Compton’s Alma Backyard Farms hosts L.A. County’s food grantee event

Event in Compton celebrates 46 nonprofits working to provide BIPOC communities with more equitable access to nutritious and affordable food

Nearly three dozen community-based groups convened at Alma Backyard Farms in Compton to celebrate receiving federally funded L.A. County grants to ease food insecurity in our region’s most vulnerable communities.

The $9.6 million in grants will fund a wide array of food-related work conducted by local nonprofits to improve access to nutritious and affordable food in communities of color and immigrant populations. The funds have been made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, which earmark nearly $1.9 billion for Los Angeles’ post-pandemic recovery efforts.

Roughly 1 in 3 County residents experienced food insecurity last year, meaning that they had insufficient access to a sufficient quantity of healthy food to feed themselves or their family. Brown and Black residents have disproportionately higher food insecurity rates, nearly 2 to 1 compared to White residents.

Food insecurity can lead to a number of poor health outcomes that disproportionately affect BIPOC residents, such as diabetes and obesity. Decreased academic and work performance has also been linked to food insecurity, studies show.

The grantees will help fulfill ambitious recommendations laid out in the newly released Los Angeles Food Equity Roundtable Action Plan. The Roundtable, a private-public partnership of government, philanthropy and local nonprofits, seeks to fundamentally transform our region’s disconnected food system to better meet the needs of disadvantaged communities.

“The County has a responsibility to act as a safety net for our most vulnerable communities, who disproportionately suffer from food insecurity,” said L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who helped create the Food Equity Roundtable. “This new round of funding marks an important first step in bringing the Roundtable’s Action Plan to life and helping those most in need.”

Food production organizations supported reflect a wide range of diversity, from ALMA Backyard Farms’ urban agriculture programs in Compton to Street Company’s efforts to better feed the homeless in Lancaster through indoor hydroponic farming.

Food access groups receiving funds include Prosperity Markets, a one-of-a-kind Black farmers market and commerce hub for Black food producers and chefs, and Special Services for Groups/Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement, which supports BIPOC farmers by creating better markets for culturally relevant crops like cassava and taro.