Connecting Communities: Bridging the Gap to Direct Surplus Food to Los Angeles County Food Deserts

Approaches and Methods for Reducing Food Loss and Waste

Our approach to reducing food loss and waste is multifaceted, involving the collaborative efforts of staff drivers, partner agencies, gleaners, volunteer drivers, and strategic community partnerships. By implementing donation matching and optimizing food recovery efforts based on recipient needs, we significantly reduce food waste while ensuring that surplus food reaches the communities that need it most.

Activities and Materials

Food Collection by Staff Drivers, Partner Agencies, Gleaners, and Volunteer Drivers:

• Staff Drivers are responsible for recovering food donations from grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, music venues, events, and other edible food generators. These donations are then transported to distribution hubs or delivered directly to partner agencies to ensure they reach those in need.
  
  
• Partner Agencies, acting as additional drivers in the food recovery network, recover food directly from donors we connect them with. These agencies have established relationships with various donors, enabling them to collect food efficiently and redirect it to those in need.
  
  
• Gleaners, consisting of volunteers who recover surplus produce from farmers' markets, are instrumental in collecting fresh, perishable food that might otherwise go to waste. They gather produce directly from markets, reducing food loss and ensuring that fresh items are distributed to those in need.
  
  
• Volunteer Drivers fill in gaps where staff drivers or partner agencies are unable to reach. They help transport food donations from donors or recovery locations to partner agencies or distribution hubs, increasing the reach and efficiency of our food recovery operations.
  
  

Sources of Donations

• Direct Donations: We receive donations from various sources, including donors who sign up through our website, outreach efforts by our team of fellows, word of mouth, connections from successful partnerships like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and farmers' markets not managed by other organizations. This broad network ensures a continuous and steady flow of food.
  
  
• Partnerships with Other Food Recovery Organizations: Collaborating with organizations like Food Forward and Food Donation Connection significantly expands our reach and food recovery efforts. We prioritize cooperation over competition, working together to help each other maximize our impact and sharing resources whenever possible. For example, Food Forward regularly donates pallets of fresh produce recovered from farmers' markets. Food Donation Connection offers frequent opportunities for pickups through their extensive network of food donors, allowing us to quickly mobilize and recover food before it goes to waste. These partnerships are vital in securing a steady supply of fresh, surplus food.
  
  
• Waste Hauler and Municipal Partnerships: Our partnerships with waste haulers like NASA, Athens, and UWS, as well as municipalities like Glendale and Santa Monica, significantly enhance our food recovery efforts. These partners provide valuable leads through spreadsheets and data they share with us, helping to identify potential food waste sources. Site visits with city officials allow us to assess high food waste areas and work together on effective solutions to collect and redirect surplus food to those in need.
  
  
• Film Productions and Music Venues: Through partnerships with organizations like Musically Fed and Good Planet Innovation, we recover food waste from film productions and music venues. These events often generate substantial amounts of prepared food waste, which we can recover and redirect to those in need.

Donation Matching

A key element of our food recovery system is donation matching, which ensures that recovered food is directed to the agencies that can best utilize it. Beyond matching the types of food with agency needs, we also gather detailed information about each partner agency’s operation, demographics, and distribution capacity:

• Agency Demographics: When onboarding new agencies, we collect data on the populations they serve to better understand the cultural and dietary preferences of their communities. For example, agencies serving Asian, Hispanic, African American, Middle Eastern, or immigrant populations may have specific dietary preferences or food types that are more familiar to these groups. For these agencies, we prioritize matching them with food donations that align with the cultural preferences of the populations they serve.
  
  
• Distribution and Receiving Hours: We also consider each partner agency’s operating hours and distribution times, coordinating donations to ensure that food is delivered when it can be immediately distributed to recipients, avoiding delays or spoilage.
  
  
• Food Accessibility Needs: For agencies that primarily serve individuals experiencing homelessness or those with limited access to cooking resources, we prioritize prepared, ready-to-eat meals or food that doesn't require refrigeration or cooking. On the other hand, agencies serving populations with access to kitchens are matched with more perishable food items.
  
  
• Prioritizing Agencies in Food Deserts: We prioritize agencies operating in food desert areas to ensure that the food we recover reaches communities with limited access to fresh and nutritious food.
  
