After the harvest joins forces with kanbe's market
New partnership will reduce food waste and deliver more healthy food to hungry people in Greater Kansas City
October 13, 2021
KANSAS CITY, MO – After the Harvest and Kanbe’s Markets today announced the launch of Operation Redirect, a joint project engaging After the Harvest volunteers to sort through and rescue large volumes of fresh produce collected by Kanbe’s Markets. This new project allows both organizations to provide more fresh produce for hungry Kansas Citians, while reducing the unnecessary waste of good produce.
“By working together we are maximizing what’s being rescued and minimizing food waste in Greater Kansas City – two critical components of the missions of both organizations,” says Lisa Ousley, Executive Director of After the Harvest.
After the Harvest fights food insecurity, improves nutrition and reduces food waste in part by using hundreds of volunteers to glean leftover produce from farm fields and donating it to agencies that feed hungry people. Kanbe’s Markets aims to eliminate food deserts by selling affordable produce at its Healthy Corner Stores and providing healthy meals to hungry neighbors living in food deserts.
“This collaboration allows us to get more food to our Healthy Corner Stores while working in tandem with another great KC nonprofit,” says Sarah Mayerhofer, volunteer and sustainability coordinator at Kanbe’s Markets. “Our partnership will significantly reduce local food waste while giving access to healthy food to people all over the city.”
Kanbe’s Markets receives large volumes of mixed fruits and vegetables from distributors. They vary in quality, but all are still nutritious and edible. Depending on the condition, the produce goes to Kanbe’s corner stores; it’s donated to After the Harvest, whose volunteers deliver it to agencies that feed hungry people; it is turned into healthy meals, or it goes to local farmers to be used as feed for animals. Produce that’s too far past its prime is locally composted.
Through Operation Redirect, After the Harvest volunteers will help Kanbe’s to sort through these large pallets of produce more quickly and efficiently, which will benefit After the Harvest’s partner agencies and reduce the amount of produce that is composted.
“We’re thrilled to see what this partnership will do for Kansas City,” Mayerhofer says.
For more information about the press event, contact Victoria Cherrie; 816-810-4143. Volunteers can sign up to sort at Kanbe’s through After the Harvest. For more information and details on volunteering contact Sarah Mayherhofer; 816-359-3622. All opportunities will follow CDC protocols. Masks are required inside the warehouse and social distancing rules apply.
