The Healthy Food Kickstarter Project Awardees
The Kickstarter Team at CSU is delighted to share the following summaries of the food businesses and projects that received funding through the Healthy Food Kickstarter grant program. 187 entities applied for Kickstarter funds, a sign of the growing interest in building local healthy food economies. We wish we could have supported many more of those who applied, and, we hope you agree with us that the funded businesses and projects below are amazing. We are excited to work with each and every one. Please learn about these entities, follow them on social media and go and support them. Learn about the Healthy Food Kickstarter grant program here
Kickstarter New Project Awardees
Alegria Alchemy & Xocolatl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alegria.xocolatl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majikalnature/
Neighborhood: Lincoln Heights
Alegria Alchemy & Xocolatl is the manifestation of its founder Joy’s call to work with Cacao. It
specializes in artisanal raw vegan chocolate (a nourishing food in itself) as a carrier for healthy plant-based ingredients packed with superfoods and high vibrational affirmations and therapeutic/food-grade essential oils. In addition to providing delicious healthy treats this business works to uplift and educate about plant-based options and wellness practices that support mental health wellness with a focus on the nourishing properties of Cacao, which brings feelings of joy to the heart and mind.
Carla’s Fresh Market
Website: https://www.carlasfreshmarket.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlasfreshmarket/
Neighborhood: Highland Park
Carla’s Fresh Market is re-imagining the neighborhood market by combining the convenience of a grocery store with the health and community benefits of a local farmer’s market: offering a mixture of locally sourced and conventional produce, pantry items and freezer staples, healthy and delicious prepared foods and coffee. Carla’s is a vibrant community hub that honors hardworking farmers and food makers while capturing the cultural richness of Los Angeles.
Crenshaw Juice Co. LLC
Website: www.crenshawjuice.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crenshawjuiceco/
Neighborhood: Leimert Park
Capitalizing on the growing need for healthy food post-lockdown, the Crenshaw Juice Company was founded to offer nutritious choices and educate the community about the benefits of fresh cold-pressed juice. Deeply inspired by their community and its residents, Crenshaw Juice Co. is looking to establish a black-owned brick and mortar business in the quickly gentrifying neighborhood of Leimert Park.
Kitchen Class
Website: https://kitchenclassuniver.wixsite.com/kitchen-class
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitchenclassuniversal/
Neighborhood: East LA
Kitchen Class is a chef-driven kitchen offering culinary education and pop-ups. It seeks to bridge the gap between health and availability in the immediate surroundings by incorporating local vendors in food offerings and by engaging in community dialogue to help keep local revenues flowing. We plan on bringing awareness of healthy food options and reasonable availability by joining forces with organizations that are connecting with local communities on a larger scale..
Hank’s Mini Market
Website: https://linktr.ee/HanksMiniMarket
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hanksminimarket
Neighborhood: South Central LA (SCLA)
Hank’s Mini Market, is a family-owned and curated market that has been serving the Hyde Park community of SCLA for 25 years. Recently reinvigorated, the store now provides access to healthy food options, art and safe spaces through its shopping experience, community activations, and partnerships. Our Kickstarter project is a two-pronged plan to increase access to local and sustainable foods. The first is a monthly farm stand in the market’s parking lot, providing free, fresh, seasonal produce to the community while gathering valuable data through a household survey. The second initiative involves piloting a producer network, connecting regional farms, Hank’s Mini Market, and local food retail businesses to create a sustainable loop of food distribution in SCLA.
Kids Art by MoMo, LLC
Neighborhood: South Central LA
Kids Art by MoMo, LLC, is a cultural program that celebrates Black history, girl empowerment and global cultures via kids art. Creating edible kids’ art is a way to introduce global cultures to the SCLA neighborhood. By creating a beautiful street cart and fresh spring rolls, Monique hopes to make raw vegetables appealing, increasing access to healthy foods.