  

Using Careit for Data Collection and Reporting

We are actively working with the Careit platform to improve our data collection and reporting capabilities. Although Careit is not yet fully integrated for donation matching, we are collaborating with them to implement features that will streamline this process and allow for more efficient donation matching in the future.

• Data Input and Tracking: Careit helps us log food weights, track collection and delivery points, and record details about donor agencies, partner agencies, and receiving locations. This data is automatically recorded as food donations are received, ensuring accuracy and preventing data loss.
  
  
• Reporting and Impact Measurement: Careit generates reports that give us insights into the total volume of food recovered, the types of donations made, and the success of food distribution efforts. These reports help us track the effectiveness of our efforts and identify areas for improvement.
  
  
• Future Integration for Donation Matching: As we continue to work with Careit, we plan to incorporate features that will allow us to match food donations more effectively to the agencies that need them, based on factors such as food type, cultural preferences, and agency capacity.
  
  

Donation Weighing and Data Collection

Effective tracking and weighing of recovered food donations are essential components of our food recovery operations. To ensure accuracy and optimize our food recovery efforts, we utilize a variety of methods to measure the weight of donated food, and we collect and report this data through the Careit platform.

• Scales for Weighing Donations: We provide partner agencies with portable scales to weigh food donations where available. These scales allow agencies to log the weights of food they receive directly into the Careit platform. For larger donations, particularly at the pallet level, some donors may have access to industrial scales. While not guaranteed, these scales help gather more accurate weight data when available.
  
  
• Table of Estimated Weights: In situations where scales are unavailable or not easily accessible, partner agencies and volunteers can use a table of estimated weights to record the donation amounts. This table provides average weights for common food items, helping to fill gaps where direct weighing isn't possible.
  
  

