All of Hidden Harvest programs are integrated, creative efforts that put forth a cohesive, community effort that not only fights hunger but obesity and disease as well.

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Personal Touch is a whole new approach to giving. It's focused on restoring a sense of dignity, community pride and choice to our clients. For example, by modeling our Senior Markets after farmers markets we create an environment that restores self-esteem. By allowing people to have a choice in selecting their produce we foster dignity and by providing quality food we perpetuate wellness.

This whole new way of giving is more useful - if someone can select the foods they like to eat - they will eat them, if the foods we offer our nutritious and fresh they themselves serve to promote good health and in turn Hidden Harvest. We were inspired by the very faces we see at our senior markets, many of whom informed us that being able to select their own produce is more useful and that the way we do things feels more like sharing than giving.

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A February 2009 UCLA study revealed that fully 50% of senior citizens in Riverside County living alone lacked sufficient income to feed themselves adequately.

That shocking statistic prompted Hidden Harvest to create our Senior Produce Market concept. These markets are held in eight locations, twice each month at the same time and place. Each location is either designated Section 8 (or low income) housing for senior citizens, or in a disadvantaged area where low income seniors congregate based on census data.

Produce - during the peak harvesting season, as many as 12-16 items - is displaying on rolling carts and seniors “shop” for free as they go past the bounty. These shoppers arrived in wheelchairs, with oxygen, by scooter and by walker. Many have told us of their difficulty in afford fresh produce and frequently having to choose between the fresh foods they want and the prescription drugs they need.

Each market shopper takes home an average of nine pounds of produce from each market - or over 18 pounds per month. That’s a $45 savings in their grocery budget each month (based on USDA’s valuation of $2.49 per pound average for fresh produce.)

We also provide nutrition information and cooking tips for those who are unfamiliar with items like bok choy, napa cabbage and dandelion greens.

Senior Market Events!

PLEASE NOTE

Dates fall on the first FULL week of the month and the third week.

July 2024 update:

July - One set of markets Tuesday, July 16th and Wednesday, July 17th (see below for locations served on which day)

August - NO MARKETS

September - One set of markets Tuesday, Sept. 10th and Wednesday, Sept. 11th (see below for locations served on which day)

October 2024 - June 2025 resume two sets of markets each month. Market days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays (see locations below) and fall on the first FULL week of the month and the third week.

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Call Hidden Harvest office if you have any questions - 760-219-2909

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Hidden Harvest has been called a “blue chip investment” by donors and supporters, including people like former President Bill Clinton, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, People Magazine, National Public Radio, Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News and many others.

The term “blue chip investment” connotes a well-established and financially sound company that offers leverage to its investors. When we speak of HH as a “blue chip investment” we refer to our over thirteen year history of “rescuing” millions of pounds of produce that would otherwise have gone to waste while employing the working poor at a living wage to harvest it ($12.50/hour). But that’s not all our investors (donors and grant makers) get for their money! Hidden Harvest’s Board of Directors provide 100% of our administrative cost through their own annual contributions so that every dollar donated by the general public or received through grants, can go directly to providing healthy produce for the hungry.

In addition, every dollar of public contribution or from grants and foundations translates to 2.5 pounds of fresh, local produce for needy seniors, children, after-school programs, food banks and pantries. Compare our 40 cents per pound to the $2.49 per pound estimate made by the United States Department of Agriculture for fresh produce. Blue-chip indeed!