The SF Market Celebrates 10 Million Pounds of Food Recovery Addressing Food Insecurity Through the Food Recovery Program with Local Merchants
October 30, 2025 | 4 min to read
SAN FRANCISCO – In a celebration of community impact, Mayor Daniel Lurie joined fellow elected leaders, SF Market leaders, Market wholesale produce merchants, and dedicated nonprofit partners at The SF Market to announce a major milestone: 10 million pounds of fresh produce have been recovered and donated through The SF Market’s award-winning Food Recovery Program. This innovative program recovers more than 4,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables daily from SF Market merchants and donates them directly to trusted community-based organizations that provide fresh, healthy food to food-insecure individuals, families and seniors across San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.
As the largest single source of recovered food in San Francisco, The SF Market’s Food Recovery Program sets a national standard that exemplifies efficiency, sustainability, and the power of public-private partnership to uplift lives and strengthen local resilience.
“San Francisco’s kids and families should have access to healthy food. The SF Market has been a trusted partner to our city, and I am proud to celebrate SF Market meeting this major milestone,” said Mayor Lurie. “Thank you to Senator Wiener, merchants, community leaders, and everyone who helped make this milestone possible and congratulations on this achievement.”
“Congratulations to the SF Market on reaching this historic milestone of donating their 10 millionth pound of fresh produce to the Bay Area community,” said U.S. Senator Alex Padilla. “For nearly a decade, SF Market’s Food Recovery Program has been an important partner in our mission of eliminating food insecurity across our state. Thank you to the volunteers, merchants, and partners working tirelessly to eliminate food waste and provide access to fresh, healthy produce for California families.”
“The SF Market is San Francisco’s original wholesale produce market, providing San Francisco Bay Area residents with fresh produce for over 100 years,” said U.S. Senator Adam Schiff. “Today marks a historic milestone as they will be officially donating their 10 millionth pound of fresh, healthy produce to the community. This effort is crucial during these difficult times, where more and more Bay Area families and people across California are finding it harder to afford groceries and put food on their tables. I applaud SF Market and 15 community-based partner organizations on this incredible milestone.”
“As a former San Francisco Supervisor, I’m deeply proud to see how The SF Market has continued to thrive and give back to our communities,” said Controller Malia Cohen. Reaching 10 million pounds of recovered food is a powerful reminder of what happens when public and private partners come together with purpose. The SF Market’s Food Recovery Program is not only fighting food insecurity — it’s building a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable Bay Area for all.”
“The SF Market is essential to providing critical food infrastructure for the Bay Area and Northern California,” said Senator Scott Wiener. “Without its physical platform and unique food ecosystem, the Food Recovery Program would not exist.”
“Reaching 10 million pounds of recovered food is a powerful reminder of what happens when we put our values into action. Congratulations to The SF Market on this incredible milestone, and thank you for showing what’s possible when innovation and compassion come together to serve others.” Assemblymember Catherine Stefani.
“I want to say thank you to The SF Market for their Food Recovery Program,” said Supervisor Shaman Walton. “Access to produce and access to quality groceries is very important for our entire Bayview Hunters Point community.”
“Congratulations to the SF Market for this incredible achievement.” said Tyrone Jue, Director of the San Francisco Environment Department. “SF Environment is proud to support, and partner with the SF Market to recover edible food to feed communities and reduce what enters our waste streams. Collaborations like this help advance our city’s Climate Action Plan strategies, and shows that San Franciscans are leading by example, choosing sustainability every day, to create a better tomorrow.”
“Through the generosity of The SF Market’s wholesale produce merchants, The SF Market has developed and scaled a unique program that donates surplus fresh and nutritious produce to our community-based partners to address food insecurity throughout the San Francisco Bay Area,” said The SF Market Board of Directors President Vincent Korta. “We are proud to see the program recover more than 4000 pounds daily — and 10 million pounds since its inception — make such a consistent, positive impact to our community.”
“The SF Market’s Food Recovery Program is truly what is best about private-public partnerships,“ said Ray Mah, President of San Francisco Produce Association Board of Directors and President of Berti Produce. “For SF Market Merchants, participating in this amazing program fully aligns with our operations, business models and community values.”
“We are grateful to The SF Market for being an incredible partner to our Bayview Hunters Point community,” said Cathy Davis, Executive Director of Bayview Senior Services. “Their Food Recovery Program has been vital to combatting food insecurity and providing access to healthy, fresh produce that is not always available in areas that need food aid.”
About The SF Market
The SF Market is San Francisco’s original – and only – wholesale produce market. Through the 19 independent produce merchants that occupy its space, The SF Market moves millions of pounds of fresh produce through the Bay Area to local restaurants, grocers, and other food-related businesses. It occupies 485,000 sq. ft. of food-focused warehouse and distribution space in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood. As a pillar of the Bay Area’s food economy and a non-profit social enterprise, The Market creates jobs for over 500 people and fosters efficiency, diversity, and innovation. The SF Market impacts the entire food system through a variety of programs, including but not limited to Food Recovery. Learn more at www.thesfmarket.org.