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Donate Surplus Crops!
How It Works 1. Call, email, or text us when you have a load. 2. We send a truck – either from our own fleet or a trusted contract shipper. 3. Your donation arrives at food banks that efficiently distribute it through a network of charities. |
Good for Families, Good for Farmers
California grows more fruits and vegetables than any other state – yet for many low-income households, fresh produce is simply out of reach. The California Association of Food Banks’ Farm to Family program bridges this gap.
Farmers, ranchers, packers and shippers throughout California have found Farm to Family to be a meaningful market alternative that helps recoup costs for product that is unmarketable or may otherwise go unused, and supports those in their community who may need a little help. Food allocated to the Farm to Family program helps provide a solution for individuals, families and children to alleviate hunger, and ultimately strengthens communities.
More than 100 farmers participate – join your peers and help make a difference.
Why You Should Participate
Working with Farm to Family is easy and hassle free – transportation and logistics are our strong suit, and our professional team is always just a phone call away. Working with the California Association of Food Banks is more meaningful than other secondary markets – juice, cull, dollar stores – because the food is going to individuals, children and families in your community.
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Ready to Make a Donation? Want to Learn More? Please contact Steve Linkhart, Director of Farm to Family, at (510) 350-9916 or at stevelinkhart@cafoodbanks.org |
Experienced staff – Farm to Family has a friendly, efficient team located throughout California and committed to quickly finding a home for your surplus loads.
Trucks – Our own fleet, along with trusted trucking companies, is ready to respond to your requests.
Food banks – Our network of more than 40 California food banks has the equipment, staff and volunteers required to move truckloads of farm produce into communities where it’s needed most.
Food pantries – Member food banks partner with more than 6,000 charities statewide that provide the donated produce in their food programs.
Dave Peri of Peri and Sons Farms, a proud Farm to Family donor.
We work fast – Whether your oversupply is expected far in advance or the result of sudden changes in the market or growing conditions, our staff is 100% committed to finding a home for those extra loads.
Your donation goes locally – We place as much of your donation as we can in your own community first, then distribute any excess to wherever it is most needed.
A 15% tax credit – CAFB led efforts by the anti-hunger and agricultural community to extend and improve the tax incentive for farmers to donate fresh produce to food banks, including raising the credit from 10% to 15% and using the more farmer-friendly wholesale valuation rather than the cumbersome inventoried value.
A stellar reputation – Farm to Family is the nation’s leading produce recovery program. We partner with the California Department of Food & Agriculture and our program is used as a model by Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network.
And last but not least... It’s the right thing to do – Farmers know better than anybody about expecting the unexpected – whether it’s a drought or a recession, bad times can hit any of us. Farm to Family is about people helping people, and sharing food is one of the most basic acts of human kindness.
Join Your Peers – Donate Now
More than 100 farmers already participate in Farm to Family (take a look at some of our generous contributors listed below). If you are a grower, rancher or packer interested in feeding your community and positively impacting your bottom line, contact Steve Linkhart, Director of Farm to Family, at (510) 350-9916 or stevelinkhart@cafoodbanks.org.
If you’re an individual with extra "backyard produce" or a farmer with a few pallets to donate, please contact your local food bank directly.
