What does Food Cowboy do?
We help growers, distributors, transporters, restaurants and other food industry companies donate wholesome produce and other fresh food to food charities. We also help them dispose of food waste in environmentally sustainable ways, such as by composting.

What can I donate through Food Cowboy?
You can donate commercial quantities of fresh produce and other fresh foods. If you are a consumer and would like to make a smaller donation, you can find a local food pantry that would be glad to accept it here.

Who can receive food donations?
Food Cowboy works with all types of food charities, as long as they serve the needy, the sick, or children. If your charity does not have a 501(c)(3) designation, but provides direct services to individuals, we can work with you too, as long as certain rules are followed.

How do I get organic waste?
Farmers, ranchers, composters, and other users of food waste can register with Food Cowboy and receive alerts when organic waste is available in their areas. There is no charge for the service.

What does it cost to use Food Cowboy?
Food Cowboy’s services are free to both donors and charities. Donors can demonstrate their commitment to fighting hunger and waste by paying an annual licensing fee (e.g., $250 for warehouse clubs; $175 for supermarkets; $35 for restaurants) to display the Food Cowboy logo in their places of business and on their online profiles.

How can I help even if I don’t have food to donate?
Moving tons of fresh food before it spoils takes a lot of resources and coordination. If you operate a warehouse, market, or transportation company, or even own a pickup truck, you can help. Register with us today as a Logistics Provider and we'll get in touch with you to discuss how you can help feed hungry people.

What are the tax benefits of donating?
Section 170(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code allows companies that donate inventory to food charities that serve those in need to take a tax deduction equal to half the profits they would have earned if they had sold the food instead of donating it. This is in addition to writing off their costs, as they would ordinarily be able to do. The total deduction is limited to twice their costs and several other conditions apply. The full text of the Section 170(e)(3) provision is available here.

Will I be liable if someone gets sick from the food I donate?
The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act is a federal law that protects food donors from liability for damages caused by donations of "apparently wholesome food." The full text of the Act is available here.

I'm concerned about getting bad press if someone claims my donation made them sick.
Many food companies have expressed this concern despite the provisions of the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (see above). Nevertheless, we understand how valuable your brand is and how expensive even frivolous litigation can be. That is why we have taken several measures to protect you:

1. Food Cowboy requires both donors and donees to certify that the food they donate or accept is "Apparently Wholesome." Food charities agree not to serve any food that does not meet that standard.

2. The charities we work with agree to identify only Food Cowboy as the source of the donations they receive through us. Of course, both Food Cowboy and the recipient charities will immediately disclose any information they believe necessary to protect the public's health or to comply with the law.

Are you a for-profit or a nonprofit organization and how do you get paid?
Food Cowboy is a for-profit company that helps other for-profit companies operate more efficiently, avoid disposal costs, and lower their taxes. We charge them a small fee for our services. We never charge food charities or truckers.