About Us
Understanding food environments and the factors that influence a food system, insecurity, and access is a complex task. Race, class, and gender play critical roles in determining population health, poverty, hunger, and access to affordable healthy foods. We help cultivate a food system that actively considers the environment, economy, equity, and education by engaging with community partners in schools, grocery stores, faith-based organizations, and worksites.
What We Do
We collaborate with public and private entities, and community residents to develop and implement effective solutions in multiple settings. We strive to increase opportunities for access to healthy, fresh, and affordable foods. Additionally, we focus on building educational capacity on the connection between a thriving food system and the well-being of a population. The following provides a snapshot of our work and services.
Education, Policy, & Collaboration
From large corporations to local service groups, we help our partners implement healthy food projects in their communities.

Education
Harvest of the Month is an educational initiative to promote the region’s seasonal produce items in schools, worksites, grocery stores, farmers’ markets, faith institutions, and other community-based settings. We collaborate with growers and community organizations to develop an annual San Diego Harvest of the Month calendar that highlights in-season produce items to look for each month. At intervention sites, participants try new produce items and learn how to prepare and store seasonal selections through our comprehensive technical assistance approach.

Policy
We work on building solutions towards a more equitable food system by collaborating with multiple stakeholders on a common policy agenda that promotes a healthy and thriving San Diego for all. Our staff leads and participates in several coalitions and advisory groups to provide expertise on food system policies.

San Diego Food System Alliance
UCSD Center for Community Health invests in the core operation of the San Diego Food System Alliance to enhance collaborations and promote public policy changes to impact our food system. Specific areas being supported include:
- Healthy food access
- Urban agriculture
- Food recovery
The Alliance is comprised of 33 Voting Members and over 80 organizations in the broader network, representing nonprofits, government institutions, businesses and community members. Due to the diverse nature of the membership, the Alliance is best-positioned to provide thorough recommendations, both programmatic and policies, to further our food system goals in San Diego county.
Our Partners
- San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency
- San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative
- Community Health Improvement Partners
- San Diego County Farm to School Taskforce
- Leah's Pantry
- Lemon Grove Neighborhood Market
- Wrigley's Supermarket
- La Posta Market
- Wally's Marketplace
- Primo Foods
- Tropicana Market
- Big B's
- Garden Farms Market
- Foodland
- City Heights Farmers Market
- El Cajon City Farmers Market
- Red Bird Market
- Rema Halal Food
- Bruno's Market
- Fresh Garden Market
- La Tiendita Clairemont Mesa
- La Tiendita de Linda Vista
- Louie's Marketplace
- Minne Haha
- Linda Vista Community Garden at Bayside Community Center
- Lakeside Union School District
- Cajon Valley Union School District
- Julian Union School District
- Chula Vista Elementary School District
- Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
- La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
- San Ysidro School District
- Oceanside Unified School District
- Vista Unified School District
- Escondido Union School District
- Santee School District
- Lemon Grove School District
- Diamond Business Improvement Association
- El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association
- Barrio Logan Maintenance Assessment District
- Oak Park Community Town Council
- Circulate San Diego
- Environmental Health Coalition
- Project New Village
- The Urban Collaborative
- SAY San Diego
- San Diego County Department of Environmental Health
- E3 Civic High
- International Rescue Committee, New Roots Program
Harvest of the Month
San Diego’s seasonal produce helps communities maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

January
Grapefruit & Salad Greens
January Resources
- Spicy Grapefruit Recipe (PDF)
- Salad Greens Recipe (PDF)

February
Beets & Mandarin
February Resources

March
Cooked Greens & Kiwi
March Resources

April
Cucumbers & Berries
April Resources

May
Strawberries & Carrots
May Resources

June
Peaches & Corn
June Resources
- Peachy Parfait Recipe (PDF)
- Tapas Corn Salsa Recipe (PDF)

July
Plums & Avocado
July Resources

August
Green Beans & Melon
August Resources

September
Pears & Pepper
September Resources

October
Grapes & Zucchini
October Resources

November
Persimmon & Root Vegetables
November Resources

December
Apples & Winter Squash
December Resources
- Apple Trio Recipe (PDF)
- Persimmon Apple Delight Recipe (PDF)