Yolo County is known for having a large and diverse agricultural industry. More than 7,000 farmworkers help grow food that feeds people across the region. Alarmingly, more than 50% of these workers face food insecurity, according to a recent study by Yolo Food Bank. “This is unfair, especially since our county is so agriculturally rich,” said Yolo Food Bank spokeswoman Maria Segoviano. Barriers include limited access to food distribution sites due to scheduling, rural location, and transportation issues. To address these issues, Yolo Food Bank and Sutter Health created the Cultivo program. This brings monthly pop-up food distributions to fields, farms, and farm worker neighborhoods. Curtivo means “crop” in Spanish. On Wednesday afternoon, 120 farm workers received food assistance at the site in the forest area. “She was really surprised to see how many people were waiting and happy to receive their food,” Segoviano said. The workers received enough food to survive for two to three weeks. Sutter Health spokeswoman Angelica Corchado said food is medicine and a way to keep these workers healthy. “Having access to fresh, healthy food can help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart failure,” Corchado says. As part of its strategy to reduce food insecurity, Yolo Foodbank also conducts pop-up distributions in rural areas. Juan Carlos River, who has been working in the fields for three years, stopped by the Dunigan site. He said these distributions will help with rising food costs. Rivera, who works to bring crops to others, is grateful for the program that provides the same food for his family. Pop-up distribution through the Cultivo program will occur once a month for the next two years. See more top California news stories | Download the app.
Woodland, California —
Yolo County is known for its large and diverse agricultural industry, with over 7,000 agricultural workers helping to grow the food that feeds the region.
Alarmingly, more than 50% of these workers face food insecurity, according to a recent study by Yolo Food Bank.
“This is not fair,” said Maria Segoviano, a spokeswoman for the Yolo Food Bank, “especially since our county is so agriculturally rich.”
Some of the barriers include limited access to food distribution sites due to schedules, rural residence, and transportation issues.
To address these issues, Yolo Food Bank and Sutter Health created the Cultivo program, which provides temporary food distributions each month to fields, farms, and areas where farmers live.
Cultivo means “crop” in Spanish.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 120 farmworkers received food assistance at the Woodland facility.
“I was really surprised to see how many people were waiting and happy to receive their food,” Segoviano said.
The workers received enough food to last two to three weeks.
Sutter Health spokeswoman Angelica Corchado said food is medicine and a way to keep workers healthy.
“Access to fresh, healthy food helps prevent chronic diseases like diabetes and heart failure,” Corchado says.
As part of its strategy to reduce food insecurity, Yolo Foodbank also conducts pop-up distributions in rural areas.
Juan Carlos River, who has worked in the fields for three years, stopped by Dunnigan’s site.
He said such distribution would help curb soaring food costs.
As she works to get crops to others, Rivera is grateful for the program that provides the same food for her family.
Pop-up distribution through the Cultivo program will occur once a month for the next two years.
See more of California’s top news stories | Download the app.
