We are a 1-for-1 Company
“Give something amazing back.” This core value is the heart of our 1-for-1 program. Our pledge: For every product sold, we’ll donate a healthy meal to someone in need.
This collective effort of loyal customers, food bank partners and Bloom Farmers past and present has provided food-insecure people throughout California with over
Why Hunger?
Times were tough during co-founder Michael Ray’s childhood, but the family farm in the Sierra Foothills always had an extra seat at the table and plenty of food. It became a place of solace for neighbors, including some who struggled with food insecurity.
Throughout his career, Mike never lost sight of this local need and set out to address hunger in a meaningful way when he launched the first-ever cannabis-backed 1-for-1 meal donation program.
A Growing Concern
Statistics paint a concerning reality of hunger, which has become more severe since the 2020 COVID pandemic. Right now, an estimated 8.9% of the world’s population is food insecure.1
Between 2019 and 2021, the number of people experiencing food crisis grew by about 20 million, and the food-insecure population was estimated to have grown by more than 80 million—increases suspected to be largely related to the pandemic.2, 3
But while hunger is far-reaching, it’s also right in your neighborhood. Food insecurity exists in every county in the US.4
What Hunger Can Look Like
food insecurity
a lack of consistent access to enough food for everyone in a household to live a healthy, active lifestyle5
food crisis
a sharp increase in hunger and malnutrition, usually related to a shock in supply or demand6
food desert
a geographical area where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food7
Factors to Consider
economics
Food insecurity can be ongoing due to poverty or related to temporary economic instability, such as a layoff, medical debt or unemployment.
neighborhood
Many rural and low-income areas have limited access to fresh, healthy food, so residents may be more likely to opt for less nutritious convenience foods.
waste
Each year, 30-40% of food (80 million pounds) in the United States is lost to waste. USDA’s Food Waste Challenge aims to halve this by 2030.8
Get Involved
sow
Every time you buy a Bloom Farms product, a meal reaches someone in need. Food banks make great use of direct donations by being highly efficient. It’s also easy and gratifying to volunteer at a local food pantry.
nurture
Ask your favorite dispensary to collaborate with us by matching our everyday 1-for-1 commitment. You’re also welcome to join us for a Bloom Farms Volunteer Day (currently on pause).
bloom
Many food banks make it easy to grow your impact and get others involved with corporate and employee giving programs, virtual events and in-person fundraising tools.
1. FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020”, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Rome, Italy, FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, 2020, http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca9692en, (accessed 1 June 2021).
2. World Food Programme, “2021 Global Report on Food Crises”, World Food Programme, 2021, https://www.wfp.org/publications/global-report-food-crises-2021, (accessed 1 June 2021).
3. World Health Organization, “As more go hungry and malnutrition persists, achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 in doubt, UN report warns”, 2021, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news/item/13-07-2020-as-more-go-hungry-and-malnutrition-persists-achieving-zero-hunger-by-2030-in-doubt-un-report-warns, (accessed 1 June 2021).
4. Feeding America, “Map the Meal Gap Data”, Feeding America, 2020, https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/map-the-meal-gap/by-county, (accessed 1 June 2021).
5. Feeding America, “What is Food Insecurity?”, Feeding America, https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/food-insecurity, (accessed 1 June 2021).
6. C Peter Timmer, “Preventing food crises using a food policy approach”, Pub Med, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19923388/, (accessed 1 June 2021).
7. Paula Dutko, Michele Ver Ploeg, Tracey Farrigan, “Statistics and Influential Factors of Food Deserts”, https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45014/30940_err140.pdf, United States Department of Agriculture, 2012, (accessed 1 June 2021).
8. USDA, “Food Waste FAQs”, United States Department of Agriculture, https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs, (accessed 1 June 2021).