Field to Fork: Summer 2025 Recap

At Retaaza, we believe every crop grown deserves a chance to feed people – not fuel food waste. That’s the heart of Field to Fork, our food rescue and food access partnership with Second Helpings Atlanta. Through Field to Fork, we identify produce at risk of going to waste, purchase it from Georgia farmers at fair prices, and get it into the hands of families who need fresh food the most.

After a successful pilot last fall, this summer marked our first full season of Field to Fork – and what a summer it was! Here are a few highlights from our rescues across Georgia:

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June | Corn & Cucumbers from Ware & Clarke Counties

In June, 80,000 pounds of fresh Georgia corn and cucumbers were rescued and redistributed. Through Second Helpings Atlanta’s network of food aid partners, this food made its way into pantries and onto families’ tables across metro Atlanta.

Fact: The American Heart Association recommends 2.5 cups of vegetables per day. This one rescue alone provided enough for 181,000 people to meet their daily veggie needs—or more than 45,000 families of four!

July | Watermelons & Onions from Southeast Georgia

In July, we partnered with a farm that had pallets of watermelon and onions at risk of going to waste if they didn’t find a buyer. Thanks to Field to Fork, we were able to step in, purchase, and rescue 54,000 pounds of produce – keeping it out of landfills and moving it into communities where it was needed most.

July | Eggplant, Bell Peppers, & Tomatoes from Ware & Colquitt Counties

Later in July, we rescued another 59,000 pounds of produce—16,000 lbs of eggplant, 15,000 lbs of green bell peppers, and 28,000 lbs of tomatoes. These beautiful crops went to food access organizations like Vine City Civic Association, Welcoming Atlanta, Intown Cares, and CHRIS 180.

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The Power of Partnership

Across just a few months, Field to Fork rescued more than 315,000 of pounds of fresh Georgia produce this summer. By doing so, we:

• Reduced food waste and protected the environment
• Supported Georgia farmers with fair prices for their crops
• Fed our neighbors with healthy, local food

This is the power of partnership across the food system. Together, we’re proving that strategic solutions can tackle the systemic problems of food waste and food insecurity – one rescue at a time.

“This summer showed what’s possible when partners, farmers, and communities come together around a shared goal,” said Kashi Sehgal, Founder & CEO of Retaaza. “Through Field to Fork, we not only prevented nearly 315,000 pounds of beautiful Georgia produce from going to waste, but we also supported our farmers bottomline and provided fresh, healthy food to thousands of families. That’s the kind of impact that fuels us to keep building and scaling this work.”