Food Forward, Inc., a Southern California nonprofit dedicated to recovering surplus produce and distributing it free of charge to communities facing food insecurity, hosted its Zest Fest community harvest on Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Somis, CA. The event brought together both new and returning volunteers for a morning of citrus harvesting in support of hunger relief partners throughout Ventura County.
Set in a large Somis citrus orchard, the volunteer event provided an engaging, hands-on opportunity for community members to spend time outdoors, harvest fruit, connect with one another over locally brewed coffee, and directly support neighbors with limited access to fresh produce.
In total, volunteers harvested 7,548 pounds of citrus, which was distributed to Ventura County hunger relief partners including Adelante Comunidad Conejo, Pleasant Valley Grassroots Collective, Saticoy Food Hub, and Ruben Castro Charities.
“Zest Fest 2026 was a big success,” said Chris Wehling, Senior Coordinator for Food Forward’s Backyard Harvest program. “This is a very busy time of year with an abundance of citrus in Ventura County. Unfortunately, much of it would otherwise go to waste because it cannot be sold or harvested commercially, so growers call on us for support. Thanks to our volunteers, 100 percent of what we collect is delivered directly to local hunger relief partners.”
The orchard site is an intergenerational, family-owned property and one of Food Forward’s longest-standing fruit donor locations. Rather than letting surplus fruit go unharvested, volunteers helped redirect it to families and individuals in need across the region.
“For our community, access to fresh fruits and vegetables matters deeply,” said Leonardo Martinez, Regenerative Agriculture Fellow with Food Forward partner Saticoy Food Hub. “When Food Forward and volunteers recover and share local produce, it quickly becomes part of meals for families, seniors, and neighbors who benefit from healthier food options. Partnerships like this strengthen food access across Ventura County.”
Sierra Doehr, Executive Director of Saticoy Food Hub, added that Food Forward has played a key role in expanding the organization’s capacity. “Food Forward helped establish us as a trusted part of the food system and has supported our growth, including cold storage capacity to serve more people. Through changing funding landscapes, they have remained a consistent partner.”
While Zest Fest highlights a major seasonal volunteer effort, Food Forward offers ongoing opportunities throughout citrus season and beyond. Community members can sign up for upcoming harvests and volunteer events at foodforward.org/volunteer.
Volunteers ages five and older are welcome to participate in most harvests, and no prior experience is required. Food Forward provides all necessary tools and training, with children under 16 required to attend with a parent or guardian.
“Our staff and volunteers are out harvesting many days throughout the year in Los Angeles and Ventura counties,” Wehling said. “Together, we can recover more surplus fruit and ensure it reaches people who need it most. We welcome anyone interested in joining us.”
To learn more or register, visit foodforward.org/volunteer.
Food Forward, Inc. is a Southern California nonprofit committed to fighting hunger and reducing food waste by recovering surplus produce and redirecting it to those in need. Since 2009, the organization has recovered and distributed over half a billion pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables across Southern California and beyond.
