Everyone deserves access to nourishing food. Yet, millions of Americans face nutrition insecurity every day. Many hardworking individuals who need assistance either don’t qualify for food aid programs or avoid seeking help due to stigma and shame. This silent struggle, known as hidden hunger, is an issue we are determined to eliminate.
That’s why The Food Dignity® Movement is committed to advocating for unity, systemic change, community-driven collaboration, and agriculture innovation. In a nation as prosperous as ours, when even one person goes without, it impacts us all. Together, we can make a difference.
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OUR MISSION
End Hidden Hunger
The Food Dignity® Movement is dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding access to nourishing food. We strive to address the often-overlooked issues of hidden hunger. Our mission begins with holding ourselves accountable and setting an example to inspire other hunger relief organizations to follow suit.
As long as hunger exists, we must take responsibility, admit we don’t have all the answers, and work together to find solutions. Lasting change requires bold action. Now is the time to create programs that uplift our communities.
Food System Issues by the Numbers
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Americans who couldn't afford food without their next paycheck
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Pounds of food wasted in America every year
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American farms operating as small family farms
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Farmers who worry about the higher cost of everything put into their farming pursuits
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FOOD ACCESS TOOLKIT
How to Normalize Conversations About Nutritional Security in your Clinic and Community
You know people are hungry. Now you can find out why—and take action.
What is Food Dignity®?
Food Dignity supports and honors everyone’s right to nourishing food at all times. It fosters a sense of pride in oneself while asking for help during a difficult time—and works to eradicates the shame associated with food inequity.
Food Dignity breaks through the barriers associated with local food access. It shapes food empathy and new food systems in our culture so that people who need help are supported, honored, validated, and respected during a difficult time.
Food Dignity begins with us.
How does Food Dignity® support small farmers?
Small family-owned farms are closing at an alarming rate. Many can’t participate in hunger relief food programs, and when they do, they’re often pressured to donate their produce. This practice, called "soldier farming," undermines the livelihoods of those who sustain our food system.
A farmer's surplus should be a chance to create fair sales opportunities, not an excuse to exploit their hard work. By working together, we can support local farmers, build a resilient food economy, and ensure healthy food for all while strengthening our communities.
Our Work
Incubating Ideas
In collaboration with community leaders, business execs, and nonprofit directors, we uncover innovative solutions for community food systems, nonprofits, and corporations to create resilient, local food systems.
Creating New Opportunities for Farmers
We bridge the gap between local communities and local farmers, fostering a resilient food system that promotes sustainable economic growth while ensuring nutritional security for all.
Developing Leaders
We harness the passion of today’s generation of young food and farming advocates and help them take the fight to their communities, focusing on building alliances and changing attitudes.
Growing a Movement
We know that change starts with a mindset shift, but must be followed up with real action, so we nurture strong leadership, raise funding, and cultivate powerful but compassionate follow-through.
Our Programs
The Food Dignity® Institute provides hands-on training around community-led organizations, building food dignity in the community, and more.
Learn about the work we’re doing with food systems, education, health care, and more—and find out how you can collaborate with us.
Organizations and non-profits: we can help you access capital or build capacity for food access efforts.
Hear from Pennsylvania Farmers
Twofold Farm and Studio Jordan Delzell and Jay Jadick
Food Dignity Project provided us a consistent and dependable market outlet, ensuring that all our food was bought and distributed each week and that we were fairly compensated for its full worth. This has allowed us as farmers, and first year farmers, to have dependable weekly income, allowing for us to focus less on marketing and distribution and more on farming, attending to quality of produce, pest management, building soil health, and long term planning for creating a viable business in the years to come.
Lenny Burger, Burger's Family Farm
Food Dignity has helped reduce food waste and income loss by helping move excess produce during times of overproduction. If ourselves and other local farmers didn’t have FD as an outlet for this excess produce we would not only lose money but also waste perfectly edible food by having to dispose of it.
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Lesson 21: Multisourcing Food
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