ProduceGood and Our Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic

and Our Community

DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted not only how we work and where we go, but how our food is collected, made, and distributed to us.

One local organization, ProduceGood, has stepped up to pick and distribute fresh produce from local farms, backyard fruit trees, and even local businesses, to feed the food insecure and hungry throughout Oceanside. Since 2014, ProduceGood has been sourcing and harvesting excess fruits and vegetables in the county from local farms, farmers markets, and off edible fruit trees, and supplying local feeding agencies, food pantries and community partners with that food. To date, ProduceGood has diverted over 606,800 pounds of produce, creating over 1,820,292 servings of produce for the San Diego Community. During their 2019 fiscal year, ProduceGood rescued 314,000 pounds of produce, which equates to over 942,000 servings of fresh produce to communities in

need, and earned the Reducing Food Waste Initiative Award by the US EPA. The City of Oceanside began to partner with ProduceGood in 2018, with a goal of protecting the environment by rescuing food that would otherwise be thrown away and providing otherwise perfectly delicious produce to Oceanside residents and the food insecure. Through the City’s partnered “Harvest Oceanside” events, ProduceGood has collected close to 12,000 pounds of fresh produce from both Oceanside agricultural surplus and from backyard fruit trees. In just two events, this has equated to almost 36,000 fresh fruit serving to local food insecure populations. Once COVID-19 hit our community, ProduceGood quickly adapted to focus their operations to maximizing their food recovery and transportation operations in support of local food banks and

community feeding programs. Due to social distancing guidelines and changes to the demand for fresh produce, local farms were experiencing agricultural surplus without enough staff to process or enough customers to purchase their yields. That’s where ProduceGood came in. With the help of volunteers, these crops were gleaned – the practice of collecting surplus fresh produce that otherwise would go to waste – and taken to a local food pantry, ensuring no food was wasted and those in need were fed. While adhering to all county and state guidelines for social distancing and safety precautions, ProduceGood continued to support residents by performing produce “quick picks” of fruit trees and gardens. In just the first 6 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, 48,000 pounds of perfectly fresh produce was captured by ProduceGood and their volunteers. Produce picked from backyards and farms across Oceanside and North County was then transported by ProduceGood to food banks where it could be immediately enjoyed, or to organizations who would turn the produce into delicious food products for the food insecure, seniors, and the immune-compromise. One organization, Oceanside Kitchen Collaborative, utilized the City’s Green Oceanside Kitchen, a stateof-the-art food recovery and preservation facility, to process over 17,363 pounds of produce into 52,089 servings to support our community during these uncertain times. The COVID- 19 health crisis has highlighted and strengthened the connection between organizations like ProduceGood, feeding agencies, and numerous community groups to ensure that we support the food insecure, and that we feed people, not landfills.

For information on how you can combat food insecurity and to learn more about the City’s Environmental Programs, please email GreenOceanide@oceansideca.org or visit

www.GreenOceanside.org. Did You Know?  40% of all U.S. food goes to waste  One in six San Diegans is food insecure  By scheduling a pick with ProduceGood, you can ensure your backyard produce feeds those in need!

Some of the Many Community Recipients

 San Luis Rey Food Pantry  El Camino Highschool Food Pantry  Mira Costa College Food Pantry  North County Food Bank  Hope Through Housing  Nourish North County  O’side Kitchen Collaborative

Students Manufacture Personal Protective Equipment to Fight Covid-19 Pandemic

While the coronavirus pandemic forced MiraCosta College to transition to online learning, instructors recognized an immediate opportunity for students to put their acquired skills to good use and provide resources for our most vulnerable healthcare workers. The Technology Career Institute is part of MiraCosta College’s Community Education & Workforce Development Department, designed to

“I’m just so grateful MiraCosta College has an opportunity to have a positive impact on our community and it really underscores what a community college is all about.”

