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Why does Market Match invest in Small Farmers and Farmers’ Markets? Interview with Efren Avalos, owner of Avalos Farm

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Why does Market Match invest in Small Farmers and Farmers' Markets? Interview with Efren Avalos, owner of Avalos Farm
Market Match provides extra money to CalFresh recipients to afford fresh fruits and vegetables across the state at over 290 sites to make fresh and nutrient dense food more affordable. But why does Market Match prioritize produce grown by California small farmers instead of just any large-scale industrial farm? It’s because we know we need… Read more »

Big Victory for Market Match, but the Fight Isn’t Over!

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Big Victory for Market Match, but the Fight Isn’t Over!
We’re excited to share some great news! Last week, advocates of the Ecology Center-led Market Match program celebrated a significant victory. After months of hard work opposing Governor Newsom’s proposed funding cuts to the program informing legislators about its benefits, the California Legislature announced a plan to protect the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) in… Read more »

An Interview with Gabriel Cortez—Ecology Center Poet-in-Resident

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An Interview with Gabriel Cortez—Ecology Center Poet-in-Resident
Gabriel Cortez is a unique Bay Area transplant—raised in Maryland, Virginia, and Los Angeles and of Afro-Panamanian descent, his childhood trained him in navigating the contradictions between his Panamanian and United States cultures. But when you are young and don’t yet have the words to express the daily challenges you face, you just deal with… Read more »

Ecology Center’s food justice work in the East Bay: Launch of first grocery store location for Market Match in West Oakland

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Ecology Center's food justice work in the East Bay: Launch of first grocery store location for Market Match in West Oakland
Ecology Center is proud to announce our recent partnership and the start of Market Match at our first grocery store location in 2023 – Mandela Grocery Co-op in West Oakland! This means that all CA-grown produce is 50% off for shoppers spending their CalFresh EBT benefits. Market Match is a statewide program that is funded… Read more »

It’s time to replace some of Berkeley’s old recycling carts! PLUS new lid colors

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Map of Berkeley with dots in neighborhoods: between Shattuck and College, south of Dwight; between Fourth St and San Pablo, south of Cedar St; and between Fourth St and MLK Jr Way, South of University.
Dear Neighbor, Thank you for being great recyclers! With your help, Berkeley is a leading recycler that produces high-quality, higher value materials diverted from household waste. Together we can fight back against pollution, regional ecosystem destruction, and the global climate crisis. The City of Berkeley has approved a phased program to replace older residential recycling… Read more »