Food Deserts and Food Waste: Goodr’s Holistic Blueprint to Solve Both

Author: Natalia Freeze

Editors: Clara Conry and Sonya Doubledee

Amid the extreme wealth disparities across America, the sharp contrast between one family’s casual food waste and another’s daily struggle for fresh food highlights the urgency of addressing this imbalance.

The city of Atlanta, celebrated for its vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere and enduring Southern charm, harbors a troubling truth: food deserts born from a deep history of segregation and historic redlining. The National Institute of Health defines food deserts as geographic areas where access to affordable, nutritious food is limited. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of communities face this challenge, with low-income, marginalized communities hit the hardest. In Atlanta these food deserts primarily affect BIPOC communities where grocery stores are scarce, leaving residents deprived of essentials. This not only leads to adverse health outcomes and steep medical expenses, but contributes to a diminished quality of life. A 2023 study from Emory University revealed that in Atlanta, “only 36% of stores in majority-Black neighborhoods carried fresh produce compared to 61% in non-majority-Black neighborhoods,” underscoring the inequities woven into the fabric of the city.

At the same time, food waste represents a staggering challenge in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that between “30-40 percent of the food supply”—equivalent to approximately “133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010”—goes to waste. This squandered abundance puts a strain on the environment, as the food lost requires significant amounts of water and energy to produce. Additionally, its production and transportation contribute to methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas, as it decomposes in landfills.

Amid the extreme wealth disparities across America, the sharp contrast between one family’s casual food waste and another’s daily struggle for fresh food highlights the urgency of addressing this imbalance. In Atlanta, where food deserts persist, the non-profit organization Goodr tackles both food insecurity and food waste, recognizing the two as interconnected issues. Founded by social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe in 2017, Goodr has developed a holistic model to bring healthy food to low-income communities while simultaneously reducing food waste from food venues around the Atlanta metro area.

The Work of Goodr in Atlanta

Goodr harnesses the power of digital technology to support four practical solutions. The first involves pop-up farmers’ markets in neighborhoods with limited transportation options, where convenience stores lacking fresh produce are the only local food source. These pop-ups transform community spaces into vibrant markets, allowing residents to “shop for groceries with dignity, minus the price tag.” Goodr also organizes a second initiative —grocery and meal deliveries directly to doorsteps of vulnerable populations, including disabled and senior residents. A third initiative, the Student Snackpacks program, ensures that young people in need receive nutritious food. Finally, Goodr Grocery Stores, which are essentially food pantries, are strategically located in accessible sites, such as local schools, healthcare facilities, or retirement communities. One store, opened in 2021 at the Ronald E. McNair Middle School, offers a range of “vegan options, alternative meats, fruits and vegetables, and staple goods.” 

Goodr’s framework also addresses the other side of the coin: the $270 billion problem of food waste. The organization’s Surplus Food Recovery program collects edible food from restaurants, airports, convention centers, and other food venues that would otherwise go to waste. The food is then distributed to families in need. Businesses that donate receive tax deductions while tracking their donations in real-time through Goodr’s blockchain-based digital platform. Employing its app, Goodr has successfully matched venues with excess food to drivers heading in the direction of the delivery destinations. Two major recipients of the food recovery program include Atlanta Mission and Gateway Center, organizations that serve the unhoused. Yet food deserts remain, especially in rural areas. To expand its reach to communities like Macon, Georgia, Goodr has partnered with grocery stores and UPS for next-day shipping.

Addressing food insecurity and waste in a sustainable way requires both environmental responsibility and social equity. Goodr’s model, which combines local food distribution to those facing food insecurity with waste reduction, offers a blueprint for tackling these issues together. By redirecting surplus food from landfills to families and community centers, Goodr not only reduces environmental harm but also fortifies communities. Scaling such efforts to expand platforms like Goodr will require incentives like expanded tax credits to encourage participation from private donors and corporations, as well as direct state and federal funding. The Surplus Food Recovery program is a great example of success, which has already diverted millions of pounds of food from landfills to those in need. With more financial support, programs like this could reach even more communities, reducing food waste and hunger on a larger scale. Moreover, educating food donors on the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act can alleviate concerns about liability, fostering further donations. Through technology, efficient logistics, strategic partnerships, and a firm understanding of legal frameworks and food-insecure communities, we can create a food system that is both sustainable and just, protecting the planet and ensuring that no one goes hungry.