Food to Share is a community food partnership that provides unique opportunities to address both food insecurity and environmental solutions. This project, inspired by the Fresno State Food Recovery Network model, will increase access and availability of nutritious food to underserved communities in Fresno County. Additionally, the project will make significant contributions to the improvement of regional air quality, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging waste diversion from landfills for renewable energy production in collaboration with Colony Energy and Caglia Environmental.

Fresno is the 5th most food insecure city in the United States. Metro’s Homegrown Health works to reinforce our local food system and increase access to fresh, healthy produce, by educating and supporting communities in the urban production of vegetables in backyards, community gardens and urban farms; through culinary and nutrition education; and the promotion of food based entrepreneurial development. Metro believes that a strong and healthy food system is a foundational component to healthy people and healthy places.

Metro serves as the facilitating organization of the CalFresh and EBT Advocacy Taskforce, which is made up of roughly 40 agencies in Fresno County. The Taskforce meets bi-monthly to share and explore best practices to raise awareness of hunger issues and CalFresh and Nutrition Education outreach. The Fresno County Department of Social Services representative provides guidance and coordination of local and state food policies advocacy, as well as keeps the Taskforce abreast of county policy changes, rules, regulations and resources. As advocates, one of our primary goals is to bring food resources to the under-served and un-served populations in both urban and rural areas of Fresno County.