Spotlight on the California Association of Food Banks

Food Share is a long-standing member of the CA Association of Food Banks (CAFB), an organization that works with 41 member food banks across the state to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to feed our communities in need. The organization also works to increase access to CalFresh, California’s food stamp program; creates partnerships with the agriculture industry to secure excess produce and reduce food waste; and advocates for pro-food bank and anti-hunger policies at local, state, and federal levels.

Farm to Family  

One of the most important resources coordinated by the CAFB is the Farm to Family program, which allows farmers with surplus products to reduce food waste by donating it to the food banking system in their local community and beyond. In return, farmers are reimbursed for some picking and packing out costs and receive documentation to help secure a tax credit. 

Approximately 34% of Food Share’s food inventory was supplied through the program in 2020, which enabled us to provide wonderful fresh produce alongside shelf-stable items to our pantry partner organizations and via the more than 500 drive-thru distributions we’ve held since the start of the pandemic.

This ad ran in the December issue of Central Coast Farm & Ranch to thank our local Ag community for their support. 

If you’re a farmer with surplus product to donate, or you would like to donate food via our gleaning program please contact Brian Fisher at bfisher@fodshare.com or call 805 983 7100.