Seminar: "Views about Community-Driven Innovation in Food Access" - Daniel Zauderer

Seminar:

"Views about Community-Driven Innovation in Food Access"

Daniel Zauderer
Founder and CEO
Grassroots Grocery

In this talk, Dr. Zauderer will explore how community-powered innovation can transform food access in America. Drawing from frontline experience in the Bronx and Harlem, he will illustrate the underlying structural challenges—from the startling number of pounds of food wasted annually in New York State to the dramatic produce price disparities between low-income neighborhoods and affluent areas.
   
 Mr. Zauderer will share how Grassroots Grocery was built around a simple but powerful idea: neighbors helping neighbors. By cultivating a volunteer-driven movement and designing a system that brings the pantry directly to the people, we have created a highly scalable, joyful model of food distribution that strengthens community ties while addressing immediate nutritional needs. Using real-world examples from our weekly Produce Parties—where over 200 volunteers gather to rescue 15,000 pounds of fresh produce and deliver it to 30 communities every Saturday—he will show how grassroots leadership, family engagement, and local trust can drive systems-level change.