Kreative and Blessed – Shef Sanny’s Kitchen
Website: www.Kabgkitchen.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/shef_sanny/
Neighborhood: South Central Los Angeles
Since the inception of Kreative and Blessed in 2015, Shef Sanny has positioned herself as a private chef, a retreat and event caterer, a pop-up food justice warrior, and a meal prep community partner. Shef Sanny’s Kitchen promotes lifestyle changes around healthy food, food awareness, and education by connecting with the public in genuine caring ways. This current phase of the Kreative and Blessed enterprise is working to expand services into Leimert Park, Exposition Park, La Brea, Inglewood, and Long Beach in hopes of serving the BIPOC community in these areas to increase impact and to serve wholesome meals throughout Los Angeles County.
San Pedro Sourdough
Website: https://www.hotplate.com/sanpedrosourdough
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanpedrosourdough
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanpedrosourdough
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sanpedrosourdough
Neighborhood: Harbor Area
Founded in 2019, San Pedro Sourdough (SPS) is a licensed cottage micro bread bakery and whole grain depot that provides bread, grains and educational opportunities to a wide range of customers, including restaurants, mom-and-pop shops, urban farms and other growers, non-profits and Harbor Area locals. During the pandemic, SPS pivoted from a traditional cottage bread baking operation to co-founding Cast Your Bread South, a small mutual aid organization focused on bread giveaways to communities in need. That experience sparked a shift in perspective toward food justice, access to whole grains and educational opportunities centered on healthy food and disengagement from industrial food production and global supply chain issues. In 2023, SPS expanded into the bread booth, a small retail market stall in the giant hall at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles, a weekend makers market in an historic WW II-era warehouse down by the docks in San Pedro. The bread booth facilitates greater access for all to SPS’s products and services, including fresh sourdough bread, pantry staples, whole grain milling, bread and grain workshops, lectures and guest speakers, access to a community meeting space and ongoing support from the growing community of local breadheads. SPS’s goal is to increase the significant impact that real bread and locally-grown grains have on individuals, community and business.
SoLA Food Co-op
Website: https://www.solafoodcoop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoLAfoodcoop/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solafoodcoop/
Neighborhood: South Central LA
In 2010, Bahni Turpin, the founder of SoLA Food Cooperative, recognized the lack of accessible grocery options in her newly purchased home east of Leimert Park, prompting the vision for a cooperative grocery store that would empower the community. The cooperative model aimed to make residents co-owners and stakeholders in this endeavor, fostering economic empowerment. The vision for the brick-and-mortar grocery store was refined through community meetings, cooperative conferences, and a shared commitment to addressing the issues of living in a food desert. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, SoLA Food Coop adapted by launching a contactless pop-up market, selling locally sourced organic goods. As they work towards establishing a permanent store, monthly food boxes are provided to members and the community, aligning with their mission to offer accessible and healthy food options in South Los Angeles.
Stars/Lake Avenue Community Foundation Inc
Website: https://gostars.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gostars.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.comgostars_org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stars-educate-illuminate-advocate
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Stars’ overarching goal is to break generational cycles of poverty by ensuring every child receives the benefits of a quality education. Acknowledging the additional challenges faced by low-income families of color, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stars initiated a food distribution project to address immediate needs. The project evolved into a permanent service, forming part of the Wellness Program that includes nutrition education, mindfulness, social-emotional and physical/recreational support for children, mental health counseling, and rent/utility assistance in dire circumstances. The culturally sensitive weekly food distribution program provides a holistic approach, offering balanced meal ingredients, recipes/recipe sharing, nutritional information, and educational materials. With proven success in the immediate community, Stars aims to expand its services by partnering with Pasadena Church to reach more families in LA County’s designated high COVID-19 risk population.
Super Salads to Go (Nobe’s Moblie Farmers Market)
Website: https://nobespbfoods.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolaPeacePrograms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Nobes_PB_Foods
Neighborhood: Compton
Nobe’s Mobile Farmers Market is a concept born out of the desire to reach a broader audience and make a significant impact. Drawing on over two decades of experience in farmers markets, including selling products and managing markets for a prominent non-profit, Synovia Jones established a strong presence in the farmers market community. Leveraging her extensive network, Jones has gained the support of local farmers who endorse the project, allowing her to obtain produce at a substantial discount. This, in turn, enables her to pass on these savings to the community and increase access to healthy foods.
