Food Shift, a Project of Earth Island InstituteFood Shift, a Project of Earth Island InstituteAt Food Shift, we believe that real change starts from within—shaped by values, guided by community, and fueled by lived experience. Our consulting and training services are rooted in first-hand work in food recovery and mutual aid, grounded in the belief that communities already hold the wisdom to build better systems.
We don’t “empower”—we collaborate, co-create, and support organizations in applying strategies that are informed by practice and uplift the abundance already present.We specialize in two core areas:
At Food Shift, we view food as more than nourishment—it’s a connection to culture, care, and climate. And when food is discarded, it represents not just waste, but lost opportunity to share the bounty, reduce emissions, and build resilience. Whether you’re a school, business, or public agency, each of us plays a part in keeping food in use and out of the landfill.
Food Shift partners with cities, counties, and agencies to implement California’s Senate Bill 1383, a law that prioritizes the recovery of edible food and reduction of organic waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our services include:
We engage food businesses using clear, practical language that respects their time, constraints, and values. This relational approach has consistently increased the frequency, volume, and diversity of edible food donations across jurisdictions.
Recent Partners Include:
Food Shift offers advisory and consulting services to establish organizational practices that arise from values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). Why is a nonprofit which sits at the intersection of climate change and food insecurity offering JEDI services? Because JEDI is our core value and part of our mission. We strive to identify and implement holistic solutions that are
For the people (not asking people to lean into and perpetuate the broken system),
By the people (to see people we serve as people we serve with, as part of the solution), and
With the people (to travel the path together so that we are collaborative, not competitive, to result in a more resilient community overall).
JEDI is at the heart of climate and food justice. We see it as part of our mission to continue to learn and challenge ourselves to exercise our JEDI values and share with others on this journey.
Justice is not a side program—it is the foundation of how we approach food systems and climate solutions.
Food Shift offers JEDI training and consulting to help organizations align internal culture and external impact with values of equity, inclusion, and collective care. We center solutions that are:
Our JEDI offerings include:
Developing a JEDI Lens: An Interactive & Exploratory Workshop
This session is designed for individuals and organizations working toward:
Rates:
Held quarterly or by request—interested in attending or hosting a custom session? Contact us!
Past JEDI Clients Include:
($100 up to 60 minutes)
For new (potential) clients only.
Initial consultation is offered up to 60 minutes with minimal payment to check for a “cultural knit” with the type of engagement we offer, and for Food Shift to be able to provide some initial guidance as a representation of a possible interaction style.
(Varies on contract duration: $750/month minimum contract)
JEDI practice is counter intuitive. The best intentions can lead to harm. We are here to take on an external advisory role to offer on-demand guidance on JEDI broadly, or on specific related topics including but not limited to: what the first steps for your organization might be, best practices around forming a racial equity committee, review of job description and hiring procedure to attract a diverse candidate pool, how to get buy-in from your board. The advantage of this package is its flexibility. We recognize your needs will change as we navigate the JEDI path. The topics do NOT have to be pre-determined, although you may have a seminal event or a goal that motivated you to connect with us.
If there is a specific topic or goal you are working towards, flat-rate packages may be available.
($3950 minimum contract)
Development and facilitation services for a group retreat to identify organization’s core values and fold them into the strategic planning process. It provides a built-in buy-in process for different levels of the organization, to be united under a shared set of values. Effectively used when an organization is at a crossroads: e.g., leadership change, preparation for a major initiative or a change in direction, a level-set for internal cultural challenges to result in deeper employee, partner, or community engagement.
Consists of interviews with different stakeholders to create a customized set of modules from exercises aimed at communication improvement, addressing gaps between different functional/community groups or levels of authority.
While the engagement process itself is the main work product, other outputs include identification of organization values, timeline of organization history and pivotal events, frameworks to identify and tackle behavior changes, internal training materials.
In-person or virtual options available.
All proceeds from our JEDI consulting practice support Food Shift’s operation to recover food that would otherwise go to waste and nourish our neighbors.
Are you having problems attracting candidates from different backgrounds than you? Retaining new hires?
Does your leadership team reflect the profile of the clients/customers you serve?
Are you unsure what the first steps should be in your organization’s journey for equity and empowerment?
Food Shift predominantly serves nonprofits, membership groups, educational institutions, government agencies, and businesses in food and/or environment related fields.
Interested? Contact us to schedule your initial consultation or inquire about our next JEDI workshop.
Yuka Nagashima, Principal Consultant & Executive Director
Yuka brings over two decades of experience building inclusive systems across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Her approach to JEDI work is grounded in practice, not just theory—using storytelling, systems thinking, and facilitation techniques that lead to lasting, people-centered change.
Most recently she developed and taught an inclusive leadership course for Stanford Continuing Education.