Food Bank for Monterey County

What Food Bank for Monterey County does

The Food Bank for Monterey County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered at 353 W Rossi St, Salinas, California. It is the largest and most comprehensive provider of emergency supplemental food in Monterey County, serving approximately 160,000 residents monthly through a hybrid distribution model: it functions as a central hub for 160+ nonprofit network partners (who source roughly 80% of their food at 19 cents per pound from its warehouse) and operates 240+ direct distribution sites across 3,700 square miles. Its AIB-certified, clean-energy facility provides 50,000 sq. ft. of storage, 30,000 sq. ft. of cold storage, 5,000 sq. ft. of freezer space, six loading docks, and 480 solar panels, enabling the rescue of over 5 million pounds of food annually and the distribution of up to 35 million pounds of food per year.

The organization runs a diversified program portfolio segmented by population: EFAP at 26 sites (USDA federal commodities), the Mobile Produce Truck, Family Market, Farmworker Mobile Pantries, Senior Produce distribution at 18 senior centers, Kids N.O.W. (weekend nutrition for 2,000+ children weekly), Kids N.E.E.D. (COVID-response), Veterans food assistance via the Veterans Transition Center, a Breast Cancer Patient Food Assistance Program, and the Diapers and Dignity diaper bank. Revenue is sourced from individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, USDA EFAP federal commodities, and shared maintenance fees from nonprofit partners; 95% of donations reportedly flow to program services and every $1 donated distributes $5 of food. Over 500 volunteers contribute roughly 40,000 hours annually and a small paid staff (1-10) executes operations under CEO Melissa Kendrick; the organization holds a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating with a 97% Excellent designation.

Name

Food Bank for Monterey County

Legal name

The Food Bank for Monterey County

Website

https://foodbankformontereycounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Food Bank for Monterey County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that serves as the largest emergency food provider in Monterey County, distributing up to 35 million pounds of food annually to roughly 160,000 residents monthly through 240+ sites and a 160-partner nonprofit network from a 50,000 sq. ft. Salinas facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Bank and Emergency Food Assistance

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Commercial Food Waste Programs & On-Site Solutions (Cafeterias, Grocers, Hospitality) (BPALAEAE), Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Emergency food assistance
• Food bank services
• Fresh produce distribution
• Hunger relief programs
• Nutrition education

Headquarters

HQ city

Salinas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual and corporate donations from community donors; every dollar donated empowers distribution of five dollars of food
2. Foundation Grants: Grants from private foundations supporting food assistance programs
3. Government Funding: Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) providing USDA food commodities
4. Shared Maintenance Fees: Nonprofit network partners pay 19 cents per pound for products they select from the warehouse

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Food Bank for Monterey County operates as a central distribution hub sourcing, warehousing, and distributing emergency supplemental food and fresh produce across Monterey County. It serves approximately 160,000 residents monthly through 240+ direct distribution sites and a network of 160+ nonprofit partner organizations, distributing 15–35 million pounds of food annually. Programs include emergency food assistance, mobile produce distribution, child and senior nutrition, food rescue, and disaster response.

Product overview

The Food Bank for Monterey County operates as a food assistance organization with multiple interconnected programs rather than a unified software platform. The core offerings include emergency food distribution (EFAP), fresh produce programs (Mobile Produce Truck, Family Market, Farmworker Mobile Pantries), specialized feeding programs for vulnerable populations (Kids N.O.W., Kids N.E.E.D., Senior Produce, Breast Cancer Patient Food Assistance), emergency disaster response, nutrition education, food rescue operations, and the Diapers and Dignity program. The organization serves as a central distribution hub providing high-quality food and fresh produce to over 160 nonprofit network partners who distribute to end recipients across 240+ direct distribution sites covering 3,700 square miles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids N.O.W. (Nutrition On Weekends): Program providing food to children to take home over weekends and school breaks
• Kids N.E.E.D. (Nutrition Encouraged Every Day)
• Mobile Produce Truck
• Family Market Program
• Farmworker Mobile Pantries
• Diapers and Dignity
• Partners Ending Hunger

Products and services

• Kids N.O.W. (Nutrition On Weekends)

