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BLUE ZONES PROJECT PALM SPRINGS, THE CENTER’S COMMUNITY FOOD BANK AND AZIZ FARMS LAUNCH LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP TO BRING FRESH, COACHELLA VALLEY-GROWN PRODUCE TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED
Supported by Blue Zones Project Palm Springs, the partnership marks the first time a Palm Springs food bank will regularly source produce from Coachella Valley farms.
PALM SPRINGS, CA (Aug 3, 2026) — On Tuesday, August 4, at 9:00am, The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank will receive its first produce delivery from Aziz Farms, celebrating a groundbreaking partnership that is transforming how locally-grown healthy food reaches our residents. Supported by Blue Zones Project Palm Springs, the initiative represents the first time a Palm Springs food bank will source fresh produce from a Coachella Valley-based farm on a recurring basis.
The partnership advances the American Heart Association’s Healthy Food Pantry Policy, adopted by The Center in 2025, and is designed to increase access to nutritious foods, address food waste concerns, and strengthen the connection between Coachella Valley agriculture and community health. It reflects a shared commitment among The Center, Aziz Farms, and Blue Zones Project Palm Springs to ensure that fresh food grown in our own backyard is available to the people who need it most.
For the over 22,000 individuals who rely on The Center’s Community Food Bank each year, access to healthy food is not simply a seasonal concern—it is a year-round necessity. While food insecurity affects people from all walks of life, access to fresh fruits and vegetables remains one of the greatest challenges for many food banks. This partnership helps ensure that healthy food is not considered a luxury, but an essential part of every meal.
By sourcing directly from Aziz Farms, The Center is taking an important step toward providing more complete, nutritious meals while simultaneously investing in the local agricultural community.
“Food security is about more than making sure someone has enough to eat—it’s about making sure they have the opportunity to thrive,” said Charles Huff, Director of Food Security for The Center. “Every person who walks through our doors deserves access to fresh, nutritious food that supports their health and dignity. Partnering with Aziz Farms allows us to provide produce that was grown right here in our own community while supporting local farmers whose work nourishes us all. This is what community looks like.”
For Aziz Farms owner Mark Tadros, the collaboration reflects the responsibility farmers feel to care for the communities they serve.
“As farmers, we measure success by what we grow, but also by who we are able to feed,” said Tadros. “Knowing that our produce will go directly to families and individuals in our own community gives this harvest a deeper purpose. We’re grateful to partner with The Center and Blue Zones Project Palm Springs to ensure fresh, Coachella Valley grown food reaches the tables of neighbors who need it most.”
Although the Coachella Valley is surrounded by agriculture, many residents continue to experience barriers to accessing fresh, healthy food. This partnership demonstrates how local organizations can bridge that gap by connecting local harvests with local needs.
Blue Zones Project Palm Springs has worked alongside community partners to create environments where healthy choices are easier and more accessible. Supporting local food systems is a key part of that mission, recognizing that healthy communities depend on both thriving people and thriving farms.
“A stronger community is built by investing in the people who nourish it,” said Mihai Patru, Executive Director of Blue Zones Project Palm Springs. “When local farmers can grow food for neighbors who need it most, everyone benefits. This partnership strengthens our local food economy, improves access to fresh, nutritious food, and demonstrates how lasting well-being grows through shared purpose and meaningful collaboration.”
Palm Springs City Councilmember Ron deHarte said the initiative exemplifies how collaboration can improve public health while strengthening the community’s resilience.
“Palm Springs thrives when we look out for one another,” said Palm Springs Councilmember Ron deHarte. “Food isn’t just about nutrition, it’s about connection, culture, and care. No one’s well-being stops at a city border, and ensuring our neighbors have access to fresh, healthy food takes all of us across the Coachella Valley working together.”
The August 4 delivery is expected to be the first of many as The Center and Aziz Farms establish an ongoing partnership that benefits both Coachella Valley growers and the thousands of individuals and families served through The Center’s Community Food Bank each year.
Media Opportunity
What: First produce delivery commemorating The Center Community Food Bank and Aziz Farms partnership
When: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.
Where: The LGBTQ Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank, 2901 E. Alejo, Palm Springs, CA
Representatives from The Center, Aziz Farms, and Blue Zones Project Palm Springs will be available for interviews.
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About Blue Zones in Riverside County
Blue Zones Project® is brought to Riverside County by Blue Zones and leading organizations Riverside University Health System – Public Health, Inland Empire Health Plan Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Molina Healthcare, and Eisenhower Health. In collaboration with the County of Riverside and the Cities of Riverside, Banning, Palm Springs, and Coachella, this innovative partnership brings together private and public organizations under a shared vision to support, build, and measurably improve community well-being across the County. Blue Zones Projects have launched in Riverside, Banning, Coachella, and Palm Springs, while Mead Valley begins a policy-focused Blue Zones Activate. Over five years, local leadership and the local Blue Zones Project teams will implement the Blue Zones Life Radius® model to make healthy choices easier throughout the region through permanent and semi-permanent changes to the built environment, food environment, public policies, and social networks. www.bluezonesprojectpalmsprings.com
About The Center’s Community Food Bank.
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank serves anyone in Riverside County experiencing food insecurity, not only the LGBTQ+ population. Each week through its Thursday food distribution, the Community Food Bank provides more than 500 local households with healthy produce, protein, dairy, baked goods, and pantry items. Beyond food, recipients gain improved health and well-being through a better diet and personalized referrals to additional services that move individuals and families toward greater stability. More information is at thecentercv.org or on social media @thecentercv and @thecentercoachella.
About Aziz Farms
Aziz Farms and The Packhouse are advancing the future of agriculture in the Coachella Valley through a commitment to sustainable farming, community partnerships, and increased access to fresh, locally grown food. A family-owned farm rooted in generations of agricultural expertise, Aziz Farms provides high-quality produce to school districts throughout Southern California, as well as restaurants, hotels, and community organizations, while The Packhouse serves as a hub for agricultural collaboration, distribution, and innovation. Together, Aziz Farms and The Packhouse are strengthening the regional food system and cultivating a healthier, more connected future through the power of fresh food.
