Fighting Food Insecurity One Fresh Apple at a Time: A Q&A with Kanbe’s Markets

Food insecurity isn’t just a statistic. It’s a daily reality for thousands of Kansas City families. But at Kanbe’s Markets, that reality is being met with action, innovation, and community care. Founded in 2016 by Max Kaniger, Kanbe’s is reimagining how food moves through our city by turning what would be waste into access for those who need it most.

In this Q&A, we hear directly from the team at Kanbe’s about the growing need for food justice in Kansas City, the power of community partnerships, and how everyone from students to store owners has a role to play in building a more equitable food system. Whether you're new to this issue or already a passionate advocate, their insights offer both a sobering look at the challenges and an inspiring call to action.

Q: What inspired you to get involved in the fight against food insecurity in Kansas City?

A: Our CEO, Max Kaniger, grew up in the restaurant industry, where he witnessed the food life cycle up close—and, with it, the staggering amount of waste that occurs at the wholesale level. In the U.S., roughly 120 billion pounds of food—nearly 40% of the nation’s supply—ends up in landfills each year, even as 13.5% of households remain food insecure. Much of this food is still perfectly good to eat—or even sell—but is discarded due to the time and cost it takes suppliers to reroute it. In 2016, Max launched Kanbe’s Markets to change that. He started with a single refrigerated truck, making deliveries himself, and has since built a model designed to transform our food system by turning food loss into food access. At Kanbe’s, our goal is to ensure everyone in our community has access to fresh, healthy food.

Q: How has the need for food assistance changed in KC over the past few years?

A: One thing about this work: it will always matter—because food brings us together. In Kansas City, we recognize the strength of neighborhoods that continue to grow despite historic barriers. While fresh, nutritious food isn’t yet equally accessible across all communities, we see the opportunity to help shift that. As grocery costs rise and the landscape continues to evolve, we remain committed to expanding access to fresh, affordable food—supporting the power of communities to nourish themselves and one another.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges your organization faces in trying to meet the demand?

A: Right now, we need our community to step up and help meet the growing need—through volunteering, donating, and advocacy. We’re a small but mighty team working to be a consistent support system for Kansas City, but we can’t do it without our community's support. Every effort, big or small, makes a difference. We’re proud to partner with amazing produce distributors who send us fresh fruits and vegetables that we redirect across four tiers: healthy corner stores, donation partners, animal feed, and compost. Think of our model like a three-legged stool: as we grow our distributor network, we have more food to sort, which means we need more volunteers—and more partners—to help get it where it’s needed most.

Q: How do you ensure the dignity and respect of those who receive food from your programs?

A: We work within the preexisting fabric of the community. We partner with people who are already feeding their communities—corner store and convenience store owners in neighborhoods without easy access to fresh food. These are trusted community anchors, and we’re here to support and strengthen the work they’re already doing. Kanbe’s will install produce baskets and fridges in stores for free, and keep it stocked five days a week with fresh fruits and vegetables. The produce is priced affordably (think Aldi or Walmart), and sold on consignment, with store owners keeping 30% of sales to reinvest in the local community and the store owners' business. Their only cost is the electricity to power the fridge. While much of our produce is rescued and redirected, we also invest in consistency—purchasing staples like bananas and potatoes so customers can expect consistency and high-quality from Kanbe's produce giving people the ability to plan ahead and rely on the produce being there at a set price.

Q: Can you describe a moment or story that reminded you why this work matters?

A: I recently joined one of our drivers on a route to help stock 18 of the 77 stores we partner with—and at nearly every stop, we were greeted by curious and engaged customers. People asked what produce we had that day, shared what they were hoping to see next, and a few proudly mentioned using our voucher program to stretch their dollars even further while choosing fresh, healthy options. We intentionally partner with corner stores because they’re already trusted, accessible spaces within their neighborhoods. Many community members walk to and from these stores, and by placing fresh produce where people already shop, we’re working to expand access in ways that are convenient, consistent, and rooted in the daily rhythms of community life.

Q: How do local policies (like minimum wage or housing) impact the hunger crisis in our city?

A: At Kanbe’s, we see firsthand how local policies—like wages, housing, and transportation—directly influence food insecurity in Kansas City. When incomes don’t keep pace with the cost of living, especially rent, families are faced with difficult decisions between housing, utilities, and groceries. But these challenges don’t exist in a vacuum, they’re also the result of long-standing systems. In Kansas City, historic redlining shaped, and continues to shape, the physical and economic landscape of our neighborhoods. Communities that were not included in the planning and investment decades ago still feel the consequences today with fewer conventional grocery stores and heightened barriers to accessing fresh, affordable food. That’s why Kanbe’s is focused on working alongside neighborhoods that have been most affected by these policies. We partner with local store owners, support small business infrastructure, and place fresh produce where people already shop, helping to remove access barriers while investing in the economic health of our communities. By doing so, we’re not only increasing access—we’re investing in our communities. Solving hunger means more than providing food. It means reimagining systems and working together to build a more equitable food future—one rooted in local leadership and lasting change.

Q: In what ways can young people or students get involved in helping your mission?

A: Doing amazing work just like you did! We love having students, friend groups, and young changemakers get involved, whether it's volunteering, writing about their experience, or simply spreading the word. Sharing your story with friends, teachers, or even your parents helps grow our community of supporters and brings more awareness to the issue of food insecurity. One of the most powerful ways to create change is through conversation. When young people speak up—whether in a classroom, around the dinner table, or on social media—it inspires others to get involved too. At Kanbe’s, we believe anyone can be an advocate. Food insecurity can impact anyone. When we talk openly about food access, we break down stigma together. People from all backgrounds are part of the solution, and it starts with people like you helping make this a conversation we’re not afraid to have.

Q: What role do partnerships—with businesses, schools, or other nonprofits—play in your success?

A: An essential role! In this work, “it takes a village” couldn’t be more true—and we believe the strongest solutions are built in partnership with the community we serve. Local businesses play a critical part in helping expand community access and sustain our shared impact. Whether through team volunteer days, sponsorship, or strategic giving, we welcome companies who want to be part of building a more equitable food system in Kansas City. We’re in an exciting season of growth, and we’re leaning on our corporate and community partnerships to help us meet the moment—and keep the momentum going.

Q: How do you address not just hunger, but access to nutritious, culturally relevant food?

A: Our mission is to build a more inclusive food system by transforming food loss into food access. We operate exclusively in fresh food, essentials that provide nourishment that can fuel families and strengthen communities. Having a variety of fresh produce choices allows our customers to make the best decisions for their needs and those of their families. An amazing part of working alongside community leaders, whether in neighborhood hubs, local stores, or hunger relief partnerships—is the personal relationships we maintain. These connections mean we don’t just drop off food and go. We listen, and we respond. When a store or pantry tells us about a customer or neighbor asking for a specific item—something that reflects cultural traditions or family preferences—we work to make it happen. That real time feedback is one of our greatest tools. We also partner with health system partners like Saint Luke's and Children's Mercy, to provide free produce for patients with underlying health conditions, prescribed by a doctor. Like they say “an apple a day…”

What gives you hope for the future of food justice in Kansas City?

A: People like you! We could not do this work without the support of our community behind us. We run most of our operations with volunteer efforts and need individuals like you to be a Kanbe's champion and spread the word about our mission and how to get involved. We are so excited to take on this next stage of growth for Kanbe's but need our community's help to make it a reality!