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How SBCFAN Helped Route 1 Reach Further

Santa Barbara County’s food system is powered by many small, community-based organizations working to increase access to fresh food, strengthen local agriculture, and support community health. Yet these organizations face the same challenge: they are deeply embedded in their own neighborhoods but lack the capacity to navigate countywide opportunities, state and federal funding, or cross-regional partnerships. SBCFAN serves as the essential backbone that connects these efforts.Continued investment in SBCFAN ensures that organizations like Route 1 can thrive, scale, and sustain their impact.

SBCFAN as the Catalyst for High-Impact Funding

Route 1’s current success under the Farms Together program is a direct result of SBCFAN’s involvement. According to Executive Director Shelby Wild, “Without SBCFAN, we would never have gotten the Farms Together contract. They were the reason we were even in the room.”

The program was initially designed for large aggregators, but SBCFAN made sure that Route 1 was seen, known, and invited to apply as the program shifted toward supporting medium and smaller organizations. Their connection to California Family Farms—initially facilitated by SBCFAN—ultimately opened the door to funding.

The extended impact of that single introduction is substantial. Since June, Route 1 has distributed more than 100,000 pounds of produce to over 12,000 residents, all purchased from small local farms (with under $1 million in annual gross income). By next June, they will have infused roughly $500,000 into the local agricultural economy. One farm reported earning over $10,000 in a single month; another, Hijas de las Fresas, was able to raise worker wages and stabilize staffing. These benefits ripple outward—strengthening farms, families, and entire communities.

SBCFAN Strengthens Food Access and Community Health

SBCFAN has been a regional leader in promoting food-as-medicine, and our advocacy brought Route 1 into critical public health conversations. This led to produce voucher programs with high redemption rates and nutrition classes with strong community engagement. As Ms. Wild shared, “When you make fresh food accessible, people choose it. We proved that.”

Route 1’s free food distributions—made possible through the Farms Together program—now reach low-access neighborhoods, churches, clinics, and places like Vandenberg Space Force Base. During the federal shutdown, Route 1 even delivered food to unpaid federal workers. These community-level wins are only possible because SBCFAN connects organizations to the right funding, partnerships, and policy opportunities.

A Regional Hub in a Dispersed County

Santa Barbara County is geographically fragmented, making collaboration difficult. Small organizations cannot monitor everything happening across regions while also running daily operations. SBCFAN fills this gap by serving as a central hub of information, opportunity, and relationships.

Ms. Wild emphasized this repeatedly:

“So many of these connections just wouldn’t have happened without SBCFAN. We’re focused on serving our community—we can’t also be everywhere else in the county. SBCFAN can.”

Providing Stability in Uncertain Funding Conditions

Federal funding for Farms Together has been unstable, frozen earlier this year and now only guaranteed through mid-2026. SBCFAN plays a critical role in keeping local organizations informed, prepared, and supported as funding landscapes shift. Our participation in statewide and multi-state advocacy networks is essential for ensuring that Santa Barbara County’s community-based organizations remain competitive and protected.

Help SBCFAN Help Our Food System

SBCFAN is the connective infrastructure of Santa Barbara County’s food system. Our work amplifies the impact of small organizations, channels federal dollars into local farms, expands food access for thousands of residents, and promotes community health through collaborative innovation. Click here for more information

SBCFAN can accept gifts of stock, DAFs, and year end gifts by Dec. 31st!