Thai Community Development Center
Website: https://thaicdc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThaiCDC/
https://www.facebook.com/EHFarmersMkt/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaicdc
https://www.instagram.com/ehfarmersmkt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThaiCDC
https://twitter.com/EHFarmersMkt
Neighborhood: East Hollywood
In 2006, Thai CDC conducted a health risk assessment in East Hollywood, revealing high rates of diabetes and obesity. In response, the East Hollywood Certified Farmers’ Market (EHCFM) was established in 2012 to enhance access to fresh, locally grown produce, address food insecurity, and promote healthy behaviors in low-income communities. EHCFM offers public benefits enrolment and WIC and CalFresh Market Match Programs. Seeking to broaden its impact, Thai CDC is working to launch a new farmers’ market at the Santa Monica and Vermont Metro station, part of a larger mixed-use development. This expansion aims to further increase access to fresh produce in East Hollywood, especially in the face of heightened financial hardship and food insecurity during the ongoing pandemic.
The Plant Plug
Website: https://plantpluglosangeles.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplantplugla
Neighborhood: South Central Los Angeles (SCLA)
Founded in 2019 on her parent’s back porch, The Plant Plug emerged from Taylor Lindsey’s recognition of the importance of growing organic food from seed. Starting with a focus on family, the initiative expanded to share the experience with friends and the community. The inspiration behind The Plant Plug was the lack of access to green spaces, gardens, and plant education in SCLA. Motivated by the positive response from the community and online audience, Taylor’s intention to expand is fuelled by the desire to provide education and materials for growing healthy, fresh, and organic food, addressing a vital need in the community.
World Food Distribution, LLC
Neighborhood: Koreatown
World Food Distribution LLC, initially Revolutionario North African Tacos, pivoted to community service during the pandemic, providing culturally relevant meals in low-income communities of color. Facing challenges with kitchen access, the current push for expansion is fuelled by the need for a sustainable operating model. With consistent food donations secured, a commercially licensed kitchen is essential for food preparation. The timing aligns with systemic changes in food distribution, capitalizing on innovations prompted by the pandemic. The focus is on serving niches overlooked by existing programs, particularly providing culturally relevant meals for low-income BIPOC seniors.
Kickstarter Expansion Project Awardees
ALMA Backyard Farms
Website: https://www.almabackyardfarms.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almabackyardfarms/
Neighborhood: Compton
ALMA Backyard Farms, established in 2013, is dedicated to reclaiming lives of formerly incarcerated individuals, repurposing land into organic urban farms, and fostering thriving communities. Based in Compton, the project focuses on three core programs: a Farm Stand Social Enterprise distributing nutritious food, Peas-In-A-Pod Farm Education providing onsite farm education for youth and families, and Job Training offering urban agriculture training for those formerly incarcerated. The Farm Stand serves 400+ families bi-weekly with a pay-what-you-can model, creates jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals, and collaborates with local artists, chefs, and growers. ALMA aims to address food insecurity and systemic challenges by utilizing organic urban agriculture and promoting equitable employment, contributing to restoration, dignity, and community building.
Avenue 33 Farm
Website: www.ave33farm.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ave33farm
Neighborhood: Lincoln Heights
Established in 2018, Avenue 33 Farm has been actively engaged in building a sustainable business while collaborating with mutual aid organizations and schools in Los Angeles. In 2021 we partnered with Los Angeles Leadership Academy (LALA) to manage its school farm space, provide educational opportunities in collaboration with its faculty, after school programming for students, volunteer opportunities for the community, and operate a free produce distribution for the school families and community. In February 2023, Avenue 33 Farm launched an EBT Farm Stand, selling fresh produce boxes with incentive funds catering to CalFresh users. With an average of 30 to 40 households served weekly, the farm stand operates on the LALA campus but aims to expand its mobile food operation to other locations in Lincoln Heights, addressing barriers like the cost of fresh food and transportation. Another 100 families are served weekly by a free food distribution. Motivated by a passion for farming and a commitment to fostering community-based food systems, Avenue 33 Farm seeks to increase access to healthy food, raise awareness of alternative food provision methods, and bridge knowledge gaps related to community-supported agriculture in urban spaces.
