TRANSFORMING HOW FOOD MOVES FROM FARMS TO FOOD BANKS
Our team got to work building the Farm to Family (F2F) Progressive Web App (PWA), a slick, user-friendly digital platform designed to transform how food moves from farms to food banks.
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WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE?
California’s farms produce an abundance of fresh, nutritious food, but getting it into the hands of the families who need it most? That was a logistical nightmare. The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) faced a major roadblock: an outdated, email-heavy system that was slowing down food distribution. And when you're dealing with perishable donations, every minute counts.
With 41 member food banks, 6,000 community-based organisations, and over 200 agricultural partners, CAFB needed a way to move produce efficiently, ensuring no food went to waste and no Californian went hungry. They needed a smarter, faster, and more reliable way to connect supply with demand.
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WHAT WAS THE SOLUTION?
Enter 3 Sided Cube!
Our team got to work building the Farm to Family (F2F) Progressive Web App (PWA), a slick, user-friendly digital platform designed to transform how food moves from farms to food banks.
We knew this needed to be cost-effective, scalable, and intuitive, so we made some key technical choices:
Progressive Web App (PWA): We opted for a PWA instead of a native app to keep development costs down while ensuring broad accessibility. This means food banks can use the platform seamlessly across any device; mobile, tablet, or desktop—without needing constant updates.
Airtable backend: Instead of a complex, expensive database solution, we used Airtable to power the platform. It offers flexibility, real-time updates, and a user-friendly interface that California Food Banks can navigate with ease.
Seamless integration with existing systems: To future-proof the platform, we built a framework that allows for easy integration with CAFB’s existing systems—laying the groundwork for automating inventory tracking, logistics, and reporting.
Intuitive UI/UX: We designed the interface to be as simple as possible; fast-loading pages, clear calls to action, and accessibility-first design so that food bank staff and volunteers can use it without a steep learning curve.
By blending cutting-edge tech with practical design, we built a tool that streamlines communication, simplifies donation requests, and ensures fresh food gets where it’s needed…fast!
"The new app is super intuitive, practical, and genuinely beautiful. It’s already clear how much easier this will make things for programs and member food banks. Huge credit to the team for building something so innovative and impactful."
WHAT DOES THE PLATFORM DO?
The F2F PWA acts as a dynamic bridge connecting CAFB's resources with the needs of its member food banks. It's way more than just an app; it's a digital ecosystem that empowers CAFB for:
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REAL-TIME INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
CAFB can instantly update available produce offerings with detailed information, ensuring that food banks always have the most current data at their fingertips.
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INTUITIVE FILTERING AND SEARCH
Food banks can quickly identify the produce that meets their specific needs, minimising wasted time and effort.
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STREAMLINED REQUEST PROCESS
A simple, intuitive system allows food banks to secure donations with ease, eliminating the cumbersome back-and-forth of email communication.
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PUSH NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications alert food banks to new offerings and updates, ensuring that they never miss an opportunity to access fresh, nutritious food.
WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?
In March 2025, the F2F PWA launched and is poised to significantly reduce the time it takes for perishable items to reach their destination, ensuring that more fresh food makes it to the tables of Californians in need.
This project is more than just another piece of tech, it’s a step towards a fairer, healthier future. Together with CAFB, we’re making sure good food never goes to waste and always lands where it’s needed most.
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