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of donations go directly to food assistance programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western Growers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Western Growers Association to provide nutritious food to county residents; Dr. De Ann Davis, Sr. VP Science at Western Growers, serves on Food Bank board
• Studio SchicketanzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning architectural firm providing sustainable design expertise for Food Bank Expansion Masterplan facility
• California Association of Food Banks - Farm to Family ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide program designed to facilitate produce distribution to 40+ food banks, providing potatoes, onions, avocados, and stone fruit to Monterey County
• National Diaper Bank NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Bank is a member of NDBN which connects and supports community-based diaper banks nationwide
• Monterey County Health DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth authority providing COVID-19 data and supporting emergency response efforts in the county
• National GuardminorOthersNational Guard unit providing critical support during COVID-19 pandemic food distribution
• Local Agriculture PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organic farmers and Ag companies supply fresh produce to mobile produce truck and food rescue programs, diverting millions of pounds from landfills
• Grocers and Local RetailerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with grocers and retailers to recover nutritious food for redistribution to community
• U.S. Representative Jimmy PanettaminorOthersFederal representative who helped distribute food boxes during pandemic response in June 2020
• Veterans Transition CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner focusing on emergency, short-term and permanent housing for homeless Veterans and their families; Food Bank provides consistent access to nutritious meals and fresh produce
• Breast Cancer Assistance Group of Monterey CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for breast cancer patient food assistance program; helps women undergoing treatment or recovery sign up for food deliveries
• Hartnell CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community college with on-campus food pantry to support vulnerable students
• Monterey Peninsula CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community college with on-campus food pantry to support vulnerable students
• Cal State University Monterey BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState university with Basic Needs Initiative supporting students through campus food pantry
• Taylor Fresh FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-national agriculture manufacturer; Tama Bistrian, CAO at Taylor Fresh Foods, serves on Food Bank board
• Taylor FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal produce company; Michelle Roberts, Director of Foodservice Marketing, serves on Food Bank board

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Food Bank of Santa Cruz County: Neighboring California food bank serving an adjacent county with a similar mix of agricultural workers, low-income families, and rural distribution challenges. Directly comparable in mission, donor base, and program mix, including kids' weekend nutrition and produce rescue programs.
• Second Harvest of the Greater Valley: Feeding America member serving Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, and Mariposa counties with comparable emergency food distribution, fresh produce programs, and a hub-and-spoke nonprofit partner model in California's Central Valley agricultural belt.
• Central California Food Bank: Fresno-based Feeding America food bank serving a similar agricultural-labor-heavy population in California's Central Valley. Operates comparable emergency food distribution, mobile pantries, and farmworker outreach programs at larger scale.
• Redwood Empire Food Bank: Northern California Feeding America food bank serving Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Del Norte counties. Comparable scale and program mix including farm-to-family produce distribution, kids' backpack programs, and senior nutrition services.
• Food Share of Ventura County: Southern California Feeding America food bank of comparable size serving a similar mix of agricultural-worker communities, seniors, and children with emergency food, mobile pantries, and fresh produce rescue programs.
• Alameda County Community Food Bank: Bay Area Feeding America member with a comparable hub-and-spoke nonprofit distribution model, fresh produce focus, and nutrition education programming. Operates at substantially larger scale but with the same mission structure and donor model.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco-Marin Food Banks: Bay Area Feeding America food bank operating a hub-and-spoke nonprofit distribution model with comparable pantries, mobile distribution, and nutrition programs, but with a more urban donor base and substantially larger scale.
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: One of the largest Feeding America food banks in the U.S., serving LA County with the same emergency food, produce rescue, and partner-network model but at much greater scale and with significantly more diversified fundraising capacity.

Others

• California Association of Food Banks: Statewide association of 40+ California food banks, including Monterey County as a member. Operates the Farm to Family program that channels produce to member food banks, making it both a peer network and a key upstream supplier for the subject company.
• Feeding America: National network of 200+ food banks of which Food Bank for Monterey County is a member. Provides shared branding, federal funding access, and supply-chain coordination, but does not directly compete; rather, it is the umbrella network defining membership rules and shared donor messaging.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/food4hungry
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefoodbankformontereycounty

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Bank for Monterey County