Food waste and hunger are two major issues today in the United States and internationally. This study explores the increasingly utilized practice of food recovery--a method of food redistribution that solves the two problems simultaneously. This paper presents archival research and our own field research from Saratoga Springs about food waste, food insecurity, and food recovery efforts. We interviewed many stakeholders along the food distribution line, including food retailers, food banks, hunger relief organizations, and clients who benefit from food donations. Our findings show that many parties are involved in reducing waste and hunger, but several logistical and economic barriers prevent food recovery from reaching its full potential in Saratoga Springs. Ultimately, we provide solutions that attempt to maximize the amount of food being diverted from the waste stream and instead redistributed to low-income community members.
