Council Awards $2 Million for Food Recovery

The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments received state funding to expand its FRESH SGV food-recovery program.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Organic Food

Screen-print poster illustration of an open wooden crate of citrus and leafy greens beside an empty cloth tote, in mustard, teal, cream, and rust. — The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments received $2 million in state funding from Assemblymember Blanca Rubio to expand its FRESH SGV food-recovery program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local governments spend public money to redirect surplus food to families in need?

The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments received a $2 million state funding award to expand the FRESH SGV regional food-recovery program. Assemblymember Blanca Rubio secured the funding.

Why it matters

FRESH SGV helps member agencies comply with California organic waste and food recovery requirements while redirecting surplus edible food to residents facing food insecurity. The expansion reaches local governments, businesses and nonprofits across the San Gabriel Valley.

The $2 million award is a state funding allocation to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, which includes 31 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County supervisorial districts 1 and 5. The source does not detail how the money will be spent or when the expanded program will launch.

The players

San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments

A regional government planning agency that includes 31 cities and unincorporated communities in Los Angeles County.

Blanca Rubio

A California Assemblymember who secured the state funding for the FRESH SGV program.

The details

FRESH SGV connects local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations to redistribute excess edible food. The program recovers surplus food from businesses and directs it to food pantries and nonprofits serving residents experiencing food insecurity.

November 9, 2026: The SGVCOG announced the $2 million funding award.

Roadmap

The award supports compliance with California's organic waste and food recovery requirements, which direct jurisdictions to divert edible food from landfills. FRESH SGV's expansion shows how regional councils are using state dollars to build shared recovery infrastructure across multiple cities.

Residents experiencing food insecurity in the San Gabriel Valley may gain access to recovered food through pantries and nonprofits participating in FRESH SGV. Local businesses that produce surplus edible food may see new pathways to donate it rather than discard it.

The takeaway

Regional food-recovery partnerships can connect surplus food from businesses to people who need it while helping cities meet state waste requirements. Businesses interested in donating edible surplus may want to check with local agencies participating in FRESH SGV.