Feeding the Hungry at the Pasadena Farmers Market

On a typical Saturday morning, Pasadena’s bustling farmers market entices hundreds of eager shoppers who sift through mountains of fresh produce. But ever wonder what happens to all that peak produce once the market winds down? Up until this March, all that produce would typically get thrown out. Now, thanks to the non-profit organization Food Forward, this food is instead being re-distributed to those in need.

This March, Food Forward launched their Farmers Market Recovery Program at the Pasadena Farmers Market. The program gives farmers the option to donate their produce to those in need, instead of letting it go to waste. Food Forward volunteers convene at the markets, distribute boxes to farmers wishing to donate, and then collect and weigh the boxes of full produce at the end of the market. Since its inception, Food Forward has already donated over 2,000 lbs of fresh produce to Pasadena’s own Friends in Deed—where it has been distributed, free of charge, to those who need it the most.

While Food Forward’s presence at the Pasadena Market is novel, Food Forward’s impact in the community is not. Food Forward started in 2009 with the simple idea of connecting the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables in Southern California with the 1 in 6 food insecure Angelenos in need. Food Forward’s flagship program—the Backyard Harvest Program—gleans produce from local trees, and has recovered and donated of over 100,000 lbs of fresh produce to 17 receiving agencies in the San Gabriel Valley. Food Forward’s second program—the Farmers Market Recovery program—has now grown to include gleaning local produce at 15 farmers markets, including 6 west side markets, 2 South Bay markets, 3 central markets, 3 San Fernando Valley markets, and 1 San Gabriel Valley market.

To expand Food Forward’s impact in the San Gabriel Valley and to feed even more people in the community, Food Forward invites you to join in gleaning at participating markets. Volunteers can sign up to recover produce on the Food Forward website at www.foodforward.org/events. For volunteers interested in an on-going leadership opportunity, Glean Team Leaders are needed to coordinate volunteers and oversee the distribution and donation of produce. GTLs are asked to commit to at least one market glean per month. Furthermore, Food Forward will be holding an Altadena block party pick on June 27th—if you’re interested in volunteering or donating your fruit, please email rachael@foodforward.org.

To learn more about Food Forward’s programs or to sign up for an event, go to foodforward.org.