City Harvest (United States)

City Harvest is New York City's largest food rescue organization. The organization collects food that would otherwise go to waste from restaurants, bakeries and cafes.[1]

City Harvest
Formation1982 (1982)
FounderHelen verDuin Palit, Harley Brooke-Hitching, Peter Schmidt
TypeNon-profit organization
FocusHunger, Food Rescue, Nutrition, Education
Location
  • New York City
Employees
160
Volunteers
20,000
WebsiteOfficial website

History

City Harvest was founded in 1982, and is the world's first food rescue organization.[2] The organization collects excess food from restaurants, grocers, bakeries, Greenmarkets, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms.[3] The food is then delivered without charge to community food programs throughout New York City. Food delivered by City Harvest is received by about 1 million residents.[4]

Its founders included Helen verDuin Palit and Harley Brooke-Hitching and Peter Schmidt.[5][6] The operation utilizes approximately 160 employees and 20,000 volunteers annually.[2] Fresh fruits and vegetables comprised more than half of the rescued food.[7]

In 2005, City Harvest began holding two, free farmers’ market-style distributions in low-income communities each month.[8] The operation now includes nine Mobile Markets – two per borough – each month, distributing approximately three million pounds of fresh produce a year. In the fiscal year of 2013, these markets delivered roughly one million pounds of produce to 50,000 residents. In addition, these markets sometimes include on-site cooking demonstrations.[9]

In December 2011, City Harvest opened its 45,400 square foot Food Rescue Facility in Long Island City, Queens.[10] The facility includes a large cooler and freezer to safely hold perishable food on a short-term basis and a large dry storage area to sort non-perishable goods.[11]

Leadership

City Harvest’s Food Council has more than 70 members. The current chair of the Food Council is Geoffrey Zakarian. Founding Food Council members include: Éric Ripert, Dana Cowin,[12] Michael Lomonaco,[13] Danny Meyer,[14] Drew Nieporent,[15] Tracy Nieporent,[16] and Gus Theodoro.[17] The Food Council has since expanded to include Ron Ben-Israel,[18] David Chang,[19] Tom Colicchio,[20] Marc Murphy,[21] Marcus Samuelsson,[22] Gail Simmons,[23] and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.[24]

Programs

Since 2006, the Healthy Neighborhoods initiative has expanded access to healthy produce and has offered nutrition education to residents. These programs target high-need communities throughout the five boroughs.[25]

Emergency food programs

City Harvest delivers over 10 million pounds of food (60% of which is produce) each year to emergency food programs located within designated Healthy Neighborhoods.[8] Soup kitchens and food pantries are then able to offer participants a variety of healthy food. Through the Agency Capacity Expansion (ACE) program, City Harvest offers grants for one-time projects to selected emergency food programs to upgrade facilities and services. In addition, City Harvest University's courses teach agencies core skill sets.[26]

A City Harvest volunteer leads a Healthy Neighborhoods workshop on how to buy produce on a budget.

Educational outreach

City Harvest provides free nutrition education classes for adults, families, teenagers, and senior citizens at participating community organizations, which teach the skills needed to prepare healthy meals.[9] The staff and volunteers of City Harvest demonstrate healthy cooking recipes and techniques at senior centers, supermarkets, corner stores, health clinics, and other community hubs.[9]

Developed by Share Our Strength, Cooking Matters workshops educate all age groups on how to develop and maintain a healthy diet. City Harvest teaches customers how to find affordable, healthy foods in their communities.[27]

City Harvest also uses a nutrition education curriculum to work with low-income seniors.[28]

Food accessibility

City Harvest partners with community residents, organizations, after-school programs, and businesses to promote nutritious eating options. City Harvest helps neighborhood retailers increase the quantity, quality and variety of produce. In addition, City Harvest hosts healthy cooking demonstrations and budget shopping workshops. The efforts seek to improve communication between shop owners and clientele.[29]

To build public support for healthy food outlets and sustain change over time, City Harvest convenes Community Action Networks (CANS) in each of its Healthy Neighborhoods. These networks engage residents and retailers who are committed to improving access to healthy food.

Advocacy

City Harvest advocates at the city, state and federal level for programs, policies and actions to change the conditions that result in food insecurity and hunger.[30] City Harvest also provides low-income New Yorkers with access to federal nutrition programs and regional food supplies.[31]

Events
City Harvest's Executive Director Jilly Stephens (center) at an event with members of the Food Council.

