ABOUT US
Foodshed works directly with farmers, eaters, and entrepreneurs to cultivate an equitable food system in San Diego while addressing the challenges posed by the climate crisis.
Founded in March 2020, Foodshed increases access to healthy food, addresses food insecurity in low-income communities, and empowers small farms to produce quality harvests.
To bring healthy, nutritious, and affordable produce to local families, Foodshed connects its network of small and urban regenerative farms directly to communities that need it most.
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Foodshed sustains communities by meeting people where they are at and works tirelessly to build and sustain healthy families. All families should have access to healthy food options. Foodshed connects local farmers with local communities to provide families with clear pathways to healthy, nutritious and affordable fruits and vegetables. And the impact on the local economy would be huge: if we spent only 5% of our food budget on locally grown products, we could sustain approximately 6,000 small farms. These purchases would, in turn, have an additional $2.7 billion economic multiplier effect to recirculate in our communities.
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Foodshed is working directly with farmers to build thriving farms that produce quality food that is good for the people and the environment, by developing a mutual aid support network to empower local BIPOC, new and seasoned farmers to farm regeneratively. Foodshed is cultivating economic viability by cooperating with farmers and creating a multi-faceted support network that is committed to fighting climate change, using the concept of carbon farming and regenerative agriculture practices to restore and rehabilitate the approach to food and farming systems. This approach could allow farms to offset 100% their GHG emission.
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Foodshed is teaming up with farmers, eaters and the community to invest in a healthy, food secure future for all San Diegans. Through community outreach and education, Foodshed is encouraging community members to take an active role in the development of an equitable food system while simultaneously fighting climate change through controlling what they put onto their plates and into their stomachs. Foodshed farmers and community members are raising their voices and their forks to bring positive social change to our shared communities. Every bite you take has a personal impact on your health and a political impact on your community.
Foodshed is a movement, an opportunity for meaningful change, and a hope for a healthier future.
We are a farmer-owned and operated cooperative. Across the modern food system, fewer than 15-cents per “food dollar” is actually paid to the farmers who grow our food. The rest is spent on packaging, marketing, transportation, and retail – concentrating wealth within corporations rather than communities.
Foodshed is changing this paradigm through three strategies: 80% of each “food dollar” spent at Foodshed goes to the farmer ($.80/dollar). 5% of all sales go towards regenerative agriculture research and project implementation ($.05/dollar). If any profit is earned on the remaining 15% that stays within Foodshed, it is paid back to farmers through profit sharing at the end of each year ($.15/dollar). We support these strategies with grassroots donations and grants from private foundations or local/state/tribal/federal governments that help to offset costs like planning, infrastructure, and farmer-to-farmer mentorship.
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Every bite you take has a personal impact on your health and a political impact on your community. Foodshed is giving you the opportunity to make a positive contribution to both with every bite you take!
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Every dollar you donate has a triple bounce – first supporting a Foodshed farmer, then a person in need, and finally, re-circulating within our local economy. Plus, 5% of all profits are dedicated to on-farm regenerative agriculture research and project implementation.
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Are you a farmer who would like to sell to Foodshed? Or, are you interested in learning more about regenerative agriculture or carbon sink farming?
POINTS OF UNITY
Farmer-owned. Foodshed is a California Cooperative controlled by members who must be owners of an independent, commercial farm business and/or employees of the cooperative. We cooperate to produce, harvest and distribute our fruits, vegetables, and value-added products in a way that enhances the viability of our independent operations and builds equity through increased ownership of the local food supply chain.
Cooperatively operated. Foodshed farmers are committed to the success of each other’s farm businesses. Towards that end, we increase our potential to cooperatively purchase and share equipment, collaborate on an annual crop plan,, collectively seek technical assistance and public/private investment, and work together to enhance our regenerative farming practices.
Regenerating Agri-culture. Foodshed invests in farmer-led research and implementation projects that regenerate soil and integrate traditional ecological knowledge.
Fostering Interdependence. Creating Foodshed was our strategy to offset the worst impacts of the impending climate crisis. We must act now to reduce our dependence on oppressive and harmful systems and co-create livelihoods based on interdependence.
Committed to equity. Foodshed prioritizes purchasing from BIPoC farmers and distributing to underserved communities. We are committed to equity in our leadership and will always have a majority BIPoC as shareholders and employees.
Uplift Beginning Farmers. A healthy future depends on a diversity of new stewards launching successful farm businesses. Foodshed is committed to supporting, purchasing from and learning alongside beginning farmers.