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Where Our Food Comes From
Second Harvest’s food comes from
Strong partnerships & smart shopping!
In 2020, Second Harvest sourced over
10 million pounds of food.
… All of which helps explain how
Second Harvest provides 3 healthy meals for every $1 donated
- The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB)—We receive 60% of our produce from CAFB. We acquire Grade B produce (still perfectly delicious and nutritious) for pennies per pound. Learn more…
- Food industry partners—Many local farms donate Grade B produce, excess, and field gleanings. We also swap with other area food banks—when one of us has surplus, we send it to another that needs it.
- Local grocers and food distributors—We receive excess and salvage—food that is too close to its end date to put on a store shelf, but can be used by us quickly.
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)—We receive funds based on county demographic data to order commodities (typically rice, beans, green beans, and peas).
- Purchased Food—We purchase high-demand staples such as peanut butter, canned peaches and pears, black beans, rice, and low-sugar cereals at wholesale prices. We give a 25% discount to our agencies and provide grants to offset the costs of these food purchases.
- Ag Against Hunger—Over 50 local growers and shippers donate surplus and unharvested produce to Ag Against Hunger. We pay $75 for a truckload and call for extra produce when necessary. Learn more…
- Community food & fund drives—Our annual Holiday Food & Fund Drive and National Association of Letter Carriers’ food drive bring in thousands and thousands of pounds every year, help raise awareness, and get the whole community involved in helping neighbors in need.
Food Industry Partners
Aggrigator/Amor Organics
Americold
Aromas Produce
Beckmann Bakery
Carol Wallace
Coke Farms Inc
Del Mar Food Products Corp
Driscoll’s
Earthbound Farm
Falcon Trading
Farmhouse Culture
Field Fresh Farm
Fitz Fresh Mushrooms
Glaum Egg Ranch
Grocery Outlet
HA Rider & Sons
Happy Boy Farms
High Ground Organics
Hikari Farms
JAS Family Farms Organics
Johnny’s Market
La Princesa Market
Lakeside Organic Gardens
Las Hermanas
Lucky
Miyashita Nursery
Monterey Mushrooms
New Leaf Community Markets
Oroweat
Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes
Paul Lind
Pepperidge Farm
Performance Foodservice Ledyard
Phil Foster Ranches
Planasa, LLC
Raleys Nob Hill
Martinelli & Company
Safeway
Sun Valley Farms
Sweet Earth Farms
Target
Trader Joes
True Leaf Farms
Tyson Foods Inc
UC Santa Cruz
Vasquez Farms
Village Harvest
Watsonville Berry Co-op
Watsonville Coast Produce
West Lake Fresh
Whole Foods Market