Bay Area food banks, farms mobilize to better feed families in need

Bay Area food banks and farmers are working together to better help cash-strapped families put food on the table, especially with the holiday season approaching and ongoing cuts to food programs. On the San Mateo County coast, the owners of Brisa Ranch are busy cultivating crops for a special kind of a market place. They lead a food hub that features a collaboration between local farms and food banks. It’s given them a turnkey opportunity to be able to know exactly what to grow in advance with knowing, Hey, I want this many pallets of poblano peppers and cilantro on this date, for example, Brisa Ranch co-owner Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou said. In turn, they’ve really been able to build their ground up with that in mind. That s crucial for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley and other Bay Area food banks serving a diverse community. In our community, bok choy and cilantro are two key items that we can’t source easily on our own, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley CEO Lesl