Feed Hospitality Program Winds Down on August 26
August 25, 2021
It’s been 17 months since we launched our Feed Hospitality program to provide fresh produce boxes from local farms to unemployed hospitality workers and their families during the pandemic, while supporting small, sustainable farms. Together with generous donors and sponsors, we have distributed over 3,000 fresh produce boxes to treasured members of our local hospitality community and directed over $100,000 to local farms since April 2020.
As we’re working to support ongoing food access programs and food education programs for youth and families, we’re ending the Feed Hospitality program as of August 26, 2021.
The pandemic has proven the need for a resilient and equitable local food system, where everyone has access to fresh, healthy food. When restaurants and bars closed last year due to the pandemic, the livelihoods of thousands of members of our hospitality community vanished overnight, while local farmers who sell directly to restaurants lost critical sales. Since the pandemic, CalFresh (also known as SNAP, EBT, or food stamps) benefit usage has more than doubled at our farmers markets, as more families need assistance putting healthy food on the table. We have been honored to feed the people who feed us through this difficult time.
While Bay Area restaurants and bars are reopening and many hospitality professionals are going back to work, the recovery for the Bay Area’s restaurant and bar community will continue. We are committed to providing vital lifelines between local farms and hospitality workers in need at our farmers markets through food access programs like CalFresh and Market Match.
Our farmers markets accept CalFresh benefits, which can be doubled for purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables through our Market Match program. You can learn more and apply for CalFresh at GetCalFresh.org. WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) vouchers can be redeemed directly at participating sellers’ stalls. Visit our Info Booth to learn more.
Do you want to support our ongoing community food access programs through programs like Market Match? Please donate here.
Thank you to the many community members and supporters who made Feed Hospitality possible, including Bacardi, Banks Rum, Beam Suntory, Campari Group, Diplomático Rum, El Silencio Mezcal, Fernet Branca, Fords Gin, Grey Goose, Hangar 1 Vodka, Heaven Hill Distillery, Hennessy, Jack Daniels, Lo-Fi Aperitifs, Mezcal Amaras, Plantation Rum, Rémy-Cointreau, Royal Dutch Distillers, Saint Benevolence Rum, San Franpsycho, Sonoma County Distilling, St. George Spirits, USBG SF Chapter, William Grant & Sons, and Woodford Reserve.
Topics: Food access, Programs