Bridging the Gap: Food Waste & Food Insecurity in NJ

Every undertaking of Farmers Against Hunger is designed to serve our dual missions: to reduce food waste and food insecurity in New Jersey. 
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During harvest and harsh weather, many apples inevitably fall to the ground. Most orchards are unwilling to sell this fruit to paying customers; the only remaining option is to mow them over as next year's fertilizer. It certainly takes extra effort to sort through this fruit and find those that are recently fallen and still fresh. But with the help of our volunteers, FAH regularly rescues thousands of pounds of NJ apples each week, for families in need.

Food Waste

Why do farms have unsold produce?
​Food that is never harvested:
  • Weather/disease. Natural phenomena harm crops and lead to excess planting to hedge against this risk.
  • Market conditions. A crop’s price at time of harvest may not warrant the labor and transport costs required to bring the product to market. 
  • Buyer quality standards. Selective harvest for minimum quality standards and shelf life leads to crops’ being left in the field.
  • Labor shortages. Where harvest timing is critical, a labor shortage leads to lower harvest rate.
  • Food safety scares. Public fear related to food safety for specific products can lead to huge losses.
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Food lost between harvest and sale: 
  • Improper handling. Various kinds of mishandling, such as deliveries needing refrigeration that sit too long on the loading dock, can damage products. 
  • Inconsistent refrigeration. Truck breakdowns and other mishaps can lead to spoilage due to lack of refrigeration. 
  • Rejected shipments. By the time a shipment is rejected, its contents have a shorter shelf life and may be difficult to sell before spoiling. 

Source: NRSC Issue Paper, August 2012 - Dana Gunders

Food Insecurity in New Jersey

​Low Food Security: Making changes in the quality or the quantity of food in order to deal with a limited budget.

Very Low Food Security: Struggling with having enough food for the household, including cutting back or skipping meals on a frequent basis for both adults and children.

Source: Food Research Action Center
  • Low food security: “Reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake.”
    Very low food security: “Reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.”
  • food insecurity: disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources (USDA 2005)
  • In 2016, black non-Hispanic households were nearly 2 times more likely to be food insecure than the national average (22.5% versus 12.3%, respectively). Among Hispanic households, the prevalence of food insecurity was 18.5% compared to the national average (12.3%). (USDA 2017)
  • 1 in 11 NJ residents struggles with hunger, including 1 in 9 children (Feeding America, 2019. Map the Meal.)
  • Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food insecure children are those children living in households experiencing food insecurity. (Feeding America, 2019)
  • Food insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all the time. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods. (Feeding America, 2019)
  • Although related, food insecurity and poverty are not the same. According to the USDA, 32% of food-insecure households live above 185% of the poverty line. Note below, however, that 185% of the poverty level is only $48,470 for a family of four. For families with medical expenses or who are located in areas with a high cost-of-living, it’s easy to see how quickly resources can get drained. (Feeding America, 2019)
  • Although food insecurity is harmful to any individual, food insecurity is particularly devastating among children due to their increased vulnerability and the potential for long-term consequences. Several studies have demonstrated that food insecurity impacts cognitive development among young children and is linked to poorer school performance. Other data show the health consequences of food insecurity among children, including increased illness and higher associated health costs. (Feeding America, 2019)
    The structural foundation for cognitive functioning is laid in early childhood, creating the underlying circuitry on which more complex processes are built. This foundation can be greatly affected by food insecurity. Inadequate nutrition can permanently alter a child’s brain architecture and stunt their intellectual capacity, affecting the child’s learning, social interaction, and productivity. Children who do not receive what they need for strong, healthy brain development during early childhood may never recover their lost potential for cognitive growth and eventual contributions to society.*
    * National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (Feeding America, 2019)
  • Children Who Are Hungry
    Are sick more often, recover slowly, are hospitalized more often
    Get more headaches, stomach aches, colds, ear infections
    Are less likely to learn as much, as fast, or as well
    Have more behavioral, emotional, and academic problems
    Are more aggressive and anxious than adequately nourished children
    Teens are more likely to be suspended and have difficulty getting along with others.
  • Adults & Children
    Are more susceptible to obesity, which is linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancers
  • Hunger is caused by many different things, but poverty has a major role in food insecurity. Food insecure households who can work, do work, but earn too little to cover basic needs
  • One million people in New Jersey face hunger every day. Nearly 300,000 of them are children. When they don’t have enough food to eat, they can suffer direct and dramatic effects on their physical development and mental well being. (CFBNJ)
  • Food insecurity exists in every county across the United States, from the poorest neighborhoods to the most affluent. Parents skip meals so they can feed their children, seniors choose between buying medicine and food, and students decide between their education and food. These tough choices are an unfortunate reality for many of our New Jersey neighbors. (CFBNJ)
  • Although the fourth wealthiest state in the nation, there are numerous areas of Northeast New Jersey where the poverty level far surpasses that of the national average.
    One-third of New Jersey’s residents do not earn enough to afford the basic necessities of food and housing.
    One-third of the state’s employed residents live below the poverty level.
    One-in-five children in New Jersey lives in poverty.
    There are over 1.1 million food insecure people living in New Jersey.  More than 1/3 of them are children.
    Children suffering from poor nutrition during the brain’s most formative years score much lower on tests of vocabulary, reading comprehension, arithmetic, and general knowledge.

"[We are] extremely pleased with the help that Farmers Against Hunger has provided us.  Providing fresh produce to those in need provides not only sustenance but also healthy eating choices that would not otherwise be possible."

- Frank Hasner, Director
  Franklin Township Food Bank
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Farmers Against Hunger provides over 1 million pounds of fresh produce a year, helping bridge the gap between food insecurity and food waste.