provide not-for-profit, accelerated job training in diverse fields including manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, security and more. Linda Kurokawa, MiraCosta College’s director of community education and workforce development explained, “With our manufacturing and engineering equipment, it became really clear one of the things we could be doing is have our students get some real hands-on experience making some of the equipment that is needed.” As the necessity for personal protective equipment (PPE) rapidly grew, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the State Office of Emergency Services began locating specific production capabilities at colleges, finding the MiraCosta College Maker Lab at the Oceanside campus. Instructional Associate Chris Boehm used the Maker Lab and its seven 3-D printers to develop prototypes for a face mask, face shield and a “vent splitter,” a device which allows for a single ventilator to be used for two separate patients at the same time. From there, MiraCosta College began manufacturing face masks, face shields and decontamination boxes to increase the amount of PPE for our frontline workers. “We certainly wouldn’t be able to mass produce anything, but if we could use the Maker Lab to make even 100 face shields or 250 vent splitters, that would be enough to perhaps save more than a few lives,” Boehm said. “I’m just so grateful MiraCosta College has an opportunity to have a positive impact on our community and it really underscores what a community college is all about.” Today, instructors at MiraCosta College’s Technology Career Institute in Carlsbad have used the institute’s machine and engineering shops and 3-D printers to develop prototypes and order parts for hundreds of hospital face shields. Decontamination box prototypes used UV lights and sensors to disinfect various medical equipment while sewing and upholstery students stitched up to 1,000 face masks using elastic bands and fabric from local craft stores. Face masks and face shields were sent to Rady Children’s Hospital, while the decontamination boxes were distributed to various hospitals and medical centers throughout the region. “It’s going to take everyone in California to step up and do their part, and that includes us,” said Kurokawa. “It feels wonderful to be part of a community that is doing what it can to save lives.”

Recently, as restaurants slowly began re-opening their dine-in services, the new OSHA COVID-19 guidelines required restaurant dishwashers to wear full face coverings while working. MiraCosta College, therefore, extended their offerings to supply restaurants with full face shields asking for a small donation of $7 per covering. The institute plans to reinvest the funds generated from the shields back into their Engineering Tech program, buying supplies and equipment for their well-deserving students.

Our City has so much to offer! Our Community Leaders share why they love where they live W H Y I L O V E

and their passion for our community.

The recent pandemic has demonstrated the positive attitude of Oceanside and the many sacrifices that have been made for the public good. This is a C A L I F O R N I A challenge not experienced in our lifetimes and it has forced most of us to temporarily give up while continuing to serve the community within health some of the most enjoyable aspects of our lives. and safety guidelines. The sacrifices we have made have

Having spent more than 35 years with the City of helped protect our community, save lives, and will only

Oceanside, I had never been more optimistic about the future of our City rebounding in 2020. Peter Weiss make our community stronger as we move forward. We truly are stronger together, and the progress we have made thus far in flattening the curve in Oceanside Mayor, City of Oceanside is a direct result of everyone who has cared to act When I arrived in Oceanside for the neighbors in their daily decisions. We have much second time in 1987 I had moved with work to do, but our ability to act collaboratively as a my family to six states and around 30 community is what will make Oceanside resilient, and homes in my lifetime. Our family found home. This is our true hometown. We were welcomed and our family grew. We are 34 family members and counting. This is everything Bunny and I hoped and prayed for as a home. Thanks to the many help it continue to be a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Tasha Boerner Horvath California State Assemblymember old timers as well as new residents for your efforts to make this city a great place to live, work, worship and play. This is why I LOVE OCEANSIDE! Jack Feller Deputy Mayer, City of Oceanside There are so many reasons to love the City of Oceanside, but all of its eclectic residents are what really makes our community special. While you can’t beat a day at the beach in Oceanside, the most rewarding aspect of my role in The reason I love Oceanside is, it’s home to the best beaches in the North County. It’s also the gateway from Los Congress is representing the incredible people who call Oside home. Mike Levin Angeles to San Diego. It gives those U.S. Representative, 49th District visiting from the north a great first responsibly and respect the health and safety of their impression of San Diego County. I have been so lucky to grow up in

From its pristine beauty to its willingness to step up during a time of crisis, Oceanside is greatly unique! Jim Desmond County Supervisor Oceanside and enjoy everything that makes this the best city in San Diego County. Not only do we have perfect weather year round, great beaches and consistent surf in the winter and summer but we also have the most genuine and hard-working Over the past couple of months, I have residents I have met. We have worked tirelessly to watched with hope as many members of make Oceanside the most enjoyable and livable beach Oceanside’s community have embraced the measures necessary to help see us through these challenging times. Many of Oceanside businesses have worked to adapt city in California and I am proud to call it home! Ryan Keim Councilmember, City of Oceanside

Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen: Paying it Forward

Through generous donations from family, friends and guests the Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen were able to set up a food fund. With this fund, they were able to keep their kitchen operating and preparing food. The Flying Pig began donating meals to the Emergency Room staff at Tri City Medical Center.

They also offered meals to other healthcare workers and first responders. As donations continue, the Flying Pig reciprocates with a “pay it forward” ideal. They believe “We’re all in this together” and are thankful to the friends and staff who have helped people helping others.