Demolition and construction of new and expanded cooler at Santa Barbara warehouse.

On February 15, we moved the last pallet of produce out of our old cramped cooler into a temporary unit making way for the construction of a new much larger cooler and freezer. The new space will provide aisles for fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and dairy products as well as more room for frozen meats and other foods.

Keeping produce fresh is a lot of work but the benefits are enormous. Transporting, handling and distributing perishable food requires certain skills. Our new cooler/freezer will increase our capacity to offer a reliable, year-round supply of fruits and vegetables, as well as, provide a more efficient operation allowing us to promote and distribute thousands of pounds of fresh produce each day.

A big thank you to the City of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Weingart Foundation for their generous support and for understanding the role food banking plays in connecting farmers with those in need of food.

Check back often for updates and photos of the project.