How It Started

In late 2010, a small group of volunteers, armed with a pickup truck, visited a handful of farmers willing to open their fields. We filled the first boxes of rescued fruits and vegetables and delivered them to the local senior center.

Today we work with over 100 farmers, businesses, and recipient organizations.

Our Impact

Since 2010, we have rescued

3.4 MILLION POUNDS

The value of the food rescued

$5.9 MILLION DOLLARS

Food Rescue US uses a value of $1.73 per pound for rescued food.

Veggie Rescue is working to address the problems of food waste and food insecurity in Santa Barbara County. 

There are tens of thousands of acres of high-quality, nutrient dense fruits and vegetables grown in this region, with 25% going to waste.  At the same time 1 in 5 residents have limited access to healthy food.

WE RESCUE FOOD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE

By RESCUING this food, Veggie Rescue is:

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

  • Not wasting natural resources used to produce the food

  • Contributing to a closed loop economy, where waste and environmental impacts are minimized and access to nutrient dense food is maximized

WE DELIVER RESCUED FOOD TO NONPROFITS SERVING CLIENTS FACING FOOD INSECURITY IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

By DELIVERING this food, Veggie Rescue is:

  • Helping nonprofit organizations with limited financial resources feed more people

  • Ensuring food insecure people have access to nutritious, locally grown food

  • Allow local farms and businesses to contribute to a local solution to hunger

SB 1383 - REDUCING EDIBLE FOOD WASTE

California's Climate Pollutant Reduction law, often called SB 1383, establishes methane reduction targets for California. This bill sets goals to reduce disposal of organic waste in landfills, including edible food. The bill’s purpose is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane, and address food insecurity in California.

Veggie Rescue partners with the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Santa Maria to help food producers and food distributors to accomplish their food waste reduction goals.