Stories · Fresh Food Access · West Contra Costa · May 2025
School Gardens as Food Hubs
For two years, Farms to Communities made nine Title 1 schools into weekly fresh food hubs, moving 185,796 pounds of local produce from small farms to family tables.
Weekly produce pickup at a partner school2024 marked the conclusion of our two-year Farms to Communities program, which transformed nine Title 1 schools into weekly fresh food hubs. Through this CDFA-funded initiative, we provided families with affordable access to carefully curated bags of seasonal, local produce. Each 12-14 pound bag featured culturally relevant fruits and vegetables, available for online pre-order and after-school pickup. By working directly with local farmers and delivering produce from farm to family within the same day, we were able to offer exceptionally fresh produce at prices significantly below market rates.
In addition to supporting local farmers with consistent, high-volume demand, our school-based distribution model directly addressed the two biggest barriers families face in accessing healthy foods: cost and convenience.
What it added up to
The numbers told us the model worked. 1,597 families purchased fresh produce, and 45% of them came back four or more times. Over two years, 185,796 pounds of fresh, local produce moved through nine school sites, sourced from a dozen small Bay Area farms.
Building on the success and learnings from Farms to Communities, we launched two new initiatives to expand fresh food access across our school communities. Year-round farm stands at Soskin, Valley View, and Vista schools give student entrepreneurs hands-on experience managing small food enterprises while providing their communities with affordable access to farm-fresh produce, much of it grown right on campus. And through the Farms Together initiative with the Contra Costa/Solano Food Bank, fresh, local produce keeps moving to school communities across West Contra Costa.
“I enjoy bringing my kids to see all the produce. I am happy because we didn't eat much fruit or vegetables at home because they were expensive, and I didn't have the time. But thanks to the vegetable bags they sell outside the school at an affordable price and variety, my whole family consumes more produce of higher quality.”
Carmina Huchin, parent of two students at Hillside Elementary
families purchased fresh produce; 45% came back four or more times
pounds of fresh, local produce distributed to school communities
partnerships with small Bay Area farmers
Adapted from our 2024 Annual Report.