year. Both grassroots solutions and large organizational efforts are necessary to reduce food waste and divert it from the landfill to those facing food insecurity. In Louisiana, 1 out of every 6 individuals faces issues related to hunger. Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana serves more than 300,000 individuals and families across 23 parishes, one of the largest geographic food bank service areas in the country. Through its network of 300+ food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens, SHFB distributes more than 25 million pounds of food each year. Food donations are collected through a myriad of sources, including local and national manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

At this level food rescue is an expensive endeavor, but for organizations without substantial resources there are other ways to reduce food waste. The New Orleans Fruit Tree Project works with residents in the Greater New Orleans area with fruit trees on their property. With the homeowners consent and with a team of volunteers, trees are harvested and the fruit is donated to organizations that feed the hungry. Since 2011, NOFTP has collected over 30,000 pounds of fruit from the Greater New Orleans area that otherwise would have gone to waste.  

This session will focus on the approaches to food rescue from the angle of a large food distribution organization like Second Harvest Food Bank and the grassroots efforts of a small  operation like the New Orleans Fruit Tree Project. This session will also highlight the unique environmental, cultural and geographic factors that affect food rescue in Southern Louisiana.