Core Site

Harvest Solutions Farm

An urban farm in Irvine located at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, operated in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and UC ANR, and supported by volunteers to grow fresh produce for local distribution.

Volunteer in green shirt planting seedlings

Farmer harvesting greens in a lush field

Corporate volunteers working at Harvest Solutions Farm

Celery harvest at Harvest Solutions Farm

Farm operations at Harvest Solutions Farm

Volunteers carrying watermelons in a field

About the Site

Overview

Harvest Solutions Farm is one of SFUA's core production sites and a central part of how locally grown food moves into community distribution. Located in Irvine at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, the farm operates through a partnership that connects agricultural production, volunteer labor, and regional food access.

The site is designed to grow fresh produce for local distribution while demonstrating how an urban farm can function within an institutional setting. It is both a working farm and a practical example of how land, partnerships, and operations can be aligned to serve community need.

Volunteers harvesting cabbage at Harvest Solutions Farm

Context

Why this site exists

In many communities facing nutrition insecurity, access to fresh, high-quality produce is limited. Food often arrives later in its lifecycle, with reduced nutritional value and shorter shelf life.

Harvest Solutions Farm helps close that gap by producing fresh, locally grown food close to where it will be distributed. By linking production directly to existing food access channels, the farm helps ensure produce moves quickly from harvest to the communities that need it most.

Rows of young crops stretching across Harvest Solutions Farm at golden hour

Operations

How it works

Site Operations

SFUA helps steward day-to-day production at the site, aligning crop planning, field operations, and seasonal output with the broader goals of food access and local distribution.

Partnership Structure

The farm operates in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and UC ANR at the South Coast Research and Extension Center, combining agricultural land, institutional partnership, and operational coordination.

Volunteer Support

Volunteers play an important role in the farm's day-to-day function, contributing labor that supports planting, harvest, and ongoing field work throughout the season.

Our Network

Key partners

Harvest Solutions Farm operates through a partnership model that connects land, production, and distribution.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County

Key distribution partner and a central operator in the farm's food access mission.

UC ANR

Home institution of the South Coast Research and Extension Center and an important research and agricultural partner.

South Coast Research and Extension Center

The physical site where the farm operates, providing land and institutional infrastructure for production.

On the Ground

What happens here

Food Production

The farm produces fresh crops intended for local distribution, with an emphasis on moving produce quickly into channels that serve community need.

Volunteer Engagement

Volunteer participation helps support regular field operations while connecting community members directly to the work of growing food.

Regional Distribution

Because the site is linked to existing distribution pathways, produce grown here is positioned to move efficiently into local food access systems.

Get Involved

Support the work at Harvest Solutions Farm

Whether through volunteering, partnership, or financial support, there are multiple ways to contribute to the work happening at Harvest Solutions Farm.

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