Abstract:
A robust interconnection exists between wasted food and food insecurity. Over a million tons
of food waste are generated each year in Washington State, with approximately 390,000 tons
of edible food being disposed (Washington State Department of Ecology, 2022). These
contrasting issues are intricately linked, with the resolution of one concern holding the
potential to alleviate the other. Although every county in the United States faces food
insecurity to this day (Feeding America, 2022), most of the residues produced in Washington
are organic – including food waste (Washington State Department of Ecology, 2021). This
prevalence presents a significant opportunity for the development of food rescue programs
that have the potential to address both issues simultaneously.
This pilot mapping project directly supports the Washington Center for Sustainable Food
Management by developing a statewide food rescue mapping tool. This pilot project mapped
food business locations in Thurston, Benton, and Franklin counties. These businesses are
identified as potential food donors to Hunger Relief Organizations (HROs), which are
locations that receive donations and support from private foundations, businesses,
corporations, and individuals to provide food access to people who need it (Templeton ,
Cohen, Conrad, & Hill, 2022). Over 2000 locations from food businesses and HROs were
mapped in ArcGIS Pro, providing insights into the distribution of potential donors and
receivers that are or can be part of food rescue programs. Additionally, vulnerability layers
were included to understand regions that need priority in terms of food assistance. Likewise,
distance buffer analyses were executed to determine the presence of potential food donors
considering different pickup ranges surrounding HROs. Model surveys for food businesses
and HROs were created to complement the map. Once deployed, it is expected that survey
findings can be integrated to populate and add more information to the map, enriching it
with valuable data for informed decision-making in the realm of food rescue initiatives.
Expanding the map statewide to include all counties in Washington State will allow decision-
makers, such as staff at the Washington Center for Sustainable Food Management, to focus
their food rescue efforts on communities that have abundant potential food donors. This,
especially within close proximity to existing HROs or communities that would most benefit
from additional food resources. Next steps beyond integrating additional data are deploying
the developed surveys for food businesses and establishing connections and logistic details
between donors and receivers.