App-Based Platforms Helping Tackle Food Insecurity at Scale

Last week, Flex and several member companies had the privilege to sit down with U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small at a working breakfast hosted by Future Forum. The discussion centered around the prevalence of food insecurity in the United States—and how app-based platforms are helping address this key issue as well as increasing access to healthy food, including in disadvantaged communities.

Food insecurity is tragically common in the U.S. – across geography and demographics. According to USDA’s annual Household Food Insecurity in the United States report, more than 47 million people in the U.S. face hunger, including 1 in 5 children.

Flex member companies have stepped up to help confront this challenge by providing access and availability to the 23 million Americans who live in food deserts. Brookings found that in the top 10 most populated metro areas, over 99% have access to at least one food delivery option. Furthermore, Flex members have been leaders in integrating government assistance programs like SNAP into their platforms, which will boost food access in many underserved communities.

In addition, these app-based platforms have taken on policies and initiatives promote health and nutrition by design, empowering consumers to eat—and live—healthier. This includes everything from partnering with leading hunger organizations and providing low-cost rides to farmers markets and food pantries to offering new, innovative AI-powered features to incorporate dietary needs directly into your grocery orders.

As USDA, state and local governments, and non-profit organizations continue their efforts to fight hunger, they can look to app-based platforms to help tackle, at scale, the barriers to access and reduce food insecurity in the long run.

Company Resources:

DoorDash Project Dash

Grubhub Efforts to Close the Hunger Gap

Instacart Health

Lyft Grocery Access Program

Shipt LadderUp Local Retail Accelerator

Uber’s Health Food Initiatives