Sen. Blakespear Honors ProduceGood as 38th Senate District Nonprofit of the Year
SACRAMENTO – Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, honored ProduceGood as the Senate District 38 Nonprofit of the Year for 2024 at a Capitol ceremony on Wednesday.
ProduceGood has been fighting hunger in San Diego County since 2014. The organization recruits backyard growers‚ farmers markets and grocery retailers to create an outlet for surplus produce that feeds individuals and families struggling with hunger. ProduceGood engages in gleaning, which is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields and orchards after they have been commercially harvested or when it is not economically profitable to harvest.
“I have co-hosted two gleaning events with ProduceGood and I was impressed with all the volunteers who showed up and with the amount we were able to harvest for people who need food,” Sen. Blakespear said. “I thank ProduceGood for its outstanding efforts to attack hunger and get the most out of food that is already been grown or produced. This is a great way to make sure food does not go to waste and to help food-insecure families.”
Along with its gleaning events‚ the organization also works to educate the public and raise awareness about food waste prevention. You can go here to sign up as a volunteer and participate in a ProduceGood harvest.
“ProduceGood’s mission is to reduce food waste and hunger by engaging the community,” said Alexandra White, ProduceGood co-founder and co-executive director. “Through the service of 4‚000 volunteers and a network of over 90 hunger relief partners‚ ProduceGood has supplied 5 million servings of fresh produce to benefit those facing food-insecurity in San Diego County. We are deeply humbled to be recognized by Senator Catherine Blakespear as a 2024 Nonprofit of the Year.”
White joined Nita Kurmins Gilson, ProduceGood co-founder and co-executive director, and Sen. Blakespear for a luncheon held on the Capitol grounds to honor nonprofits.
The Californian Nonprofit of the Year initiative provides the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing excellent work in their district.
The program is sponsored by the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) in partnership with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits is a statewide alliance of over 10‚000 members that celebrates nonprofits and the work they do.
In 2023, Sen. Blakespear selected the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy (SDRVC) as the District 38 Nonprofit of the Year.
Elected in 2022, Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers northern coastal San Diego County and part of southern Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.
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