  Item	Container	Estimated Weight	Notes/Additional Guidance
  Bagels/Bread	Full bag/box	30 lbs	Large paper bags or cardboard boxes. Adjust based on size; a full bag of bread may weigh a bit more than bagels due to denser packaging.
  Beverages (soda, bottled water, tea, etc.)	Full case (12 bottles)	20-25 lbs	Can vary greatly depending on the beverage type (e.g., bottled water is lighter, soda cans are heavier).
  Bulk Dry Goods	1 bag (25-50 lbs)	25-50 lbs	Bulk bags of flour, rice, or sugar, which can vary greatly in weight. Make sure to verify if the bag is near full.
  Canned Goods	Full banana box	50 lbs	Cans of vegetables, beans, soups, etc. These boxes are often cardboard and can get heavy quickly.
  Cheese (bulk blocks)	1 block (5 lbs)	5 lbs	Bulk cheese blocks vary in weight. Most common sizes are 5 lbs per block. Pre-packaged cheese (e.g., shredded) may weigh less.
  Cheese (shredded, slices)	Full bag	1-2 lbs	Pre-packaged shredded or sliced cheese is lighter than bulk blocks but can add up quickly in volume.
  Catering Prepared Food Trays	Full tray (aluminum or plastic)	15-25 lbs	Typically catering trays of pasta, rice, meats, or salads. Depending on the dish and tray size, weights can vary. Full trays of hearty dishes like lasagna can weigh closer to 25 lbs.
  Dairy (milk jugs)	Full crate (16” x 13” x 11”)	60 lbs	A full milk crate holds 4 gallons of milk.
  Dairy (milk jugs)	1 jug (gallon)	10 lbs	A gallon of milk typically weighs 8 lbs, but factor in packaging (plastic or glass).
  Dry Goods (rice, beans, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.)	Full box (banana box)	40-50 lbs	Bags of rice, beans, flour, etc. can be quite heavy. Full boxes are often heavy-duty cardboard.
  Eggs	Full crate (18” x 12” x 10”)	30 lbs	Typically holds 15 dozen eggs. Crates can be cardboard or plastic.
  Eggs	1 carton (dozen)	2 lbs	Standard carton holds 12 eggs, usually weighing about 2 lbs.
  Flower Arrangements	Full arrangement (in vase or foam)	5-10 lbs	If the flowers are in a vase or floral foam, the arrangement can weigh more due to the container and water. Large floral arrangements can weigh closer to 10 lbs.
  Flowers	Full bouquet/bunch	2-5 lbs	The weight can vary based on the size of the bouquet and type of flowers. Typically, a large bouquet will be closer to 5 lbs, while smaller bunches may weigh closer to 2 lbs.
  Flour	1 bag (5-25 lbs)	5-25 lbs	Flour bags vary in size, but typical bags weigh between 5 and 25 lbs. Ensure the bag is securely sealed and check for any additional packaging.
  Frozen Goods (vegetables, meat, etc.)	Full box	40-50 lbs	Typically packed in insulated boxes with dry ice or ice packs. Contents can vary, but typically frozen vegetables, meat, or fish.
  Frozen Meats (chicken, beef, etc.)	Full box	40-50 lbs	Boxes may contain frozen chicken breasts, ground beef, or other protein items. Typically packaged in bulk.
  Juice (52 oz)	1 jug	3.5 lbs	Standard size, lighter than the larger jug, commonly found in plastic bottles.
  Juice (89 oz)	1 jug	6.5 lbs	A large jug of juice, typically in plastic containers.
  Juice	1 bottle/can (12-16 oz)	1 lb	Small bottles of juice or single-serving cans.
  Non-Perishables (chips, popcorn, cereal)	Full banana box	25 lbs	Includes snacks and boxed cereals. Boxes are often lighter but still take up a lot of space.
  Prepared Goods/To-Go Meals (sushi, sandwiches, pasta, oatmeal, etc.)	Full banana box	35 lbs	Meals are often packaged in plastic containers. Can vary based on packaging (e.g., trays, foil containers).
  Pastries	Full bag/box	20 lbs	Typically in bakery boxes (cardboard) or bags. The weight may vary depending on the number of items inside, but estimate based on box size.
  Pet Food (dry kibble)	Full bag (15-30 lbs)	15-30 lbs	A full bag of dry pet food, often in larger bags. Weight can vary depending on size, but 20-25 lbs is common.
  Pet Food (wet/canned)	Full case (12 cans)	12-18 lbs	A case of canned pet food (e.g., dog or cat food). Cans typically weigh around 1 lb each, so a full case can range from 12-18 lbs depending on the brand.
  Snacks (granola bars, crackers, etc.)	Full box	15-20 lbs	Boxes typically hold multiple packs of small items. Can be heavy depending on packaging (e.g., bulk vs. individual servings).
  Sugar	1 bag (5-25 lbs)	5-25 lbs	Bags of sugar can vary greatly in weight depending on the size of the bag.
  Toiletries (toothpaste, soap, etc.)	Full box	10-20 lbs	Personal care items such as soap, toothpaste, and shampoo. Weight depends on packaging and the number of items in the box.
  Vegetables and Fruits	Full banana box	50 lbs	Dense produce like potatoes or squash in a full box.
  Weight Estimation Help	-	-	If you're ever uncertain about the weight or how to estimate it (especially for oddly shaped or packed items), don't hesitate to email admin@foodcyclela.org or text pictures to 323-894-4020 for assistance. We're here to help!

Rationale Behind Methods:

• Accuracy and Consistency: Providing various methods for weighing donations ensures that we can maintain accurate records regardless of the size or type of donation. This flexibility allows us to track all donations efficiently, even in situations where scales are not available.
  
  
• Real-Time Data Entry: By using Careit for data entry, we streamline our donation tracking process, allowing for real-time monitoring and reporting. This also ensures that all partners, including staff drivers, volunteer drivers, and partner agencies, can easily access and contribute to the platform.
  
  
• Data-Driven Decisions: The data collected through Careit helps us make informed decisions about food recovery logistics, optimize donation matching, and improve overall program efficiency.

Summary:

By implementing a donation matching strategy that considers not only the types of food but also the cultural and dietary preferences, operational needs, and distribution capabilities of our partner agencies, we ensure that surplus food is effectively redirected to the communities that need it most. This, combined with strategic partnerships, improved data collection methods using Careit, and innovative recovery methods, allows us to reduce food waste, support vulnerable populations, and strengthen the overall food recovery system. Through ongoing work with the Careit platform, we are enhancing our food recovery efforts and ensuring that food waste is minimized while maximizing the impact of our donations.