Happy Earth Day! There’s no better time to talk about something that’s good for both people and the planet: fighting food waste. Every year, tons of perfectly good food goes to waste while so many families in our community are still going hungry. At the Regional Food Bank, we work hard every day to change that. From rescuing food from local grocery stores to growing our own greens right here on site, we’re making sure good food gets to our neighbors who need it. Here’s a peek at how we do it – and a few simple ways you can join us!
Saving Food from Stores:
Our Retail Rescue Program enables the Regional Food Bank to work with grocers to recover safe and nutritious food that is expensive and difficult to obtain, including meat, dairy, and produce. These items are often discarded due to small defects because of strict guidelines, though they are still perfectly safe to eat. We partner with over 230 stores across 20 chains to pick up food every day. In 2024, we rescued over 13 million pounds of food through this program – that’s more than 10 million meals! Some of our agency partners even help with pickups, so nothing goes to waste.
Growing Food at the Patroon Land Farm:
Just a few miles from our distribution center in Latham, we grow tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce every year at our Patroon Land Farm in Voorheesville. Everything from potatoes to peppers to collard greens. It’s a working farm with a big mission: preserve the farmland, feed the hungry, and provide agricultural education. With the help of thousands of volunteers, the Patroon Land Farm has harvested more than 1 million pounds of food since 2006. That’s local nutrition going straight to our partner pantries and neighbors in need. No waste, just impact.
Freight Farm:
We’re also growing food on site using a hydroponic Freight Farm – a high-tech greenhouse inside a shipping container. It lets us grow greens like mustard greens and tatsoi year-round, rain or shine. That means our neighbors can get ultra-fresh produce within 24 hours of harvest!
How You Can Help:
Want to be part of the solution? You don’t need a truck or a farm – Just a few simple steps can make a big difference:
- Don’t toss it too soon: Learn the difference between “best by,” “sell by,” and expiration dates. Many foods are still safe to eat past those dates!
- Plan your meals to avoid buying more than you need.
- Get creative with leftovers – soups, stir fries, and casseroles are your friends.
- Volunteer with us! We’re always looking for helping hands – especially at Patroon Land Farm!
Whether it’s Earth Day or any day, small choices can lead to big change. Together, we can protect the planet, feed our neighbors, and make the most of every meal.