Check Out Rick’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick.

Hi Rick, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m the founder and CEO of Food Forward, a nonprofit that connects surplus produce with people experiencing food insecurity. I started Food Forward in 2009 after seeing how much fruit was going to waste in my own neighborhood and realizing there was a simple, joyful way to share that abundance. Our very first harvest was in a local backyard with a small group of volunteers. From those grassroots beginnings, we’ve grown into the fourth largest independent food distribution organization in the nation, moving fresh fruits and vegetables at scale, free of charge, to over two hundred and fifty community partners. Today, Food Forward redistributes enough produce to feed 300,000+ people their daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We’ve had to build reliable logistics to safely recover and distribute produce. We’ve also supported our hunger relief partners during community crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles fires, and halts to SNAP funding. Through these community crises, we work to stand steadfast and show up for partner agencies every single day.

Scaling from backyard gleaning to wholesale recovery meant investing in infrastructure like our Produce Pit Stop Warehouse in Bell, which gives us the cold storage, docks, and inventory systems to move millions of pounds of fresh produce efficiently every week.

We continue to roll with the punches of the “new normal” and pivot to meet the growing nutritional needs in our communities.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I lead Food Forward’s strategy and partnerships with growers, wholesalers, and community organizations so that good food never goes to waste. Today, Food Forward recovers produce at a unique scale in the SoCal region. In July of this year, we reached a major milestone: 500 million pounds of produce recovered since 2009. This was achieved in our model that’s both environmentally and economically efficient: for every donated dollar, we recover roughly 11 pounds of produce. What sets us apart is that we meet the produce industry where they are at and move nutrient-dense food quickly and with dignity to where it’s needed most. Especially at a time when food insecurity is rising and channels that have traditionally provided hunger relief are destabilizing, Food Forward is committed to filling urgent gaps.

What I’m most proud of: The community that powers this work: Food Forward volunteers, produce donors, drivers, hunger relief partners, and our Food Forward team. With expenses of just $8.1 million, Food Forward leveraged nearly $185 million in social impact for the value of produce distributed last year. I’m also proud of how tangible and human-centered our impact is, while also being best practice for the planet.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Donate: Financial donations fuel our work! Foodforward.org/donate

Produce Industry and Sustainability partners: We welcome large scale produce donations from growers, shippers, packers, and the produce industry.

Community partners: Agencies can apply to receive produce through our application portal (we currently have a waitlist).

Volunteers and supporters: Join a harvest, support at the warehouse, or help us fund more recoveries. Each action directly translates into servings of fresh food shared with communities in need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foodforward.org
• Instagram: @foodforward
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/food-forward