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Our mission

Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same.

Our Vision

A healthier world where all people have access to fresh produce.

Our Story

It began simply: a backyard tree, a few volunteers, and a harvest that sparked a produce recovery movement. In 2009, founder and CEO Rick Nahmias saw fallen fruit going untouched in his neighborhood while food pantries struggled to meet rising need during the Great Recession. A Craigslist post, a handful of volunteers, and 85 pounds of backyard tangerines later, Food Forward was born.

Today, we’re the fourth-largest independent food distributor in the U.S., moving 200+ varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables to hundreds of communities across Los Angeles, Southern California, and nationwide. Our goal: get healthy, free fruits and vegetables to those who need them, reduce food waste, and reshape the future of nutrition equity with every serving of fresh produce.

Our Core Values

Core Values

Integrity

We are honest, accountable, and authentic in our words and actions.

Community Engagement

Working together, we inspire and are inspired by the people in the communities we serve.

Equity and Inclusion

We cultivate a diverse workforce that nurtures equity and inclusion.

Joyfulness

We embrace a creative, spirited, and fulfilling environment.

Food Justice

We share the abundance of fresh produce and prevent food waste because everyone deserves access to fresh and nutritious food.

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Our timeline

2009–2012:
From One Backyard
What started as a single backyard harvest in 2009 grew into a community food rescue movement across LA County and Ventura County, earning our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2011. In 2012, we expanded our reach beyond backyard trees and launched our Farmers Market Recovery Program, recovering surplus fruits and vegetables and connecting them to hunger relief organizations across the region.

2014:
Wholesale Recovery Program Launch
We launched our Wholesale Food Recovery Program to expand our produce recovery into the LA Wholesale Produce Market, allowing us to reach more communities.

2019-2020:
The Produce Pit Stop and The Sprout
Our Produce Pit Stop opened in Bell, CA, a refrigerated warehouse food hub that allows us to safely receive and move produce daily from the LA Wholesale Produce Market and surrounding districts. The Sprout, an expansion of the same facility, soon followed to serve partner organizations without the capacity to manage large produce loads, supporting our sustainability mission.

2022-2023:
250 Million Pounds Recovered
We recovered and donated our 250 millionth pound of fresh surplus produce, the equivalent of one billion servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. By 2023, we had tripled our output and were providing fresh produce to hundreds of hunger relief organizations.

2024:
Recognized by the White House
We were recognized by the White House for our commitment to the national effort to end hunger and build healthy, sustainable communities. As part of the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, we committed to increasing our annual food rescue volume to 100 million pounds of fresh produce.

2025:
500 Million Pounds and Counting
In June 2025, we reached 500 million pounds of surplus fresh produce recovered and donated to hunger relief since our founding, representing two billion servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. That same year, we surpassed 100 million pounds recovered in a single year for the first time in our history.

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