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Food Recovery for Equity, Sustainability, and Health
(FRESH SGV)

FRESH SGV optimizes the recovery of surplus edible food in the San Gabriel Valley to decrease food waste, address food insecurity, and support Cities' compliance with state mandates. 

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, one-third of the U.S. food supply goes to waste. Food waste recovery organization, ReFED, estimates that food waste emissions from landfills are equivalent to that of 72 coal-burning power plants. 

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The passage of Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) in September 2016 imposed statewide targets to reduce the disposal of organic waste by 75% by January 1, 2025 (based on 2014 levels) and recover at least 20% of currently disposed edible food for human consumption by 2025. The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) finalized and adopted SB 1383 guidelines in November 2020 with the approval of the Office of Administrative Law.

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As a result, the SGVCOG launched the San Gabriel Valley Regional Food Recovery Program on September 29, 2021 to support member agencies to comply with SB 1383's food recovery mandates and significantly reduce food waste in the San Gabriel Valley. Known as one of the largest regional food recovery programs in California, this Program includes assessing commercial edible food waste generators, identifying and fostering partnerships with local food recovery organizations, implementing outreach and education endeavors, and developing and implementing inspection protocols. 

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The SGVCOG is currently moving into Phase 2 of the SGV Regional Food Recovery Program. This expansion seeks to establish subregional food recovery hubs, increase the region’s food recovery capacity and infrastructure, and to continue to conduct outreach efforts to edible food waste generators, food recovery organizations, and residents about SB 1383 regulations. 

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For questions, please reach out to Mackenzie Bolger, Senior Management Analyst (mbolger@sgvcog.org). 

About
Cities

PARTICIPATING CITIES

Participating cities for the Program's capacity assessment include:

Alhambra

Azusa

Covina

Duarte

Glendora

Irwindale

La Canada Flintridge

Monrovia

Monterey Park

Pomona

San Marino

South Pasadena 

Temple City

Walnut

Participating cities for the Program's inspection and/or hub development components include:

Arcadia

Azusa

Baldwin Park

Covina

Duarte

Glendora

Irwindale

La Canada Flintridge

Monrovia

Monterey Park

Pomona

Rosemead

San Gabriel

South Pasadena 

Temple City

West Covina

Resources

SUB-REGIONAL FOOD RECOVERY HUBS

FRESH SGV has provided grant funding to  three local nonprofits to serve as sub-regional food recovery hubs. Hubs collect surplus food from grocery stores and restaurants and redistribute it to smaller food banks, food pantries, or directly to the community to reduce food waste and food insecurity in our community.

 

Each hub serves a subregion within the San Gabriel Valley. The subregional hubs, their service areas, and their contact information are listed below.

 

If you are grocery store, restaurant, or other edible food generator that would like to coordinate a donation, or if you are a smaller food back wanting to work with one of the hubs, please contact the appropriate hub below.

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Hubs
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Foothill Unity Center, Inc.

Service Area: Baldwin Park, Duarte, Irwindale, La Cañada-Flintridge, and Monrovia

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Contact:

roger@foothillunitycenter.org

(626) 650-1268

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God's Pantry

Service Area: Azusa, Covina, Glendora, and Pomona

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Contact:

goose@gods-pantry.org

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Heart of Compassion Distribution

Service Area: Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, and South El Monte

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Contact:

info@heartofcompassionca.org

(323) 727-7997

Healthy Refrigeration Grant Project

In 2024, SGVCOG received funding from the California Department of Food and Agricultire to fund energy efficient refrigeration units for food recovery organizations and food pantries in low-income/low-access areas of the San Gabriel Valley. If your organization is interested in receiving one of these fridges, click the link below to see eligibility criteria and application process. Funding is limited and on a first-come first-serve basis, priority deadline is December 15th. Email sakin@sgvcog.org with questions.

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EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

New events coming soon!

PAST  EVENTS

FROM KITCHEN TO COMMUNITY:
RECOVERING PREPARED FOOD

February 15th, 2024

HARVESTING CONNECTIONS: BUILDING FOOD RECOVERY RELATIONSHIPS
October 12, 2023

Events
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