Families in Lamont gathered on August 21 under the summer heat to pick up boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables at a community food distribution, a lifeline for many struggling with rising grocery prices and limited access to healthy food. Organized by Building Healthy Communities (BHC) of Kern alongside local partners, the event highlighted both the resilience of volunteers and the urgent needs facing rural farmworking families.

As tariffs implemented under President Trump continue, the prices of essentials are skyrocketing, making it more difficult for families to afford groceries, rent, and bills during the economic crisis.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that in July, fruit and vegetable prices increased by 38%. For many families, the cost of living has become unbearable as the job market faces hiring freezes and layoffs.

Elizabeth Martinez, founder and executive director of Comunidades Aliadas Tomando Acción, said her nonprofit partnered with BHC and CAPK to provide food for Lamont residents.

The group also organizes health education workshops on issues like diabetes and breast cancer, and serves as a connector between families and local agencies. Still, Martinez said food access remains one of the most urgent needs in the community.

“The communities where we host these food banks are low-income, with very limited access to food—especially fresh fruits and vegetables,” Martinez said. “Prices have gone way up, so it’s important to help farmworkers and low-income families obtain fresh produce.”

Lamont, an unincorporated community in Kern County, is considered a food desert. With few full-service grocery stores, many families rely on small markets or corner stores that rarely offer affordable fresh produce. Monthly food distributions provide critical relief during a time of rising prices and limited jobs.

These events rely heavily on volunteers, many of whom spent hours working outdoors during a heatwave to ensure families were able to leave with food.

One volunteer, Yuriana Martinez, who has served with the group for two years, said she joined to give back to the community. She explained that events like the Lamont food distribution are especially important for residents who often cannot afford fresh produce.

“We live in a community that needs a lot of resources, and this is very helpful because many people here can’t afford to buy a box of strawberries and other produce,” Martinez said.

In the Central Valley, many residents rely on seasonal agricultural work. But immigration raids, technological changes, and restrictive policies have reduced manual labor opportunities, leaving many unemployed.

“The economy is very bad right now. There’s a job shortage, companies only offer a few hours, but these food distributions are well-received because they provide fresh produce and help families save money,” a community member said.

California’s agricultural industry also faces risks from labor shortages caused by immigration raids. According to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, 33% of farm laborers are undocumented, and 75% are immigrants. Without this workforce, crops would go unharvested, forcing growers to rely more on imports or costly mechanization, which is unfeasible for California’s diverse crops.

The California Budget and Policy Center states, “Immigrant workers are key to the state’s food production, which also provides food to local food banks through the CalFood Program.”

Irene Gomez, a community resident, told Kern Sol News that the economic downturn has “increased the prices of everything. Everything is very expensive, and there are not many jobs here. When people inform me of these services, I come because we all need this assistance right now.”

Jose, a Lamont resident who is currently unemployed, added that these services allow families like his to “save even a few cents right now during this economy where everything is expensive.”