APC and The FruitGuys Partner Up to Donate Fruit to Californians in Need

When the Palisades and Eaton fires swept through Southern California in January 2025, thousands of families were already living on the edge. Homelessness across the state had reached record highs the year before, and the fires compounded the crisis—displacing residents, straining local resources, and leaving many struggling to access food.

Six months later, many of those families were still in trouble. So the Agricultural Platform Collective (APC) and The FruitGuys joined forces to help. We coordinated deliveries of fresh fruit from local farms to Los Angeles families transitioning out of homelessness. Since June 2025, we’ve donated 6,500 pounds of fruit to people in need! 

“This partnership reflects what we believe at APC: that when farmers, buyers, and communities work together, everyone is stronger,” said José Corona, Chief Agricultural Business Officer at APC. “Our farmers feed California every day. Connecting their harvests directly to hunger relief efforts feeds both body and spirit.”

How the Collaboration Took Shape

The FruitGuys and APC both work with small farms and bring healthy food to people in need. For this project, they leveraged The FruitGuys’ expertise in sourcing local, farm-fresh fruit and APC’s connection with World Foodbank Kitchen and Urban Farm (WFKUF), a California nonprofit that delivers food and supplies where they’re needed. 

Led by siblings Michael Bach and Susan Park, WFKUF had been deeply involved in fire recovery—distributing food, clothing, and essential goods to families across Los Angeles. When large-scale relief efforts wound down, it shifted its focus to formerly unhoused residents moving into transitional homes and Section 8 apartments.

When APC introduced WFKUF to The FruitGuys and explained its interest in donating fruit, the connection was immediate. 

“Residents kept telling us how much they’d love to have fresh fruit with their meals,” said Michael. “So when we got that call, I said yes immediately.”

Donating More than Fresh Fruit

Each week since June, The FruitGuys has sent boxes of farm-fresh fruit to the Los Angeles Mission warehouse, where WFKUF picks them up and delivers them to three apartment complexes across the city.

“At two of them,” Michael explained, “I call the community alignment leader and say, ‘I’m coming by with 5 or 6 boxes of fruit.’ They meet me downstairs, grab the boxes, and set up a table so everyone can come get their share. At the third, the social workers are amazing. They come out, bag everything up, and tell residents to come down for fruit.”

These deliveries bring smiles and vital nutrition to the residents who look forward to them every week. 

The Ripple Effects of Weekly Fruit Donations

Since June, The FruitGuys, APC, and WFKUF have delivered 6,500 pounds of fruit—that’s about 1,000 servings each week and more than 13,000 servings total!

These weekly dropoffs have big ripple effects. They support farmers, strengthen the local economy, and help families both physically and mentally. 

“When people know they’re going to get something to eat regularly, they get healthier—mentally more stable, less stressed,” Michael said. “Seeing that is why I love what I do.”

Raised by a mother who taught him to share what he had, Michael has spent his life embodying that lesson. “I never knew how joyful sharing was until I started doing this,” he reflected. “I see people differently now. I view situations differently.”

Each box of fruit is more than produce; it’s proof that stability can grow from generosity, and that collaboration can nourish the mind and the body.

It Takes a Community to Support California Families

None of this would be possible without a network of people to make it happen: farmers who grow the food, distributors that move it, nonprofits that connect it, and community leaders who ensure it reaches those in need.

“It takes a community,” said José. “Every box of fruit represents dozens of hands and hearts working in sync, from the farmers who grow it, to the partners who deliver it, to the families who receive it. That’s what a healthy food system looks like.”

Together, APC, The FruitGuys, and WFKUF are making a real difference for families in need.

Looking Ahead: More Fruit Donations to Come!

“We’re grateful to be able to continue sending fresh fruit each week to families transitioning out of homelessness across Los Angeles,” said Sheila Cassani, head of impact at The FruitGuys. “We hope it’s more than food—it’s a reminder that someone sees them, cares, and wants to support their journey.”

To learn more about how you can get involved and help donate fruit—whether as a farmer, buyer, volunteer, or supporter—visit APC’s website or The FruitGuys’ GoodWorks page. Together, we can turn harvest into hope!

More About APC and The FruitGuys

Agricultural Platform Collective (APC) cultivates a more equitable and resilient food system rooted in community. Working alongside farmers, ranchers, buyers, and technical assistance providers, APC expands access to markets and resources for small, underrepresented producers through a collective, farmer-driven approach. Evolving from Growing the Table—a COVID-19 initiative that connected 452 small farmers with 120 community organizations to deliver 1.2 million pounds of fresh food statewide—APC proved that when farmers are supported and connected to values-aligned buyers, the entire food system grows stronger and more just.

The FruitGuys delivers seasonal, farm-fresh fruit to offices, schools, and homes nationwide. Since 1998, it’s been on a mission to support small farms, feed people in need, and promote healthy food systems by donating at least 20% of the value of its annual profits. By sourcing from local farms, donating produce and snacks, and awarding small farm grants for sustainability projects through The FruitGuys Community Fund, The FruitGuys connects growers to communities and gives back with every box.