Concrete Jungle celebrates 16 years of distributing salvaged fruits and vegetables

What started as a scrappy volunteer effort in 2009 to share foraged apples with vulnerable families has matured into a statewide nonprofit. Concrete Jungle rescues and distributes 1 million pounds of fruits and vegetables [4 million servings] annually to meet the increased demand. To date, the nonprofit has moved 3 million pounds of produce to local food banks and shelters.

“Across our 47 hunger relief partners, almost everyone’s seen a 50 percent to 200 percent increase in clients compared to 2024,” executive director Katherine Kennedy says. As Georgians grapple with high food, housing, and healthcare costs and unstable employment and social safety net cuts, Concrete Jungle is striving to meet the moment. “Our vision is that Georgians are well nourished in a state with no food waste,”