Food Forward is a nonprofit organization that brings fresh surplus fruits and vegetables to people experiencing food insecurity.

We’ve been on a mission to fight hunger and reduce food waste since 2009, and with the help of supporters like you, we will create a future where everyone in our communities has access to healthy produce.

In California, 1 in 5 households are food insecure. At the same time, 35 percent of the food produced in the U.S. is unsold or uneaten each year, amounting to an annual loss of $408B to the economy.

Food Forward creates a sustainable solution to both these problems. Our dedicated team members and volunteers—people just like you—recover fruits and vegetables that would have been wasted from backyard fruit trees, public orchards, farmers markets, and the downtown Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. We connect this abundance of nutritious food to people experiencing food insecurity, donating 100% of the produce we recover to hunger relief agencies across eight California counties that include Los Angeles and Ventura, along with six adjacent states and tribal lands.

For people experiencing food insecurity, access to wholesome and nutritious food is essential. The availability of fresh fruits and vegetables through food recovery programs like ours can promote a healthier environment, greater economic resilience, and more equitable communities.

Since 2009, Food Forward has prevented food waste and created more food security in our communities by recovering surplus fruits and vegetables. Our produce recovery programs faced numerous challenges in 2020, yet collected more fresh fruits and vegetables than ever before to donate, free of charge, to hundreds of agency partners. Our volunteers and staff stepped up in response to the pandemic and continue to serve like never before. We’re grateful to all who have supported and continue to be part of this work.