Programs

We work to nourish our community while promoting self-sufficiency through our programs

No-cost training for aspiring urban agriculture professionals

A vocational training program that addresses the issue of healthy food access by training a workforce in small-scale urban production that makes locally grown produce accessible to a greater number of low-income individuals and families.

This no-cost hybrid online and in-person urban farm training program is available to young adults in both Long Beach and the greater LA County area.

The Academy offers practical agricultural education and training with an emphasis on drought-friendly practices and how to address the needs of food insecurity in an urban environment. It also provides a seamless pathway for LBUSD graduates who participate in Grow2Zero’s urban farming curriculum to continue vocational training, while also connecting them with job opportunities in the field of urban agriculture.

The Academy is funded through the USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production program.

Rotating educational events to feed the community

We're partnering with the chef-preneurs at Feel Good Salsa Kitchen and with Sowing Seeds of Change Urban Farm to provide healthy and delicious prepared food to the Long Beach community.

This partnership will increase capacity to make nutrient-dense food accessible and appealing to recipients by saving them the time and resources needed to prepare it themselves. Dina and the team at Feel Good Salsa Kitchen, one of our food distribution partners. The prepared foods will be shared with the community at weekly “Food Fairs,” where attendees can enjoy food preparation demos and tastings and exchange recipes with local aspiring chefs. These efforts will increase the likelihood that rescued food will be consumed, thereby contributing to the nutrition needs of low-income individuals and families. To support local urban farming efforts, the food supplied to the chefs via food rescue agency partners will be supplemented with fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables grown on-site at Grow2Zero and Sowing Seeds of Change. This program is funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Community Food Projects program.

Weekly grocery giveaway for neighborhood food security

We started our weekly food distribution in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and it has continued uninterrupted ever since.

Every week, we share fresh produce, meat and dairy, and shelf stable pantry items with over 120 local Long Beach families. This includes delivery to 40 housebound families at the Century Villages at Cabrillo.

This community service is offered in partnership with Go2Zero Strategies, Food Forward, Food Finders, Rockenwagner Bakery, and Vallarta Supermarkets.