To help raise funds, City Harvest hosts annual events such as the City Harvest Gala,[32] Summer in the City,[33] and BID.[34] Events often include restaurant tastings, introductions to top chefs, and auction prizes.

Awards and recognition

In 1989 City Harvest founder Helen verDuin Palit received a presidential citation for a private sector initiative from President George Bush, as part of his 1,000 Points of Light program.[3]

In 2008, Charity Navigator awarded City Harvest with 4 stars in their charity ranking system.[35] The Robin Hood Foundation awarded a $400,000 grant to City Harvest in 2009 based on the efficiency of City Harvest’s unique food rescue model.[36]

The following year Executive Director Jilly Stephens was honored at the Annual Spirit of ABNY (Association for a Better New York) awards as a select New Yorker who has provided a distinguished level of service to New York City.[37]

In The New York Times Company’s annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards, City Harvest was awarded the Silver Prize for Excellent Management in 2011.[38]

References
  1. Brown, David Warfield (2012-01-06). The Real Change-Makers: Why Government is Not the Problem Or the Solution. ABC-CLIO. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-313-39775-2.
  2. Medicine, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and; Division, Health and Medicine; Board, Food and Nutrition (2016-08-13). Meeting the Dietary Needs of Older Adults: Exploring the Impact of the Physical, Social, and Cultural Environment: Workshop Summary. National Academies Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-309-44227-5.
  3. "Welcome to Circle!". Harrychapin.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  4. "City Harvest Named 2013 Nonprofit Organization of the Year : Page 1 of 1 : FundRaising Success". Fundraisingsuccessmag.com. 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  5. "Harvest of Surplus Food Eases Plight of the Hungry". Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  6. "Board of Directors - City Harvest". City Harvest. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  7. "Saving Food the City Harvest Way". Supermarket News. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  8. "Social Impact Exchange". Social Impact Exchange. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  9. "City Harvest". UMT. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  10. "5.7.13: On Your Plate". New York Social Diary. 2013-05-07. Archived from the original on 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  11. "City Harvest Expands Reach From New Queens Facility". NY1. Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-09-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Michael Lomonaco". Cookstr. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  14. Danny Meyer#cite note-14
  15. Drew Nieporent
  16. "Tracy Nieporent - Culintro - New York, NY". Culintro. Archived from the original on 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  17. "Athena Theodoro, Daniel Adamson". The New York Times. 2008-07-20.
  18. https://web.archive.org/web/20120225134254/http://www.midatlantichomeshow.com/show-highlights/27. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. "The Global Luxury Source". Robb Report. Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  20. "Tom Colicchio - Bio | Bravo TV Official Site". Bravotv.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  21. The Culintro Blog (2013-02-25). "interview: City Harvest Honoree Marc Murphy - The Culintro Blog". Blog.culintro.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  22. "Chef Marcus Samuelsson to Host sofi™ Awards for Top Specialty Foods of 2013". Specialtyfood.com. 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  23. Gail Simmons
  24. "Photography for Philanthropy: A Culinary Art Auction to Benefit City Harvest - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports". News9.com. 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  25. "City Harvest - The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund". Lmtilluminationfund.org. Archived from the original on 2013-11-06. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  26. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-09-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. "City Harvest / Cooking Matters Americorps | Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy". Nutrition.tufts.edu. 2012-11-24. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  28. "TSP | Marketing Communications Agency". Toddstreet.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  29. Cheng, Evelyn (2013-04-24). "City Harvest opens new healthy supermarket in Bronx". Metro.us. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  30. "Mayoral Candidates Face Questions on Bloomberg Food Initiatives - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  31. Jane Black (2013-02-26). "Shopping for healthful food on a limited budget". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  32. "35th Anniversary Gala - City Harvest". City Harvest. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  33. Siddique, Zubair (2013-05-17). "CITY HARVESTS 2013 SUMMER IN THE CITY at the Metropolitan Pavilion". Metro.us. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  34. "City Harvest's Bid Against Hunger Annual Fundraiser". Blue Hill Farm. 2012-10-16. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  35. "Charity Navigator Rating - City Harvest". Charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  36. Robin Hood Stage (2010-01-19). "Robin Hood - Bulletins - Robin Hood Feeds". Robinhoodresponds.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  37. "ABNY". ABNY. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  38. "Nonprofit Excellence Awards". Npccny.org. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
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