Speaking of fruit that once was lost but now is found and saved, I’d like to give a shout-out to Food Rescue US. As their own website notes,
Food Rescue US is committed to ending American food insecurity by directly transferring fresh, usable food that would have otherwise been thrown away from grocers, restaurants, and other food industry sources to food insecure families throughout the U.S.
You’re just an app away from joining the food rescue movement. The Food Rescue US app seamlessly connects food donors, volunteer food rescuers, and receiving agencies. Whatever role you play in the movement, getting healthy food to hungry people has never been simpler.
I can attest to how easy it is to volunteer, as I’ve been picking up leftover and just-past-sale-date foods from a couple local food service providers twice a week every week all summer. It’s as routine as running other errands now, but does so much more than stock my own fridge: together all the participants on my routes stock food pantries with flavorful, nutritious produce to be enjoyed by those who otherwise couldn’t afford to eat so healthfully. What’s not to love?