I am intrigued how cities apply themselves to meet their urbanomic needs. I recently met up with Phil from Food Runners in the heart of San Francisco.
In itself, this particular morning was a baptism in urban goodness and graciousness. Call it food waste, food rescue, food recovery, call it what you will – it’s a beautiful thing.
Food Runners
With an abundance of food in San Francisco, volunteer drivers (aka ‘Food Runners’) connects food otherwise destined for the dumpster and reroutes it to community pantries, homeless shelters and the like, just a few kilometres away from the source. It’s a win-win situation. If volunteers don’t pick up fresh produce from retailers then retailers have a big garbage problem to contend with.
The mission of Food Runners is to help alleviate hunger in San Francisco, to help prevent waste and to help create community. Food Runners currently delivers over 15 tonnes of food a week that would otherwise be thrown away – enough food for 3,000 meals a day in San Francisco.
I jumped at the chance to be able to shadow Phil on his volunteer run in the heart of San Francisco. By means of a well oiled machine, businesses with a community conscience are matched with big-hearted volunteers who co-ordinate, schedule, collect and distribute fresh produce to the needy on a daily basis – avoiding dumpster diving with grace and humanity and a whole lot more efficiently.
While many grocers, cafes and cafeterias have signed up, not all independents or store chains are receptive to the problem nor the solution offered by Food Runners. Often internal policies hinder an ‘all in’ approach to food waste and recovery despite the donor has no need to fear liability: they are protected by State and Federal Law.
This particular Saturday morning’s shift sent Phil to several destinations across the city. First up Trader Joe’s, a premium grocer in a sought after inner city ZIP code, where I met Phil at the loading dock ready to collect. Approximately 20 banana boxes of fresh produce where offered and graciously accepted.
Trader Joe’s offer high quality foods, so anything vaguely not (close to best before date etc) is set aside for pick up – from this inner city location at least. From tropical fruit and organic vegetables, to fine cuts of meat and gourmet sausages, the haul was mighty. Broken eggs are sorted from the good, otherwise the collection is quality and still visually appealing. I couldn’t believe the quality to be honest. Within minutes it was swooped up and delivered with love to the Quaker Meeting Pantry just a few blocks away. Tables and a waiting list of needy recipients were at the ready to receive and appreciate.
Phil had several pick ups scheduled this morning, as with most days. Semi-retired he finds joy in being a conduit that links excess food with those in need.
Garden for the Environment
Next was a weekly pick up from the team at Garden for the Environment destined for a local homeless shelter. In essence a gardening school, their vegetable garden is an oasis in the middle of San Francisco’s Inner Sunset neighborhood, blocks from Golden Gate Park.
In 1990 they took over a desolate vacant lot, creating a vibrant demonstration garden designed to inspire and educate all ages. Their aim is to educate San Franciscans on resourceful water use and sustainable edible gardening practices, the only of its kind in San Francisco.
As we walked through the gardens an outdoor workshop was already underway. Comprising of just 1/3 of an acre it consists of flat and steep hillside yet every inch is planned and worked.
Each year thousands of children and adults get their hands dirty here while being taught topics such as rainwater harvesting, keeping fruit trees, bee keeping and composting. With greenhouses, compost bins and ample raised garden beds, it is maintained by a crew of 2.5 and a host of volunteers.
L-R: Phil (Food Runners), Trina, Maggie & Adam (Garden for the Environment)
It was wonderful to look offshore for inspiration and urban farming solutions – dedicated spaces to sustainable and edible growing.
Other great food initiatives closer to home in New Zealand include Love Food Hate Waste, Community Fruit Harvesting, Kaibosh and Kai Auckland to name a few.
