PROGRAMS :: Growers' Collaborative

Growers' Collaborative

What We Do:

The Growers' Collaborative sells local fruits and vegetables from family farms to public and private grade schools, colleges, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias. By aggregating product from farms that are too small to work with conventional distributors, the Growers Collaborative removes a significant marketing barrier for independent family farms across the state. Currently, the Growers' Collaborative serves growers and institutions in Ventura, Greater Los Angeles, the Central Coast, and the Sacramento Valley.

The Growers' Collaborative works to promote social justice by placing a priority on working with a range of farmers from different cultural and regional contexts and by creating access to fresh fruits and vegetables in low-income communities and schools.

Forming a strong relationship between farmer and customer is important to us and ensures the highest quality and safest produce available. Our online purchasing system makes it easy for customers to plan for the coming week's produce needs and provides up to date information about what produce is fresh and available along with a glimpse of the farm that is growing it. Our company is licensed by the California Department of Agriculture to distribute produce and holds umbrella liability insurance for all of our produce. The Growers' Collaborative sells only source-verified, fully traceable products, sourcing organic produce whenever possible.

• We strive to ensure that our produce will reach our customers within 48 hours of being picked by the grower
• All Growers' Collaborative farms are family-owned and operated, and all practice sustainable agriculture.

• The Growers' Collaborative works with institutions to help them determine what produce is available in their area and how they can implement a local food sourcing policy while keeping on budget.

How To Purchase

If interested in learning more about the Growers' Collaborative, or are ready to start bringing local produce into your institutional kitchen, start by creating an account on our website or contacting your local regional manager.