San Diego Growers' Project

Our conventional food system is failing to meet the basic food and health needs of millions of Americans. Health issues such as diabetes and obesity in school children, cancers and autism in farm worker populations and toxic well water can be blamed on our failing food system. However, restructuring the current food system and building a new localized food economy in Southern California has the potential to transform the region and improve health disparities and insecurity.

Imagine building a local food economy where those working within it can afford the foods they produce, process and transport. Think of a permanent farmers’ market building, a Farmers’ Market Hub, which includes food processing facilities, space available to farmers for food storage, packing facilities and other distribution related infrastructure. Envision commercial food distributors who sell a ‘local food line’ of fresh fruit and vegetables coming directly from local and regional farmers to institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons, and large employers. Picture farmers working in partnership to bring freshly picked produce to a local elementary school classroom while also arranging for the children to visit the farm. And perhaps most critically, consider underserved populations, whose neighborhoods currently lack places to buy healthy food, getting access to the freshest, tastiest, locally-grown fruits and vegetables, which have the power to change eating habits and spur demand for better food from schools to offices, corner stores to supermarkets. Many possibilities exist that would address the needs of our failing food system (Zajfen, 2008).

We are a group of farmers, advocates and consumers working together to achieve a new food economy. This working group will explore the many possibilities to address our failing food system, including; building on-farm capacity, developing local distribution infrastructure, and creating healthy school food environments. We have identified northern San Diego County as the area to form this arrangement and focus our work. We believe the leadership of Tierra Miguel Foundation Farm, with their dedication to the work of small and medium-sized growers and as local food system advocates, will significantly increase the chances of the model being successful.

We, the San Diego Growers’ Project, invite any interested parties to join us as we continue working together to achieve a new food economy. Please review our event calendar for the dates of our upcoming meetings or email farm-to-school@tierramiguelfarm.org for more information in how to become involved. Additional resources concerning the importance of healthful food can be accessed here.

Click here to view the Market Assessment Presentation 2/19/09

Zajfen, V.S. (2008).Fresh Food Distribution Models for the Greater Los Angeles Region. Center for Food & Justice. 1-23.