Learn the Context

Food waste is a solvable systems problem. Here's what you need to know about the crisis, the opportunity, and how Joy Market is part of the solution.

Understanding the Crisis and the Solution

Food waste and food insecurity are two sides of the same problem. By understanding the systems that create this gap, we can build better solutions.

Community members receiving food support

The Crisis

The Food Waste Crisis

The United States wastes approximately 30-40% of its food supply every year—about 133 billion pounds of food worth $161 billion. That's food that could feed millions of families but instead ends up in landfills, producing methane and accelerating climate change.

Grocery stores are a major source of this waste. Strict inventory practices, aesthetic standards, and approaching expiration dates lead to the disposal of perfectly edible items. Meanwhile, 1 in 8 Americans struggles with food insecurity—unable to afford consistent, nutritious meals.

The Context

The LA Context

Los Angeles County is home to over 10 million people, and food insecurity rates have risen dramatically in recent years. Inflation, housing costs, and stagnant wages mean many families must choose between rent and groceries.

At the same time, LA's grocery sector generates massive amounts of surplus. The gap between waste and need isn't a resource problem—it's a logistics and systems problem.

The Opportunity

Grocery Logistics & Opportunity

Grocers face intense pressure to maintain fresh, appealing inventory. Items that sit too long, have minor cosmetic issues, or approach "best by" dates (which are often conservative estimates, not safety deadlines) are pulled from shelves. Most of this food is still safe, nutritious, and valuable.

By creating a reliable channel to redirect this surplus, Joy Market gives grocers a win-win: reduce waste disposal costs, support the community, and potentially receive tax benefits. Families get access to affordable essentials. It's not charity—it's smart systems design.

The Need

What Families Need

Families experiencing food insecurity don't just need any food—they need nonperishable staples they can rely on: canned vegetables, beans, rice, pasta, shelf-stable proteins, and cooking essentials. These items form the backbone of meal planning and budgeting.

Joy Market focuses on these staples because they're practical, culturally adaptable, and often the first items cut from family budgets when money is tight. Our partnerships with organizations like KFAM ensure food reaches families with cultural sensitivity and respect.

The Solution

How Joy Market Fits In

We're not trying to replace food banks or large-scale food rescue organizations. We're filling a specific niche: student-led, community-focused, partnership-driven redistribution of slow-moving grocery items. We're small, nimble, and deeply connected to the communities we serve.

Our model is scalable. What starts with a few school-based drives and one community partner can grow into a sustainable network of grocer-to-family pipelines across Los Angeles—and eventually beyond.