El Sereno Greengrocer
Website: https://www.elserenogreengrocer.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elserenogreengrocer/
Neighborhood: El Sereno
El Sereno Greengrocer, incubated over the past two years, emerged from a local community garden’s commitment to providing nutritious food to its neighborhood. Initially rooted in volunteering and learning sustainable farming practices, the project expanded in 2020 to address the community’s limited access to nutrient-rich foods which was exacerbated by the pandemic and housing affordability challenges. Recognizing the need for a local grocery store, El Sereno Greengrocer aims to create a sustainable structure that offers culturally relevant, affordable, and ethically sourced produce, meeting the community’s demand for fresh and healthy food.
GrowGood, Inc
Website: https://www.grow-good.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow_good
Neighborhood: Bell
GrowGood is a nonprofit employment social enterprise based in Southeast Los Angeles. Since 2011, GrowGood has been working at the intersection of food justice, environmental sustainability, holistic wellness, and job readiness by using urban agriculture to provide access to high-quality produce, jobs, skills training, and nature-based mindfulness programs for the surrounding community. GrowGood operates a 1.5-acre regenerative urban farm adjacent to The Salvation Army’s Bell Shelter, the largest homeless shelter in the US. Each year, GrowGood donates over 27,000 pounds of nutrient-dense, organic produce to the Bell Shelter’s kitchen and Permanent Supportive Housing Residents. In addition to growing food, GrowGood operates a workforce development program, the Urban Agriculture Training Program, for individuals with high barriers to employment that uses the farm as a vehicle for jobs and skills training. Beyond food, GrowGood has developed a mindfulness-based ecotherapy program, Food for Life, to engage participants in the healing powers of nature. With plans to more than double our annual budget, GrowGood seeks to expand its vital programs, including more transitional employment and job training initiatives, to fully meet the needs of the population served by the Bell Shelter and neighboring community, especially in the post-COVID era where the demand for food, jobs, and community support is higher than ever.
Heart of Ida
Website: www.heartofida.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartofida
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofida
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theheartofida
Neighborhood: Long Beach
In 2020, Heart of IDA adapted to address the immediate food needs of seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. By partnering with Farmer Kelli of the Harbor Area Farmers Markets we were able to provide fresh food boxes to low-income seniors in Long Beach. After transitioning to the Essential Needs Pantry, Heart of Ida provided canned and boxed food, personal hygiene products, and grocery gift cards for the seniors of the community. The organization now aims to expand this pantry to include fresh and local produce again, while reintroducing the Farmers Market program from 2020/21.
Hunger Action LA
Website: www.hungeractionla.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HungerActionLA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungeractionla
Neighborhood: Central LA (Koreatown, South Central, Echo Park, East Hollywood)
Hunger Action Los Angeles’ (HALA) Food Distribution Program originated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By mobilizing a core group of community members we were able to identify and assist homebound individuals in need of food. Starting with seven households in March 2020, the program rapidly expanded to over 60 households within a month and by the end of May the distribution program was reaching more than 100 households weekly in Koreatown, South LA, and beyond. As the program grew, it became apparent that it was serving a need that extended beyond COVID and homebound persons. HALA’s unique connections with the blind and low-vision community, coupled with its active engagement in legislative advocacy, set it apart from conventional food pantries. To enhance its impact, as it has become more difficult to recruit volunteers, HALA identified the need for a full-time food distribution director to improve sourcing, volunteer recruitment, and funding. Additionally, the program aims to broaden its offerings by leveraging connections with farmers for ongoing donations.
Kathy’s Kitchen
Website: https://linktr.ee/kathyskitchenla
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kathyskitchenla/
Neighborhood: South LA
Founded in 2018 as a healthy juice company by Kathy Alston, Kathy’s Kitchen has evolved into a Healthy Neighborhood Market dedicated to combating food insecurity in her Los Angeles community. Offering farm-fresh local organic produce, organic fresh juices and smoothies, and healthy meals with vegan options, Kathy’s Kitchen addresses the critical need for nutritious food in the community. Inspired by personal experiences as a new mother and the prevalence of diet-related illnesses in the black community, Kathy emphasizes education on health and healthy food options. With a foundation established, Kathy’s Kitchen is expanding to deepen its impact on food security, health education, and community well-being.
