What we do?

Real Hope Inc. is dedicated to combating food waste through our food rescue initiative, where we collect and transport edible foods that would otherwise be discarded to the landfill. Collaborating with a diverse range of organizations, including food and grocery manufacturers, retailers, shippers, packers, and growers throughout Arizona, our mission is to reduce food waste and enhance access to nutritious options.

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Having successfully rescued over 24 million pounds of food, we currently serve 1,000 families each week. Beyond our food rescue efforts, we extend our impact through various community events, providing educational materials, hygiene products, pet food, new clothing, and Christmas toys.

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At Real Hope Inc., we aspire to be a catalyst for positive change, actively contributing to community building. We create opportunities for individuals to serve, give, and collaborate, aiming to better support families in need.

What is food Rescue?

Food rescue, also called food recovery is the practice of collecting wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste and ultimately sent to the landfill. Many of the rescued food comes from several sources such as farms, grocery stores and food manufacturers. 

 

Why is there food rescue?

Food rescue is crucial due to several factors that contribute to unnecessary food waste. One major reason is the strict cosmetic standards imposed by grocery stores and food manufacturers, leading to the rejection of fresh produce, fruits, and vegetables that don't meet specific shape and color criteria. In the United States alone, a significant portion, ranging from 20% to 40%, of produce was discarded in 2018 by supermarkets solely based on cosmetic standards, despite the fact that much of it was perfectly edible.

 

Another contributing factor is the disposal of products by food manufacturers that marginally fail quality control or have become short-dated. Often, items nearing or past their "best before" or "sell by" dates are still perfectly safe for consumption. To address this, it's essential for consumers to understand that these date labels primarily indicate the quality of the product, not its safety. Many food products remain safe to eat well beyond the indicated date, emphasizing the importance of evaluating the quality of the food item rather than solely relying on date labels.

 

In essence, our food rescue efforts aim to bridge the gap between surplus edible food and those in need, combating unnecessary waste and fostering a more sustainable approach to food consumption.