Sophia Lenarz-Coy

But the other thing, Clarence, that you mentioned was kind of like, what about ugly foods or what about foods toward the end of its life? So historically, there's been a ton of food rescue that has come into our food shelf system. So whether it's the bagged lettuce that you see at your local supermarket, when that hits the date, right?

But the other thing, Clarence, that you mentioned was kind of like, what about ugly foods or what about foods toward the end of its life? So historically, there's been a ton of food rescue that has come into our food shelf system. So whether it's the bagged lettuce that you see at your local supermarket, when that hits the date, right?

You know, you still have a couple of days to eat it, but they're not going to sell it. So a lot of that tends to go to local food shelves. And that's really good. It's obviously free. It's a lot of variety. But the thing we try to talk a lot about at the food group and really think through is we want to make sure that there's always dignity in the experience.

You know, you still have a couple of days to eat it, but they're not going to sell it. So a lot of that tends to go to local food shelves. And that's really good. It's obviously free. It's a lot of variety. But the thing we try to talk a lot about at the food group and really think through is we want to make sure that there's always dignity in the experience.

And so it's really important that while we're going to do our best to rescue food, we're going to go through that food and make it beautiful and make sure that nothing happens. that I wouldn't eat or that you wouldn't eat is on the shelf at a food shelf too, right?

And so it's really important that while we're going to do our best to rescue food, we're going to go through that food and make it beautiful and make sure that nothing happens. that I wouldn't eat or that you wouldn't eat is on the shelf at a food shelf too, right?

So it's this kind of complicated dance between, and I think actually some of the movement around like imperfect foods or ugly fruits or whatever, I think that has better potential for consumers almost at a higher income level because people are willing to make that trade-off knowing my carrot could be ugly or my carrot could be pretty. It's the same carrot. I should take it.

So it's this kind of complicated dance between, and I think actually some of the movement around like imperfect foods or ugly fruits or whatever, I think that has better potential for consumers almost at a higher income level because people are willing to make that trade-off knowing my carrot could be ugly or my carrot could be pretty. It's the same carrot. I should take it.

Sometimes, though, folks who are really experiencing food insecurity, the last thing we want them to do is think, why am I the one getting a weird carrot? You know what I mean? So it's kind of like figuring out how to how to think through the levels of food waste prevention, but also dignity.

Sometimes, though, folks who are really experiencing food insecurity, the last thing we want them to do is think, why am I the one getting a weird carrot? You know what I mean? So it's kind of like figuring out how to how to think through the levels of food waste prevention, but also dignity.

Yeah, I mean, that's something that we've worked on really intentionally with a lot of our partners is thinking about how we can have culturally appropriate foods, culturally relevant foods available to folks. Because the truth is, especially when we're thinking about health outcomes, right, you have to be able to access foods that you're going to know what to do with.

Yeah, I mean, that's something that we've worked on really intentionally with a lot of our partners is thinking about how we can have culturally appropriate foods, culturally relevant foods available to folks. Because the truth is, especially when we're thinking about health outcomes, right, you have to be able to access foods that you're going to know what to do with.

And so, you know, if you're from a specific cultural community and you get handed some, you know, ravioli in a can that you might just not even eat it because you've never seen it or it means nothing to your family or right even to your palate. And so we've done a lot around finding some key culturally relevant foods that we can help our partner source.

And so, you know, if you're from a specific cultural community and you get handed some, you know, ravioli in a can that you might just not even eat it because you've never seen it or it means nothing to your family or right even to your palate. And so we've done a lot around finding some key culturally relevant foods that we can help our partner source.

But then there's also some kind of more culturally universal foods that that actually are the most nutritious foods anyway. So focusing a lot on fresh fruits and vegetables. Some things like canned tomatoes, vegetable oils, some really basic staples that are going to cross cultural traditions.

But then there's also some kind of more culturally universal foods that that actually are the most nutritious foods anyway. So focusing a lot on fresh fruits and vegetables. Some things like canned tomatoes, vegetable oils, some really basic staples that are going to cross cultural traditions.

And so some partners are in a position where maybe they're seeing folks from so many different cultural communities. They're not able to carry everything. But then we really encourage them, well, just focus on those things that you can add different spices to, right? And create a completely different meal with some lean protein and produce. Thinking a lot about that.

And so some partners are in a position where maybe they're seeing folks from so many different cultural communities. They're not able to carry everything. But then we really encourage them, well, just focus on those things that you can add different spices to, right? And create a completely different meal with some lean protein and produce. Thinking a lot about that.

And I think actually those are the kind of staples, those whole foods that lend themselves to meal preparation. Those are the things that are going to lead to better health outcomes too.

And I think actually those are the kind of staples, those whole foods that lend themselves to meal preparation. Those are the things that are going to lead to better health outcomes too.