Kulcha Flavaz
Website: https://www.kulchaflavaz.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kulchaflavaz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kulchaflavaz
Neighborhood: South Central Los Angeles
Kulcha Flavaz, founded by Chef Karim Mejia at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerged as a successful pop-up food vendor business offering healthy and flavorful dishes using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Despite its challenges, the business has garnered a loyal customer base that appreciates its commitment to healthy eating with Afro-Caribbean/Belizean Garifuna cuisine. As my business grows, the vision is to expand operations with the acquisition of a food truck, enabling greater access and reaching a wider audience throughout the Los Angeles Area.
Straight Up Fast Foods
Website: www.straightupfastfoodla.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StraightUpFastFood
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StraightUpFastFood
Neighborhood: South Central Los Angeles (SCLA)
Straight Up Fast Food, established in June 2019, addresses the lack of healthy food options in SCLA. Inspired by the founders’ commitment to eating healthy since 2013 and the absence of accessible organic produce in the area, the business focuses on providing quality organic smoothies, juices, and acai bowls to the community. Motivated by a proactive mindset and influenced by experiences at Whole Foods and vegan restaurants, the founder aims to expand the initiative in response to the increasing demand for healthier food options, aligning with the growing awareness of nutrition and community integration.
Urban Comfort Foods
Website: www.urbancomfortfoods.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbancomfortfoods
Neighborhood: South Central Los Angeles
Urban Comfort Foods (UCF), a food service company based in SCLA, is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable meals, nutrition education, and local job opportunities in historically impacted communities. Founded in October 2019, UCF has already made significant strides, securing contracts to provide over 150,000 meals to vulnerable populations. The organization not only offers food services but also conducts virtual healthy cooking classes and a food handler’s training program, addressing the culinary aspirations of South LA opportunity youth. UCF’s expansion plan involves transitioning into a brick-and-mortar space, collaborating with Concerned Citizens Community Involvement (CCCI) to offer scaled pricing for gourmet family-style meals and supporting workforce development and Black business resiliency programs.
Venice Family Clinic
Website: www.venicefamilyclinic.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/venicefamilyclinic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venicefamilyclinic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/venicefamclinic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venice-family-clinic
Neighborhood: Gardena
Venice Family Clinic launched the Free Food Market in 2019 in partnership with local non-profit Food Forward. Over time the Market has evolved into a vital community resource, providing over 1.3 million pounds of food in the 2022 fiscal year and serving an average of 1,500 individuals weekly. As a trusted healthcare resource, the Venice Family Clinic embraces the concept of food as medicine, addressing not only nutritional needs but also offering guidance on using the provided foods and managing budgets for healthy eating. With a commitment to equitable access, the Clinic aims to use The Healthy Food Kickstarter fund grants to extend its impact by establishing a regular distribution at its Gardena location in hopes of addressing gaps in resource distribution.
Kickstarter Expansion with Construction Project Awardees
Community Outreach Center
Website: http://communityoutreachfoodbank.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Community-Outreach-Center
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/half.price.food/
Neighborhood: Sun Valley
The Community Outreach Center, operational for over a decade, serves as a multifaceted facility in Sun Valley, encompassing a food bank, low-cost market, community kitchen-café, and hosting social projects like the “Soup with Love” homeless feeding initiative. Functioning as a market-style food pantry, it offers healthy, sustainable food at discounted prices by rescuing food from supermarkets. The facility, designed like a regular grocery store, aims to provide a dignified and affordable shopping experience for its diverse clientele, including low-income, houseless, and immigrant populations. Future plans involve maintaining the low-cost food market, reopening the cafe, and continuing to support those in need.
Community Partners 4 Innovation
Website: https://www.lopezurbanfarm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lopezurbanfarm
Neighborhood: Pomona
Community Partners 4 Innovation (CP4I), founded in 2014, is dedicated to fostering partnerships for greater wholeness, sustainability, and empowerment in South Pomona. One of its ongoing projects, Lopez Urban Farm, serves as a centralized food access destination, offering various community resources such as El Puesticito Market, Bodega Comunitaria, and the Evergreen Equal-Access market. Because the organization has seen a 100% increase in the number of individuals and families seeking food access and assistance, CP4I aims to expand its projects to support the unhoused community and individuals impacted by food insecurity, contributing to improved food accessibility, health, and poverty alleviation in the community.
