The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network is asking for donations to support our local food system this holiday season.

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network is finishing off the year with an emphasis on local food and local farming

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) elevates food actions of individuals, organizations, and enterprises to further its purpose through storytelling and outreach. The Local Food Action video series highlights community collaboration and response to external shocks, showcasing local businesses and products, educating and growing local food networks and support structures. The activation of Food Action Plan goals through the lenses of local farms and food will be shared as an inspirational travelogue of who the Network is, what they do, and how they ultimately contribute to building a resilient food system.

SBCFAN will release its second video in the series, titled Local Farms & Local Food, Monday, November 30th. The story is told through the lens of a dry-farmed vineyard and olive farm in Northern Santa Barbara County and their efforts around regenerative agriculture and relocalizing food within the Cuyama Valley. The video will be located on SBCFAN’s website: sbcfoodaction.org.

SBCFAN is also hosting its third webinar as part of the organization’s ongoing Community Food and Farming Discussion Series, titled Local Farms & Local Food. On Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at 3:30pmm, panelists will address issues including: how do we (and how can we better) support local food production and cultivate localized food infrastructure and distribution within our county? The panel will include representatives from Condor’s Hope (the featured farm in the Local Farms & Local Food video), Growing the Table Initiative, Barbareño Restaurant, Cuyama Lamb, Tutti Frutti Farms, and Healing Grounds Nursery. Click here for webinar details and the link to register.

CALLING FOR PPE DONATIONS

As part of the SBCFAN’s role in advocating for our local food system workers, SBCFAN is calling for PPE donations for the county’s local farmworkers. Santa Barbara County’s Farmworker Working Group, part of the Latinx & Indigenous Migrant COVID-19 Response Task Force, is a local network comprised of various organizations and agricultural workers throughout North and Mid County: Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) , CAUSE, SBC Department of Public Health, and Family Services Agency, among others. Working to help reduce the spread of the pandemic amongst SBC’s local farmworkers, they are in need of additional PPE for essential workers.

Donations including face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves and/or Clorox/disinfectant wipes, are encouraged to be dropped at:

MICOP, 108 S. Pine St., Santa Maria, CA 93458

PPE will be distributed as needed by the Farmworker Working Group.

About Santa Barbara County Food Action Network

Santa Barbara County Food Action Network connects, aligns, and activates food system change makers to develop a robust local food economy; a healthy and just community; and a well-stewarded, resilient foodshed. Learn more at SBCFoodAction.org and find SBCFAN on Facebook.com/SBCFoodAction and Instagram.com/SBCFoodAction.

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Plan is a community-driven strategic plan that assesses and provides recommendations for how we grow, distribute, consume, and dispose of food. In 2019 the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network formed to support efforts to advance the goals of this Countywide plan.

About Santa Barbara Foundation

The Santa Barbara Foundation, the largest community foundation in the region and the county’s go-to resource for investment and capacity-building, strives to mobilize and elevate all residents to thrive. The Santa Barbara Foundation and Foodbank of Santa Barbara County serve on the Executive Committee for SBCFAN and work closely with Network partners to advance the common goal of building a resilient local food system. Nearly every Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization and essential community project has been supported by the Foundation during its 92-year history.

The Foundation is working to improve areas that affect quality of life in Santa Barbara County including child care, workforce development, and workforce housing. The Foundation connects those who give with those in need – and all who dream of stronger communities. To learn more, please visit SBFoundation.org.