Austin News

Good Apple, a produce delivery service piloted in a partnership between Austin Transportation and Ford Mobility, has completed a nine-month pilot period and now looks forward to expanding services in the coming year.

Good Apple combines business with charitable giving, matching every box of produce purchased through the service with another given free of charge to a family dealing with food insecurity, according to the Good Apple website.

Good Apple was also the winner of the 2019 Austin City: One Challenge, according to a news release. The challenge from the city and Ford Mobility predated the COVID-19 pandemic, and was initially simply an effort to increase access to healthy living in East Austin.

Aspects of Good Apple’s work under the challenge were a focus on “racial equity and positive social impact with a dynamic mobility system,” according to the release. In addition to the charitable aspect of their business model, Good Apple also sources all of their produce from local farmers.

The start of the nine-month pilot program fell by chance in March of last year, as many across the world struggled with the added food insecurity burdens created by the economic crisis. Good Apple adapted its existing model with its “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” program in response.

In addition to delivering produce, Good Apple also delivered pantry-staple items to populations facing increased food insecurity around the city during the pandemic, cooperating with 40 local organizations and partners to help identify those in greatest need and at highest risk from exposure if they left their homes to get food.

During the pilot period, Good Apple was able to serve approximately 3,500 families with 830,000 pounds of fresh produce and pantry staples.