Cruzita’s Deli and Cafe
Website: www.cruzitasdeliandcafe.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cruzitasdeliandcafe/
Neighborhood: Huntington Park
Cruzita’s Deli and Cafe, co-founded in 2015 in Huntington Park, was born out of a commitment to combat food apartheid and health disparities in the community. Despite financial constraints, the establishment has become a vital community hub, offering services like free food distribution, mutual aid initiatives, clothing swaps, art shows, and literacy programs. Looking ahead, Cruzita’s aims to expand its impact, continuing to provide wholesome, affordable food and fostering a sense of community while addressing systemic issues related to poverty and health in Huntington Park.
Eastmont Community Center
Website: http://www.eastmontcommunitycenter.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastmontCC
https://www.facebook.com/Eastlafm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastmontcc_/
Neighborhood: East LA
Eastmont Community Center, with a history spanning 55 years, has recently undergone renovations to transform its recreation room into a client-choice food pantry, equipped with commercial freezers and refrigerators. Having distributed over 250,000 pounds of food annually since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the center aims to continue its innovative approach by repurposing its space further. Plans include redesigning the community kitchen to offer hot meals, prioritizing seniors, adults with disabilities, parents with children, and the unhoused, while exploring the development of a social enterprise through the creation of a café that employs older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Gu Grocery LLC
Website: www.gu-grocery.us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gu_grocery
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Gu Grocery, founded in 2021 after the closure of the last full-service grocery store in Chinatown, aims to address food insecurity in Chinatown by providing healthy food options, particularly focusing on the needs of low-income individuals, families and the elderly. Inspired by her heritage, Jessica Wang, alongside her Taiwanese-born mother Peggy, rewrites traditional Chinese recipes with a California twist, preserving family traditions through the diasporic experience. The urgency to expand arises from a pending lease opportunity, the pressing need for more healthy food access in Chinatown, and the readiness for growth. The envisioned brick-and-mortar store will accept EBT, host regular free food distributions, and offer fresh ingredients, shelf stable foods, ready to eat meals, and proximity to seniors traveling by foot.
People’s Cafe
Website: www.sinfronteras1312.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peoples_cafe1312
Neighborhood: El Monte
The Peoples Café at the Memories of El Monte Community Arts Space (MEM) is a multifaceted community hub addressing food insecurity and providing educational resources on holistic wellness. Prioritizing environmental justice, the project focuses on sustainable agriculture, reintroducing Native foods to combat hunger, and promoting healthy eating through education and advocacy. Established amid the pandemic, MEM initially provided emergency support for vulnerable populations and evolved into a brick-and-mortar location offering various services and arts programming ranging from biweekly food distributions, clothing swaps, art workshops and music lessons. To ensure economic sustainability, the plan is to expand the art space to include a hybrid soup kitchen and coffee shop and acquire a mobile food truck.
Rosie’s Ranch
Website: https://rosiesranch.farm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rmcnlf/
Neighborhood: Watts
The Rosie Mae Cooper New Life Foundation, founded by disabled US Navy veteran Ronald J. Cooper, is dedicated to supporting unhoused veterans and individuals dealing with mental health challenges. Inspired by his mother’s compassion, Cooper aims to pay it forward by establishing a farm in 2023. The farm will empower those the foundation serves to cultivate and harvest fresh produce, which will be sold through a mobile farmers market in food deserts, starting in South Central Los Angeles. The foundation’s plan also includes hosting educational events to promote healthy food choices and combat food insecurity in underserved communities.
Prosperity Market
Website: http://www.prosperitymarketla.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prosperity.market
Neighborhood: Central LA
Prosperity Market, founded in 2020 by Carmen Dianne & Kara Still, operates as a Farmers’ Market on wheels and a food truck, spotlighting Black farmers, food producers, and chefs. The mobile market, launched in 2023, aims to address food insecurity and create economic impact by bringing healthy, Black-owned products directly to underserved communities in Los Angeles. Recognizing the limited representation of Black-owned grocery stores and the challenges faced by Black farmers, Prosperity Market seeks to combat food deserts, promote long-term healthy habits, and exemplify sustainability in the local food system. Through pop-up markets, an online marketplace, and various events, the project is actively working towards fostering economic opportunities and food access for marginalized communities.
