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. 2019;14(5):593-612.
doi: 10.1080/19320248.2018.1484315. Epub 2018 Jun 25.

Challenges and opportunities to increasing fruit and vegetable distribution through the US charitable feeding network: increasing food systems recovery of edible fresh produce to build healthy food access

Marianna S Wetherill  1 , Kayla Castleberry White  1 , Christine Rivera  2 , Hilary K Seligman  2   3   4
Affiliations

Challenges and opportunities to increasing fruit and vegetable distribution through the US charitable feeding network: increasing food systems recovery of edible fresh produce to build healthy food access

Marianna S Wetherill et al. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2019.

Abstract

This qualitative study describes opportunities and challenges to produce recovery identified by food banking executive leadership across the US (n = 33). Identified challenges included regional variation in fresh produce availability, long transportation times, and lack of refrigerated storage. Opportunities included high client demand for fresh produce, internal benchmarks for fresh produce distribution, and organizational partnerships to create regional sourcing and distribution efficiencies. This research indicates the need for cross-sector collaboration and planning efforts across the agricultural, health, and charitable feeding sectors in order to best recover and redistribute fresh produce.

Keywords: Food supply; food assistance; food bank; food industry; food loss; food pantry; food recovery; food shrink; food waste; fruit; vegetable.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Steps for fruit and vegetable recovery and redistribution through the general food banking product distribution chain.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Challenges and opportunities related to recovery and redistribution of edible fresh produce within the US charitable food system
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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