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Improve Our Quality of Life

Food

Strengthening Local Food Systems

The food system’s role in sustainability is often overlooked, yet traditional farming consumes 70% of the world’s water while produce travels an average of 1,500 miles to consumers. Creating a sustainable community that reduces water consumption, lowers carbon emissions, and prioritizes resident health requires rethinking our current food system. Local food production and waste reduction support environmental sustainability, community self-reliance, and food security while decreasing transportation-related GHG emissions.

Food Goal (F): Supporting community gardens, urban agriculture, farmers markets, and improved access to fresh, locally-sourced foods.

Key Achievements

  • To meet SB 1383 goals, reduce food waste, and improve edible food recovery, Alhambra adopted its Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance (Ord. No. O2M21-4787) in 2021, in alignment with California’s Senate Bill 1383. The ordinance requires all residential and commercial properties to subscribe to the city’s organics collection service.
  • Republic Services, the city’s waste hauler, provides food scrap containers to all single-family residential customers.
  • As of January 2022, businesses classified as “edible food generators” are required to donate surplus edible food to recovery organizations, following a phased, tiered implementation process.

Community Spotlight: Winston Smoyer Memorial Community Garden — Growing Community

Established in 1976, this beloved 2.5-acre garden at Granada and Mission Road serves nearly 100 plot holders across 88 garden spaces. Recognized as one of LA’s top 10 community gardens by CBS Los Angeles, residents grow everything from tomatoes and chilies to roses and pineapple sage. With affordable fees ($9–$77 annually) and pesticide-free practices, the garden transforms urban agriculture into community building. Monthly gatherings and shared knowledge create lasting friendships that extend beyond the garden gates. Named after retired Alhambra High School teacher Winston Smoyer, this thriving space proves that growing food also grows community connections and food security.

Goals

  • F-S1 Develop edible public parks and encourage home gardens.

    Target F-T1

    Establish a community garden in Alhambra's disadvantaged community tracts by 2030; ensure each community district has access to a community garden by 2045; and plant and maintain edible fruit trees in public spaces.

    Baseline F-B1

    Baseline of 1, Alhambra Community Garden.

    Actions

    • F-1a Integrate edible landscaping into public parks and green spaces (e.g., fruit trees, herb beds).

    • F-1b Establish a fruit tree and plant giveaway program to encourage urban agriculture and food production on private properties.

    • F-1c Explore incentives to support the development and operation of community gardens.

    • F-1d Convert underutilized lots and rooftops into urban agriculture sites via partnerships.

    • F-1e Prioritize community gardens in underserved neighborhoods.

    • F-1f Collaborate with community programs, such as APIFM's Food Roots Harvest, to expand healthy, culturally relevant produce in gardens and edible parks.

  • F-S2 Support local food access and education.

    Target F-T2

    Increase farmer's market capacity; and increase the number of workshops, classes, and events held in collaboration with schools, libraries, and community organizations.

    Baseline F-B2

    N/A

    Actions

    • F-2a Develop educational campaigns on benefits of in-season food, local gardening, and available resources (e.g., seed library).

    • F-2b Evaluate Alhambra Farmers Market for demand/capacity; support mid-week or alternative markets in underserved areas.

    • F-2c Promote local vendors through City communications; educate on environmental benefits of buying local.

    • F-2d Collaborate with community-based organizations to increase nutrition education, cooking workshops, and CalFresh enrollment (with language-appropriate support).

Source

Sustainable Alhambra (Public Draft, March 2026), Chapter 3, pp. 3-8 to 3-12

Open the full Sustainability Plan Draft (PDF) →

Last updated 2026-04-22

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