Pomona urban farm receives one of 10 grants awarded nationwide
“The FruitGuys Community Fund” has awarded $42,913 in funding to 10 small community farms across the country – including three local farms in Pomona, Claremont and Diamond Bar known collectively as Sarvodaya Farm – to help sustain projects aimed to impact environmental, economic and community health.
The 10 farms were selected from a list of 70 letters of intent from throughout the U.S.
Those selected will receive up to $5,000 in funding.
The Pomona farm, Pomona Urban Farm, is a half-acre site located at 1196 S. San Antonio Ave., Pomona, that is the primary urban farm site among the three local farms for the production of produce and education and outreach work.
It hosts a six-month, no-cost farmer training program, monthly educational events and educational visits.
Operators harvested 10,000 pounds of food at the Pomona location last year and expect to harvest 15,000 pounds this year.
Food produced is distributed through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), a food distribution program, and the farm offers discounted CSA membership for Pomona residents. It also accepts EBT.
Excess produce is donated to local Pomona-based food pan.
It is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Friday each week.
The FruitGuys is a San Francisco-based company that delivers wellness to workplaces across America through boxes of farm-fresh fruit in an effort to replace break room junk food and promote healthy snacking.
“The community fund’s core belief is to fund projects that make an impact beyond the farm, which is valuable not only for the farmer but for the world at large,” said Chris Mittelstaedt, founder and CEO of The FruitGuys and board advisor for the community fund.
The fund has awarded more than $167,000 to 41 farms since 2012.
