Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers Markets: A Preliminary Analysis. By Charlene C. Price and J. Michael Harris. Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. 4. Abstract Collecting unsold food discarded at farmers markets has the potential to allow nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations to distribute significant quantities of wholesome, unsold fruits and vegetables to needy families. Donations of this unsold produce by the participants at these markets can generate tangible benefits: increased private food assistance and better nutrition for lower income families. The Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis presented in this study indicates that there is potential to strengthen the links between farmers markets and nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organiza- tions in many areas of the United States. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Vincent E. Breneman and Chris W. Dicken for their assistance with the GIS analysis and for generating the maps in this publication. We would also like to thank Joel Berg, Linda Scott Kantor, Doris Newton, Howard Elitzak, and Steven Martinez for reviewing the manuscript. Washington, DC 20036 January 2000 Contents Page Summary . iii Introduction . 1 Theoretical Construct. 2 Methodology . 3 Findings . 4 Locations of Farmers Markets and Food Recovery Organizations . 4 Concentrations of Local Farmers Markets and Organizations . 4 Limitations of the Study . 7 Future Research . 7 References. 8 Appendix Tables The 28 Food organizations With the Highest Concentrations of Farmers Markets Within 30 Miles. 10 Listings of Farmers Markets Within 30 Miles of the 28 Food Organizations . 11 ii ✥ Economic Research Service/USDA Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers’ Markets / FANRR-4 Summary More than one-quarter of the food produced in the United States may be thrown away or not used. While some of this food is nonrecoverable, other food is recoverable. Collecting food discarded at farmers markets allows nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations to distribute donations of wholesome, unsold fruits and vegetables to needy families. Strengthening ties between farmers markets and nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations (that is, food banks, food pantries, food rescue programs, etc.) could generate tangible benefits: increased food assistance and better nutrition for lower income families. Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis identifies locations across the country where farmers markets and food organizations are in close enough proximity for food to be donated easily. If farmers markets are not currently donating food, this type of information could improve or strengthen ties between local farmers markets and food organizations. Many farmers markets already donate unsold fruits and vegetables to nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations, and many organizations know where farmers markets are located in their local areas. One obstacle, however, to fur- ther expanding cooperation is lack of information and coordination. In other words, nonprofit food organizations need to know about the farmers markets in their local areas and donors at farmers markets need to know about the food organizations in their local areas. This study uses GIS analysis to identify areas in the United States with large numbers of farmers markets near local nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations. These areas include the 28 local nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations located within 30 miles of the largest numbers of farmers markets. The report provides detailed information on farmers markets, such as name, address, telephone number, and contact person. Similar detailed information is also presented for each food organization. Improved information sharing, identifying locations of farmers markets and food organizations, and reducing transportation and other logistical constraints should facilitate a better working relationship between potential donors from farmers markets and nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations in local areas. Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers’ Markets / FANRR-4 Economic Research Service/USDA ✥ iii iv ✥ Economic Research Service/USDA Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers’ Markets / FANRR-4 Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers’ Markets A Preliminary Analysis Charlene C. Price J. Michael Harris* Introduction initiative to expand food recovery from farmers mar- kets by facilitating donations of unsold fruits and veg- Food recovery is the collection, or recovery, of whole- etables to nonprofit food recovery and gleaning some food from farmers fields, retail stores, or food- organizations for distribution to needy individuals and service establishments for distribution to the poor and families. hungry. Recovery is a good way to fight hunger in the United States because it makes use of wholesome food USDA initiated a pilot program in 1997 which that would otherwise be discarded. Recovery efforts matched producers in the farmers market setting with become even more important when one looks at the nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations in significant amounts of wholesome, edible food that is the Washington, DC, area. Over 8,000 pounds of food thrown away every day. USDA estimates that more were recovered during 3 months of 1997 and over than one-quarter of all food produced in the United 12,000 pounds of food during 5 months of 1998. The States is discarded (Kantor, Lipton, Manchester, and success of these efforts has spawned considerable Oliveira, 1997). Although some discarded food is interest in expanding such programs to other areas in nonedible, other discarded food is edible and, if locat- the United States. ed near nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organi- zations, can be used to provide food assistance to Further evidence shows that recovery of unsold fruits low-income Americans. Discarded food from farmers and vegetables from local food donors is important. markets is no exception. The following numbers reflect total local donations. These donors may include farmers markets, retailers, Recovery of wholesome, unsold fruits and vegetables restaurants, and even food processors. Recovery from farmers markets can provide a significant source efforts at one organization in the Syracuse, NY, area of potential donations to nonprofit food recovery and are netting about 25 million pounds of fruits and veg- gleaning organizations (that is, food pantries, food etables a year (Food Bank of Central New York, banks, etc.) and, in turn, to low-income Americans. 1998). We were able to determine that most of these Not only could recovery increase food assistance, but donations came from a local wholesale market. it could also improve nutrition for low-income families However, significant donations from farmers markets because it could increase consumption of fresh fruits are included in this number. One food bank in and vegetables. As part of USDAs Food Recovery and Washington, DC, also reported donations approaching Gleaning Initiative, the Department has launched an 1 million pounds of food in 1998 (D.C. Central Kitchen, 1998). Many farmers markets already donate unsold fruits *Charlene C. Price and J. Michael Harris are economists with the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. and vegetables to nonprofit food recovery and glean- Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers’ Markets / FANRR-4 Economic Research Service/USDA ✥ 1 ing organizations, and many organizations know where Collection costs increase as the size of the collection farmers markets are located in their local area. area around the organization increases. In other words, However, one impediment to further expanding coop- the farther an organization or volunteer has to travel to eration is the lack of information and coordination pick up donated food, the higher the cost. Therefore, a needed to strengthen ties in local areas. In other words, higher density (number) of farmers markets in close nonprofit food recovery and gleaning organizations proximity results in lower transportation costs. need to know numbers and locations of farmers mar- Conceptually, organizations will assemble donations kets in their local areas. Conversely, donors at farmers from an area of such size or radius that transport costs markets need to know that food organizations exist in would not exceed the cost of purchasing fruits and their local areas and that potential losses can be turned vegetables at local wholesale markets. From an eco- into useful donations. A successful relationship also nomic efficiency standpoint, and at some distance and depends on sufficient densities (numbers) of farmers size of area, it is cheaper to purchase these products markets in local areas to make it worthwhile for organ- than to pay the costs to drive out to distant locations izations to assemble donations in quantities that are and collect donations.1 large enough to make collections worthwhile. Large numbers of markets in close proximity keep collection Based on this rationale, organizations have a collection costs low. area with a radius determined by economic cost, and costs will be lower in areas with high densities (num- This report presents information about local areas in bers) of farmers markets.2 Therefore, areas with large the United States with large numbers of farmers mar- numbers of farmers markets in close proximity to kets near local nonprofit food recovery