Ensuring food safety and security is a critical challenge for modern societies, with implications that span public health, consumer confidence, and social equity. This dissertation integrates simulation modeling, consumer behavior analysis, and spatial optimization to address these interconnected challenges, forming a cohesive framework for enhancing food systems. Together, these studies examine the food system from production to consumption and assistance, uncovering synergies across risk management, consumer engagement, and equitable resource allocation.The first study lays the foundation by focusing on food safety within fresh produce supply chains. A numerical simulation model is developed to identify cost-effective testing and traceability strategies, which minimize contamination risks and optimize resource allocation. Results highlight that early-stage testing at packing houses, combined with traceability systems, can reduce total supply chain costs by over 10%, demonstrating the value of proactive risk management. Building on the supply-side perspective, the second study shifts focus to the demand side, examining how food safety labels influence consumer behavior. An online choice experiment involving 765 participants reveals that detailed text-based labels significantly increase consumer trust and willingness to pay (WTP) for fresh produce. This study bridges the gap between supply chain interventions and consumer decision-making, showing how information transparency can amplify the effectiveness of upstream risk management. The third study expands the lens to address food security, exploring the spatial optimization of food assistance services. Using dynamic optimization and mobile phone location data, it examines how strategic placement and operation of food pantries can minimize social costs and improve access for food-insecure populations. By integrating insights on spatial distribution and operational efficiency, this study complements the earlier findings on resource optimization and consumer engagement. Collectively, these studies form an integrative approach to tackling food safety and security challenges. They highlight how risk management, informed consumer behavior, and strategic resource allocation can converge to create a resilient and efficient food system. The findings offer actionable recommendations for policymakers, producers, and community organizations, advancing public health, trust, and social equity.