Farm to Foodbank Tops 718,000 Pounds in Santa Barbara County
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Fresh produce from local farms is reaching more families across Santa Barbara County through a partnership that is also supporting area growers.
One year after launching the Farm to Foodbank program, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County has distributed more than 718,000 pounds of locally grown produce purchased directly from regional farms.
Workers are harvesting everything from tomatoes and watermelons to corn at Osario Family Farms in Carpinteria.
“It’s looking good,” farm worker Juan Osario said. “We do grow organically, so with the corn, when the tip is dry that means it’s most likely ready.”
Every harvest helps supply fresh fruits and vegetables to local families facing food insecurity.
“Harvest is going good,” Osario said. “We’re harvesting our watermelon, our tomatoes, and we have corn we’re going to get to harvesting this week.”
The program has returned more than $1 million to local farms while expanding access to fresh food throughout the county.
“We’ve been able to work with multiple farmers in our region,” Jesus Lopez, director of operations for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, said. “We’ve been able to help our local farming community, and at the same time we’re helping our neighbors with fresh produce.”
For Osario, the work is personal.
“It’s a good feeling knowing that I’m growing healthy food for my community,” he said. “Everyone that is getting it actually does enjoy it.”
The partnership has also created more stability for local growers.
“It helps create security because the Foodbank is constantly buying,” Osario said. “It pretty much ensures our produce will get sold, whether it’s tomatoes, peppers or corn.”
Today, about 80 percent of the Foodbank’s produce purchases come through the Farm to Foodbank program.
“Our hope is to keep growing the program, help more farmers, keep adding farmers to the program and continue raising awareness,” Lopez said.
The growing season continues, and so does the effort to bring fresh, locally grown food to families across Santa Barbara County.
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