Regional Spotlight: Food Recovery Efforts in Kern County
In 2023, California’s Kern County produced more than 8.5 billion dollars worth of agricultural output.
Within this massive achievement, however, lies a contradiction - food insecurity is still widespread throughout the county - with nearly 23% of children and 14% of adults in the area identifying as food insecure.
How can a region that produces so much food still fail to properly feed its own residents?
Unfortunately, issues like wage stagnation, inconsistent/low wage work in the agricultural sector, and an overall lack of access to important resources (housing, job placement, education, etc.) all play a major role in the persistence of food insecurity in this area - regardless of how much revenue the county’s farmland generates.
In addition to struggling with food security, Kern County consistently ranks among the worst counties for employment in California as well; as of June 2025, based on data from the state’s Employment Development Department (Labor Market Information Division) Kern County’s 9.6% unemployment rate is nearly double the state average of 5%.
Luckily - there are local non-profit organizations throughout Kern County that have stepped in to support their communities wherever possible.
One of Replate’s partners, The M Street Navigation in Bakersfield (a program under Community Action Partnership of Kern), is a great example of the work being done in the county.
Bakersfield, with nearly half a million residents, is by far the largest city in Kern County - putting its population at the center of issues related to food insecurity and an uncertain economic environment.
The M Street Navigation Center has been around for roughly 5 years, and primarily serves the central Bakersfield area. The navigation center provides the following services in an effort to help support local community members:
Housing (gender-specific dorms)
24-hour onsite staff
An offsite “Safe camp” for those not in structured housing
Community outreach programs, including “Project Higher Up” - helping people to obtain resources related to job training and economic development.
Access to nutritious meals (via a staffed, full service kitchen - roughly 200~ meals served per day!)
Food recovery services for local businesses
The kitchen staff at the center personally inspect all recovered food to ensure compliance with local regulations and quality standards. They also work closely with local food banks, allowing them to provide their clients with a mix of both shelf stable items as well as fresh meals and produce that are sourced locally through food recovery.
While food recovery is only a small part of the Navigation Center’s work, more and more nonprofit organizations are stepping up to become key food recovery providers in the area.
Replate also works closely with organizations like The Mission at Kern County - an organization that specializes in homeless outreach in the Bakersfield area. They provide hot meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) to the East Bakersfield community and also provide resources related to hygiene, clothing, and shelter.
Even though the Central Valley doesn’t tend to dominate when it comes to conversations regarding food recovery, initiatives like SB1383 have forced food generators throughout the region to begin rethinking their surplus strategies.
Kern County’s public works website provides guidelines for food generators, and these businesses should expect that more formal inspections will be conducted as compliance continues to ramp up.
By connecting surplus food with local food recovery organizations, Kern County can reduce food waste, feed its communities, and meet SB 1383’s organic waste diversion targets.
👉 If you’re a Kern County food generator looking to comply with SB 1383 or connect with a local food recovery partner, contact Replate to learn how your surplus food can support the community while staying compliant.