April 24, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Westside farmers markets donate unsold produce to worthy causes

Farmers market left-overs help the hungry.
Food Forward volunteers glean farmers market left-overs to help the hungry. (Courtesy Photo: Food Forward)

Ever wondered what happens to fresh produce that’s left over each week at farmers markets across the Westside?

While it may be simple to dispose of unsold produce in dumpsters, many prominent Westside farmers markets thankfully do not take the easy way out.

Rather, most are partnered with various organizations to ensure that the unsold and unconsumed fresh produce goes to agencies that help people in need.

Among the local farmers markets helping fight hunger through the donation of their unsold produce are those located in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, and Culver City.

Greta Dunlap, manager of the Beverly Hills farmers market, weighed in on what the city’s standard method is after its weekly produce sales.

“A team of volunteers glean from the market and take the food leftovers to All Saints’ Church in Beverly Hills,” Dunlap said.

She added that produce is usually used to prepare meals for the homeless and the underserved.

As for the City of Santa Monica, which holds a handful of farmers markets throughout the week, the surplus produce from the Wednesday (Arizona Ave.) and Sunday (Main St.) markets are taken care of through a partnership with Food Forward, a market recovery non-profit organization.

Food Forward collects produce at 11 markets in Los Angeles each week that on average glean about 25,000 pounds of fresh free produce per month.

Laura Avery, the Santa Monica farmers market program supervisor as well as the Wednesday market manager, helped develop the relationships between Food Forward and Santa Monica’s farmers markets.

She said she continues to be very supportive of Food Forward’s initiatives.

Food Forward originated as a volunteer-run backyard harvesting organization and has always fostered an expertise in appropriately placing surplus food where it is most needed.

The organization’s mission is to distribute locally grown food from public spaces and private homes and help feed the region’s most vulnerable population, all the while raising awareness of sustainability and food justice.

Managed by Leah Boyer, the Farmers Market Recovery Program was founded in 2012, with its first farmers market gleaning in Santa Monica taking place in June of that year.

That first day, 1,313 pounds of leftover produce were collected and received by the St. Joseph’s Center in Venice and the CLARE Foundation in Santa Monica, which are both agencies that still pick up or receive distribution of surplus produce from the Santa Monica markets today.

Step Up on Second (located on 2nd St. in Santa Monica) has also been added to the list of receiving agencies. Over the past two years, 104,839 pounds of produce have been collected at the Wednesday Santa Monica farmers market.

Avery mentioned that surplus produce from the Santa Monica markets also goes toward other causes, including a high school in Pasadena where market boxes are assembled by special-needs students and sold to local clients and teachers.

In Brentwood, Food Forward helps distribute market leftovers to organizations A Place Called Home, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), and EngAGE. Food Forward began its services with the Brentwood farmers market in March of this year and has already been able to collect 25,500 pounds of produce since then.

In addition to Santa Monica and Brentwood, eight additional neighborhood markets including Brentwood, Culver City, and Pacific Palisades partake in the Farmers Market Recovery Program, with a total of 450,000 pounds of produce gleaned, 250 farmers/vendors participating, and 37 receiving agencies being served.

Food Forward utilizes its own boxes and other equipment, weighs all received donations, provides vendors with tax receipts, and welcomes produce from all farmers who are interested in participating.

Food Forward is also looking for lead volunteers to assist in maintaining this worthy cause. There are a number of ways to get involved, including serving as a farmers market gleaner.

For more information, visit foodforward.org.

• The Beverly Hills farmers market is located along the 9300 block of Civic Center Dr. between 3rd St. and Santa Monica Blvd and takes place Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm.

• The Wednesday Santa Monica farmers market is located on Arizona Ave. between 4th St. and Ocean Ave. and takes place from 8:30 am and 1:30 pm. The Sunday Santa Monica Farmers’ Market is located at 2640 Main St. and takes place from 9:30 am to 1 pm.

• The Brentwood farmers market is located at 741 Gretna Green Way. It takes place on Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm.

 

Related Posts

(Video) A Myriad of Ways to Unlock Your Beauty Offered at Mirror Mirror Med Spa

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

For More Info, Go To Mirrormedspa.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/5uE3LO9Lz9 pic.twitter.com/tz8YgJaB4j — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) April 23, 2025

New York Film Academy in Los Angeles Offers Summer Camps, Programs

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

New York Film Academy in Los Angeles is hosting several summer camps for teenagers and kids, providing practical training in...

Cinespia Returns to Hollywood Forever With Cult Classics and a David Lynch Tribute

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Becomes a Moviegoer’s Paradise Once Again Cinespia, Los Angeles’ beloved outdoor cinema series, will return to Hollywood...

Major I-405 Rehab Project Unveiled: Caltrans to Host Virtual Info Meeting

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Sepulveda Pass Overhaul: New Pavement, Safer Roads, Better Commutes The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will hold a virtual informational...

Culver City Government Hosts Second Annual Mental Health Fair at City Hall

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Free Tools, Resources, and Relaxing Activities at Wellness Celebration Culver City will host its second annual Mental Health Resource Fair...

Skip Traffic, Relax, Catch a Vibe: Midweek Sunset Party Lands on the Westside

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

DJ Jason Bentley, Mocktails, Games, Food Trucks, Light Up Fox Hills Commuters looking to escape rush hour gridlock on Thursday,...

San Fernando Valley Man Gets 5 Years for Beverly Hills Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Federal Prison for ID Thief Who Raided Beverly Hills Mailboxes for Millions A North Hills man was sentenced Monday to...

Santa Monica Police to Target Impaired Drivers at DUI Checkpoint 

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Officers Will Be On Alert for Alcohol and Drug Impairment The Santa Monica Police Department announced plans to conduct a...

Academy Announces Major Changes for 98th Oscars, Including AI Rules and New Casting Award

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Academy Now Requires Viewing All Nominees to Cast Final Ballots The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled...

Pepper Spray and Panic: LA Homeowners Targeted in Nighttime Burglaries

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

LAPD Hunts Suspects After One Resident Attacked in Beverly Grove Two separate home invasions late Friday night in Beverly Grove...

“We’re Better Than This”: Tour Business Owner Pleads for Protection After Third Burglary

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

Thieves hit Again, Stealing E-Bikes and Leaving a Wake of Damage in South La Cienega The frustrated owner of a...

Lawsuits Allege Insurance Giants Conspired to Undercut California Fire Victims

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

Two Lawsuits Accuse Top Carriers of Price-Fixing and Violating Antitrust Laws Attorneys representing homeowners impacted by California’s January wildfires have...

Cali Camp Welcomes Los Angeles Campers

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

By Susan Payne Roam streams, meadows and oak trees in the heart of rock-lined Topanga Canyon this summer at Cali...

Culver City Closes Streets for Earth Day to Encourage Green School Commutes

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

Pedal, Walk, or Roll: Culver City Schools Go Car-Free for Earth Day Culver City is taking its Earth Day celebration...

Mayor Karen Bass’ Budget Plan Proposes 1,647 Layoffs Amid $300M Liability Surge

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

Civilian LAPD Staff, Transportation, and Sanitation Departments Among Hardest Hit Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed city budget for the upcoming fiscal...