Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this project will connect large…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** this project will connect large public assembly venues and food service companies in portland, oregon to non-profit food distribution organizations in the US northwest, streamlining the food donation process and reducing the waste stream generated by these venues and companies. IT will also lay the groundwork for expanding the system to include for-profit sales of food from native, black, indigenous, and people of color (bipoc) and women producers to large venues, restaurants, and other buyers to create a circular system of production, use, donations, and sales. The careit application will serve as the platform to connect these aspects of the portland and northwest food economy. This project goals include: 1) optimize the food donation system so IT is more efficient and effective at redirecting leftover food generated at large portland venues and food businesses to hunger relief organizations; 2) improve waste remediation strategies in large portland venues to reduce the environmentalimpact of organic and other waste; and 3) lay the groundwork to increase sales of native, bipoc, and women producers to large venues and food businesses. This project will result in a comprehensive response to increased food security for low-income and disadvantaged people, increase the self-reliance of disadvantaged producers by increasing their opportunity to sell food to large venues and businesses, and curb carbon pollution created by the portland public venue operations and food businesses by diverting currently wasted food into the food donation system and composting, thereby meeting program, state, and local priorities and needs.