US Farm Food Recovery
Read more about how we’re fighting food waste and hunger across the United States
The Location
📍 49 States Across the United States
Every year, over 108 billion pounds of food are wasted in the U.S.—food that could feed millions but ends up in landfills, contributing to over 327 million tons of CO₂e emissions.
Meanwhile, 47 million Americans face food insecurity.
The US Farm Food Recovery project connects surplus produce from farms and distribution centers directly to hunger-fighting organizations in communities that need it most.
From rural towns to major cities, this initiative supports local food systems, improves nutrition access, and prevents greenhouse gas emissions.
The Problem
The U.S. produces enough food to feed every person on Earth—yet:
- 1 in 8 Americans lacks access to safe, sufficient food
- Over 1/3 of the food supply goes to waste
- Food waste generates massive amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas 80x more potent than CO₂
This disconnect between abundance and need results in environmental harm and widespread food insecurity.
The Solution
In partnership with The Farmlink Project, this initiative:
- Secures surplus food directly from farms and food distributors before it’s wasted
- Delivers it to communities in need, partnering with local nonprofits and food banks across the country
- Provides real-time data to track the climate and social impact of every delivery
This isn’t just food donation—it’s a climate solution. By preventing waste, the project reduces methane emissions, improves food access, and strengthens community resilience.
Partners
The Farmlink Project - a student-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting farmers with surplus produce to communities across the country - on a mission to end hunger in America with the fresh food we already grow.
What is Food Recovery?
Food recovery is the process of rescuing surplus food that would otherwise be wasted and redistributing it to those in need. It’s one of the most powerful climate actions we can take today.
Through Farmlink’s Food Program:
- 1–3 million pounds of food are recovered every week
- Food is sourced for quality, not just availability
- Deliveries are made within 24–48 hours of need
- Costs are kept low—just $0.35 per pound transported
- Partner organizations span across the U.S. and Canada
Food waste prevention is one of the most scalable ways to cut emissions right now while providing healthy, fresh food to underserved communities.
The Impact
- Every delivery prevents methane emissions from landfilled food
- Real-time data tracks emissions avoided and meals provided
- Supports emergency response in disaster-affected regions
Project Highlight: East Coast Hurricanes
When Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit, apple growers faced a 20 million pound surplus. In partnership with local and federal agencies, Farmlink delivered over 8 million apples to 200+ destinations across 27 states, providing a lifeline to food-insecure communities.
Project Highlight: Los Angeles Wildfires
When wildfires ravaged California, Farmlink’s network mobilized within days.
Since January, over 15 million pounds of fresh produce, water, and shelf-stable items were delivered.
The scale of response would have been impossible for any single agency to handle alone.
Sustainable Development Goals Supported
🥘 Zero Hunger
⛑️ Good Health & Wellbeing
🏗️ Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
⚖️ Reduced Inequalities
🌆 Sustainable Cities & Communities
♻️ Responsible Consumption & Production
🌍 Climate Action
How You Can Help
With Ecodrive, your business can join the fight against hunger and food waste.
Tie everyday sales, customer actions, or internal milestones to verified food rescue efforts across the country. Your support enables the recovery and redistribution of millions of pounds of food, while cutting methane emissions and helping communities in need.
Integrate seamlessly with Shopify or your e-commerce platform, access real-time tracking and transparent impact data, and use our marketing toolkit to show your customers the difference they’re making.
