CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS

FOOD DISTRIBUTIONIN 2023, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH AGRICULTURAL PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE TO SUPPLY MORE THAN 270 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO FOOD BANKS. THIS INCLUDED MORE THAN 265 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND 5 MILLION POUNDS OF HIGH-QUALITY PROTEINS AND PANTRY ESSENTIALS TO KEEP FOOD BANKS STOCKED DURING THE UNPRECEDENTED HUNGER CRISIS. THE ORGANIZATION'S FARM TO FAMILY OPERATION IS THE STATE'S MOST EXTENSIVE CHARITABLE FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM, WORKING WITH A NETWORK OF OVER TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY FARMS AND AGGREGATORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. CAFB'S FARM TO FAMILY PROGRAM OPERATES ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS FROM ITS FUNDERS AND FLOATS THE FOOD AND FREIGHT COSTS OF ITS MEMBERSHIP, REQUIRING THE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS OF CASH ON HAND.IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED A STUDY THAT IDENTIFIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE 30% MORE PRODUCE AND HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS PROTEINS TO FOOD BANKS SERVING CALIFORNIA'S RURAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES. YEAR ONE OF THE PILOT PROJECT MET THIS MILESTONE AND TWO YEAR PROGRAM IS ON TRACK TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

PROGRAMSCALFRESH IS CALIFORNIA'S NAME FOR SNAP(FORMERLY "FOOD STAMPS"), RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. THE ORGANIZATION'S CALFRESH OUTREACH PROGRAM SUPPORTS OVER FIFTY COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ENROLL ELIGIBLE CALIFORNIANS, HELP THEM KEEP THEIR BENEFITS,AND EDUCATE THE OUTREACH AND STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY. IN 2023, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS OUTREACH EFFORTS TO INCLUDE DISASTER CALFRESH AND PANDEMIC EBT UNTIL THE PROGRAMS CONCLUDED. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TRAINING AND PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT, PROVIDING UPDATES ON POLICIES IMPACTING CALFRESH ACCESS AND ELIGIBILITY, AND WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE ACCESS BY TRANSLATING AND REVIEWING MATERIALS.