Kanbe’s Markets Fights Against Urban Neighborhood Food Insecurity

Ryan Millan-Pulley
Editorial Intern

Kanbe’s Markets is a local non-profit organization partnering with businesses to eliminate food insecurity in Kansas City by supplying neighborhoods with fresh, healthy and affordable produce.

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 30-40 percent of the United States’ food supply is wasted each year. That’s tens of millions of tons of food, which could’ve fed families, ending up in landfills.

According to their website, Kanbe’s aims to redirect this wasted food to places that need it most, often acquiring it in bulk as “distressed inventory” from wholesalers. Their options mainly consist of fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, apples, bananas, lemons, and more depending on what’s available.

This produce is carefully inspected by volunteers and often sold for around 20 percent less than mainstream retailers.

Any “imperfect” fresh food still safe to eat is donated to local food pantries. Inedible or rotten food is composted.

Kanbe’s usually partners with smaller business outlets, often placing coolers or baskets of produce in convenience stores and coffee shops.

At a presentation for their donors on April 2nd at the Museum of Kansas City, Senior Director of Operations Jimmy Itczak gave more details on Kanbe’s mission. Itczak was hired by Kanbe’s Markets in 2023, when the organization was still reeling from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“But Kanbe’s, especially at that time, was really poised to say, ‘How do we get to the next level?’” Itczak said.

Kanbe’s has since expanded to over 75 locations all across the Kansas City Metropolitan area, even adding 24 locations in Kansas City, Kansas.

“Our vision isn’t to replace the grocery store, but to be a grocery store supplement,” Itczak said.“But it’s not just proximity, because if you can’t afford it, then it doesn’t matter where it is.”

Even with their growth, Itczak still has ambitious goals for Kanbe’s.

In 2025, Kanbe’s was able to utilize 1.7 million pounds of food, exceeding their goal of 1.2 million. Their goal for 2026 is to use 3 million pounds of food.

Located on 546 Olive St., Core Coffee & Eatery is one of several locations in Northeast working with Kanbe’s. According to Core Coffee co-owner Deana Bellamaganya, they began collaborating in late 2025 when a Kanbe’s Markets basket display was placed inside the shop, which has since been replaced by a cooler.

This cooler is restocked by Kanbe’s staff several times a week, and has already seen success among locals and customers of Core Coffee.

“It’s been really nice as far as people coming in and getting a cup of coffee and sometimes they’ll throw in a banana or an apple,” Bellamaganya said. “Neighbors will come down and get eggs almost every day.”

Businesses can also request specific foods from Kanbe’s, if they’re available.

“They’re really priced well. I mean, 33 cents for a banana,” Bellamaganya said. “They carry Amish eggs, which is really cool, delicious, and they’re $3.99 a carton, I think.”

Kanbe’s Markets serves several outlets in the Northeast. The link below lists all of their locations in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas. It also lets users type in their address or zip code to find locations closest to them.

Kanbe’s Healthy Corner Stores | Buy Fresh Food HERE! — Kanbe’s Markets