Donate Surplus Food During COVID-19 National Emergency
The impact of COVID-19 is being felt in communities across the country. With food insecurity on the rise, food donation is more important than ever before. At Food Recovery Network, we want to make sure that food businesses have the information and support that they need to donate their surplus food to hunger-fighting nonprofit organizations. Check out our resources below to get started!
food recovery guide
Created for food business leaders, our Food Recovery Guide outlines four simple steps that businesses can take to donate surplus food to a local hunger-fighting nonprofit organization.
What’s inside the guide?
Explanation of liability protection for food donors
Incentives to donating surplus food
Four simple steps, outlined in detail, to donate surplus food
find a nonprofit partner
If you represent a food business that is unable to identify or locate a nonprofit partner to receive your food donations, please fill out the Food Donor Survey below. Submitting a survey response will provide our team with the details we need to best assist you in donating your surplus food.
We recognize that many requests for food donation are time sensitive, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. A team member will be in touch to connect you with a nonprofit partner.
About Food Recovery Verified
Through our Food Recovery Verified (FRV) program, Food Recovery Network (FRN) recognizes food businesses and events that are working to fight waste and feed people through food recovery. FRV serves as a third party verification for food businesses and events that donate surplus food to hunger fighting non-profit organizations.
Our team offers support and resources to food businesses and events seeking verification. Using our expertise, we help applicants design and implement custom food recovery programs for their businesses and events, which in turn have a positive impact on local communities and the environment.
Participation in food recovery diverts massive quantities of food from landfills and provides much needed support to food-insecure individuals and their families. By recovering surplus food, your business can play a critical role in reducing hunger in your local community and lower your environmental impact at the same time.
Food Waste in the United States
Approximately 40% of the food produced in the United States is wasted, yet one in eight Americans struggle with hunger. Food reduction, aside from source reduction, is the preferred method to address our nation’s food waste problem and is highly encouraged through federal government initiatives.
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 protects all food donors from civil and criminal liability when donating food and grocery products in good faith to local nonprofit organizations. Additionally, nearly all states and the District of Columbia have a version of the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to promote food recovery and donation on a local level. Rather than tossing perfectly good food into the garbage, surplus food can and should be donated to hunger-fighting nonprofit organizations.
In 2015, the USDA and EPA set a domestic goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. Food Recovery Verified (FRV) supports this national goal by helping businesses and events divert their perfectly good food from landfills onto the plates of people who need it most.
By recovering surplus food, you will:
Become a leader in your industry by tackling food waste
Initiate sustainable practices that will enhance your business long term
Help reduce hunger and food insecurity in your community
Build partnerships with local organizations
As a Food Recovery Verified business or event, our team will guide you through the process to design and activate your food recovery program, and will continue to support your program growth and development over time. Our goal is to help you build a food recovery program that will yield long-term benefits for your organization, the community and the environment. Now is the right time to start recovering food!
benefits of food recovery
Recovering food is just good business, plain and simple. A recent report published by ReFED indicates that nearly 63 million tons of food goes to waste every year in the United States. This equates to a loss of $218 billion spent on growing, processing, transporting, and disposing of food that was never eaten. Through food recovery, businesses can track how much food would otherwise have gone to waste and develop strategies to improve purchasing decisions, buying only the amount of food that is needed, and to promote higher efficiency in the handling, preparation and storage of food.
recovering surplus food will:
Reduce costs
Improve company culture
Reduce hunger and food insecurity
Reduce your carbon footprint
As businesses incorporate food recovery into their daily operations or event procedures, they help reduce hunger and food insecurity on a local level. Hunger-fighting nonprofit organizations often rely on food donations to sustain their communities. Food recovery alleviates the financial burden for nonprofit organizations that would otherwise need to purchase food, while at the same time ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society can enjoy a meal.
Additionally, food recovery is beneficial for the environment. When food is thrown in the trash it is sent to landfills where it decomposes and produces methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. Nearly 52 million tons of food is sent to landfill annually, making food waste is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases and a major contributor to climate change. Food recovery is the preferred method to reduce the amount of food waste in landfills and we support businesses that wish to start a food recovery program.
“Being verified sets a standard and example for other businesses. By diverting food from landfills, we can cause a shift in the system that helps reduce environmental impact and helps those in need.”
verification perks
In addition to the positive outcomes that stem from food recovery, Food Recovery Verified businesses and events receive support and resources from our experienced team to launch and improve their food recovery programs.
As leaders in the good food movement, our verification provides recognition to those who are doing this great work. All verified accounts receive a listing on the FRN website as a Food Recovery Verified account, a digital and physical sticker to showcase the verification, and a spotlight through tagged social media posts and/or blog features. The FRV designation demonstrates a commitment to food recovery and an investment in sustainable initiatives that have long-term impact.
“Since starting this program our surplus food has decreased and cooks have better portion control.”
Verified businesses and events RECEIVE:
Resources from experts in the field to initiate a food recovery program
Personal consultation and support from a dedicated FRV team member
Recognition as a leader of the sustainable food movement
Digital copy of FRV logo for use in online marketing and promotional efforts
FRV window sticker to display in front of your establishment
Spotlight in FRN’s social media platforms and/or blog features
Let us help you start a food recovery program
Interested to learn more?
Schedule a call with our team! We are happy to speak with those who are interested in starting a food recovery program for their food business or event and will walk you through the steps involved.
How our team can help:
Explain the legality of food donation
Share best practices for food handling/safety
Provide step by step guidance to start a food recovery program
Find a nonprofit hunger-fighting partner that can accept your food donations
Offer support as needed to initiate and maintain your food recovery program long-term
We are here to provide resources and support to individuals interested in starting a food recovery program for their food business or event. We also encourage you to check out our FAQ page for more information about the FRV program.
Ready to apply?
Great! We’re happy to have you join our movement to fight food waste and feed people! Click here for more information about the application process and to submit your FRV application.
Join our network of passionate leaders tackling food waste in their communities.
“Verifying this whole process gives my team great satisfaction. With less food going into the landfill, we reduce our carbon footprint and we then know that it has reached those who need it!”
Food Recovery Verified (™) is a network of food businesses and events committed to fighting waste and feeding people. In an effort to be more inclusive and recognize all who choose to recover food, we are thrilled to officially expand FRN’s network to include verified partners beyond the higher education sector. Read an updated copy of our new FRV terms and conditions here.
Food Recovery Verified. Join the network.