Food Forward
Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. Through our two community based programs, our Backyard Harvest and Farmers Market Recovery programs, volunteers recover surplus produce from fruit trees and farmers markets across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. We also have a third staff-run program to recover produce in bulk from the LA Wholesale Produce Market.
We are seeking volunteers to harvest fruit and/or collect surplus produce at farmers markets across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Students may sign up for events that work for their schedules via our volunteer calendar: foodforward.org/volunteer-calendar
All volunteers must sign a volunteer waiver. Photography is allowed on site (sometimes we take a group photo at the end with our boxes), though students can step out of photos if they prefer.
Our volunteer events take place outdoors. Volunteers are responsible for lifting 20 pounds (Backyard Harvest events) or 40 pounds (Farmers Market Recovery events). They can choose to volunteer with someone else who can help lift if those are too heavy. The vast majority of events occur before 6pm, but we have a few evening events available. Students can sign up for whatever they choose.
Most volunteer events are led by trained volunteer Event Leaders, not staff. Event Leaders must clear a background check and participate in multiple trainings before leading. Students may train as Event Leaders if the position feels like a fit for them and they are looking for a longer term volunteer opportunity.
- SUPERVISION: Students may be required to work at night (after 6pm).
Normal Hours: Our volunteer opportunities take place most days of the week at various times. Farmers market gleans take place at the end of the market hours on the same day each week, while fruit harvests are scheduled based on fruit ripeness typically 2-4 weeks in advance.
Hours for selection: Our volunteer opportunities take place most days of the week at various times. Farmers market gleans take place at the end of the market hours on the same day each week, while fruit harvests are scheduled based on fruit ripeness typically 2-4 weeks in advance wherever the trees are located. Students can choose to sign up for events on our volunteer calendar that work for their schedules: foodforward.org/volunteer-calendar
weekend hours are available