North Richmond Farm Expands Food Access as CalFresh Cuts Deepen Hunger

Amid rising food insecurity in the East Bay, the nonprofit organization Urban Tilth has transformed a 10-acre plot of land in North Richmond into a vital source of fresh food. Tucked between a landfill, a concrete recycler, and the Chevron refinery, the farm has become a lifeline for local residents. Since its inception in 2005, the project has evolved from a small community garden into an extensive program serving hundreds of families who otherwise lack reliable access to nutritious produce.

Chinue Fields, director of food access programs at Urban Tilth, notes that North Richmond is effectively a food desert; the neighborhood lacks full-service grocery stores and has limited infrastructure. Residents often rely on corner stores where fresh vegetables are rarely available. The farm’s output provides a critical alternative, ensuring that fresh, locally grown greens reach tables that would otherwise be empty of produce.

The organization’s community-supported agriculture (CSA) subscription program reaches over 400 households across West Contra Costa County. Remarkably, half of these recipients pay nothing for their share of the harvest. To meet demand that far exceeds the capacity of its own 10-acre site, the organization sources additional produce from about a dozen small farms located within a 200-mile radius, prioritizing local partnerships to keep the supply chain sustainable.

The need for this aid intensified in 2026, when new federal rules under law HR 1 placed 650,000 Californians at risk of losing CalFresh benefits. These changes, which rolled back exemptions for veterans, former foster youth, and homeless individuals, have hit the community hard. In the first quarter of the year, turnout at Urban Tilth’s free farm stands rose by approximately 150%, a stark indicator that household food needs are outpacing current assistance levels.

As the federal Farm Bill is set to expire on September 30, food bank officials and local organizers are bracing for the long-term impacts to become even more visible throughout the autumn. For many residents in Richmond, the situation has devolved into survival mode. Through its dedicated efforts, Urban Tilth continues to play a pivotal role in mitigating hunger in a region where, as of last year, one in four adults has experienced food insecurity.