Department of
Health & Human Services

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is seeking to partner with one or more qualified organizations to increase the availability of low-cost, culturally relevant, produce in priority neighborhoods in Long Beach through their Produce to Market Program.

Due to high procurement cost, markets in low-income neighborhoods are limited in their ability to stock and sell fresh produce. The Health Department will support one or more qualified organizations to plan, implement and evaluate a sustainable program that will allow small- and medium-sized food stores in Long Beach the ability to procure fresh, quality produce at comparable prices to larger grocery markets. The Produce to Market Program will include grants of up to $250,000 max per award to markets who best demonstrate how funds will be used to reach this goal and thus contribute to increased access of fresh produce in priority neighborhoods throughout Long Beach.

As such, the City has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP). Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit proposals through the City’s vendor portal, Long Beach Buys, by 11 a.m. on Feb. 16, 2023. To be eligible, proposed programs must be focused on implementing a food procurement system that reaches small- or medium-sized markets and/or food stores located in fresh food deserts, as indicated on the priority zone map.  The City will prioritize funding for projects that reach households living in the priority zone.

Specific details related to eligibility requirements and submission instructions are available on the Long Beach Buys website. The City also has developed an instructional video about the registration process. 

This program is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

The Produce to Market program aligns with Goal 4, Strategy 1 of Long Beach’s Racial and Reconciliation Initiative to increase access to fresh foods and vegetables for communities in food deserts, including healthy market partnerships, farmers’ markets, community gardens, and pop-up farm stands.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Jennifer Rice Epstein, Public Affairs Officer, Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, 562.441.3590 or Jennifer.RiceEpstein@longbeach.gov.