Every strawberry, orange, and ear of corn that reaches a San Diego neighbor’s table has a story behind it. Most people picture food donations as canned goods and boxed pasta, but fresh produce is actually one of the biggest parts of what we distribute, and getting it onto shelves takes a year-round, season-by-season strategy.
Here’s a closer look at how it works.
The Numbers Behind the Harvest
To keep a steady supply of healthy food moving, our Food Sourcing team relies on a mix of purchasing and rescuing. During fiscal year 2026, covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026:
- 21,578,541 pounds of produce were purchased this year to fill gaps and ensure consistent variety.
- 3,960,336 pounds were donated, arriving through partnerships with growers, retailers, and community organizations.
Of that donated total, 1,367,902 pounds came directly from retail partners through our Fresh Rescue Program, which recovers wholesome produce that would otherwise go to waste. Altogether, that’s more than 25 million pounds of fresh produce in a single year, all before it’s sorted, and bagged into family-sized portions
Following the Seasons
Rather than sourcing the same items year-round, our team follows the harvest, primarily from California, with additional supply from western Arizona and northern Mexico when demand calls for it. That means what’s on our shelves changes right alongside what’s in season.
- Fall: a great variety of hearty squash, crisp apples, and juicy pears.
- Winter: fresh citrus, from lemons and limes to cara cara oranges, blood oranges, and grapefruit.
- Spring: crisp lettuce, cauliflower, avocados, and sweet melons.
- Summer: sun-ripened peaches, watermelon, corn, mangoes, and grapes.
Following the seasons makes sense logistically and means neighbors get the freshest, best-tasting produce available at any given time of year.
Partners Who Make It Possible
Behind these numbers are real partners showing up, again and again, to make sure good food stays local — or doesn’t go to waste.
This summer, we received a beautiful delivery of strawberries from Chino Farm, a reminder of just how much high-quality, local produce is grown right here in San Diego County. And ProduceGood, a local gleaning organization, recovered more than 17,000 pounds of citrus that may have otherwise never left the tree, connecting backyard and small-farm surplus with neighbors who need it.
From Our Shelves to Local Neighbors’ Tables
Sourcing food is only half the equation. Getting it into the hands of people who need it is the other half. This summer, that includes a partnership with local libraries, which are running free summer meals and take-home food support for children and teens while school is out.
Want to help keep our Food Bank shelves stocked? It all starts with a partner willing to donate, rescue, or grow a little extra. Consider donating unused or surplus product through your business, restaurant, hotel, or other food service industry, or dropping off nonperishable goods at a convenient drop-off site near you.