In 2024, City Harvest delivered 79 million pounds of high quality, nutritious food that would have otherwise gone to waste. It delivered it, free of charge to food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners and its own mobile markets in all 5 boroughs.
Harvesting Hope
In the early 1980s, a group of New Yorkers saw a staggering paradox: tons of good food wasted while thousands of neighbors went hungry. They founded City Harvest as a food rescue organization, pioneering a simple yet powerful idea: collect surplus food from those who had it and deliver it to those who needed it. Over the decades, this mission has grown into a citywide lifeline.
Feeding Millions in NYC Communities
Today, City Harvest rescues over 79 million pounds of food annually from 2700 food donors and gets 28 million visits. It distributes fresh produce and nutritious staples to hundreds of soup kitchens, food pantries, and community partners. It’s a logistical ballet that ensures millions of New Yorkers have access to meals, especially in times of crisis. The impact is not just nutritional but deeply human, nurturing the city’s spirit of mutual care.
“City Harvest rescues over 79 million pounds of food annually from 2700 food donors and gets 28 million visits.”
A Sustainable Future
City Harvest is not only about feeding people; it’s also a sustainability champion. By diverting food from landfills, it significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and educates the public on food waste. Each meal rescued is a step toward a greener, more equitable city. As New Yorkers look to the future, City Harvest remains a beacon of both sustenance and sustainability.
