Central California Food Bank

Central California Food Bank (CCFB’s) mission is transforming lives together in the passionate pursuit to end hunger in Center California – one meal, one neighbor, one community at a time. CCFB serves a diverse population of neighbors across Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings and counties, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), families with children, seniors and veterans from underserved and disadvantaged communities. These neighbors may be experiencing poverty, food insecurity, homelessness and/or addiction among other traumas, with limited access to healthy foods, mental health services, childcare, transportation, housing or employment.

Funded Program

In Fall 2023, CCFB opened First Fruits Market (FFM), Fresno’s first free grocery store located at City Center. This innovative, choice-based food distribution model allows neighbors to access nutritious food with dignity through a choice-based food distribution model. Co-located with over 20 organizations offering support to individuals facing various life challenges, FFM serves as a central hub and vital resource for those experiencing food insecurity, particularly in low-income, under-resourced neighborhoods of Fresno. In September 2024, CCFB celebrated its inaugural anniversary of First Fruits Market, marking a year of impact and community support. 

The Rooted in Evidence Food Bank Program supported the evaluation of FFM by gathering insights from neighbors before and after they accessed the market’s services. The goal was to understand how the free grocery store model impacted our neighbors’ food security, dignity and overall well-being. Given the stigma often associated with receiving food assistance, FFM created a welcoming environment that empowered neighbors through food choice, ensuring that their experience informed the ongoing development of the market and CCFB’s future initiative to combat hunger in the region.

Through pre- and post-surveys, empathy interviews and trauma-informed evaluation practices, CCFB captured vital data related to food insecurity, stigma and dignity among their neighbors. The FFM choice-based model provided a significant improvement in food access while empowering participants to engage with services in a respectful and dignified manner. This evaluation informed the ongoing development of the grocery store model and also highlighted the value of trauma-informed care to ensure a positive experience for those accessing food assistance.