To end hunger for good we must get to the root causes of hunger. And to get to the root causes, we must go beyond only food distribution. One brand new way our Food Bank is creating a more equitable food system and addressing economic justice is to get quite literally on the ground level and play a greater role in where we source our food: the farm.

We were thrilled this summer to take an enormous step in this work by investing to develop the operations of the BIPOC-led Dig Deep Farms. They are operating at the Ardenwood Historic Farm, which is a 53-acre organic farm located in the FremontNewark area right here in Alameda County.

In technical terms ACCFB is becoming the fiscal sponsor of Dig Deep Farms — assuming the farm’s lease and providing the farmers with all necessary logistics, human resources, and financial support. In providing these resources, one goal is to ensure the farm can develop more stability and long-term financial independence, ultimately increasing land equity and accessibility for our BIPOC community. In Bay Area parlance, you might say we’re incubating the farm.

Another critical goal is to bolster a local, regenerative food source for Alameda County residents. “Since COVID hit, we’re seeing a lot of food shortages, issues with pests, and things getting more expensive,” said Sasha Shankar, co-director of Dig Deep Farms. “So we are working together more collaboratively. It becomes manageable and affordable. We’re bringing up more farmers, specifically of color, who own and operate in a more resilient way.”

Importantly, Dig Deep Farms is an investment in the local economy. It employs 18 farmers of different ages and cultural backgrounds and pays people a living wage. Any profits go right back into the farm or into the workers’ paychecks. And with our support, the farmers like Sasha can now focus entirely on growing their core business.

“We’ve all seen the sky-high prices of groceries and have those visceral memories of empty shelves during the pandemic,” said Susie Wise, ACCFB director of strategy, who has facilitated the partnership with Dig Deep Farms. “By supporting a farm right in our community, we connect people more closely to the source of our food and strengthen our local food system. These steps are crucial to making it more just and equitable.”

Food harvested from the farm will not only stock Food Bank pantries around Alameda County but will also be placed in our medically-tailored CalAim boxes which support local residents struggling with chronic illnesses. Statistics show that people who eat more fresh fruits and vegetables can lower their risk of disease and improve health outcomes.

The Food Bank intends to fiscally sponsor Dig Deep Farms for two to three years until the farm is on firm — and fertile — ground and is able to operate independently.