A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday morning for the free First Fruits Market at City Center in Fresno. Photo by Ben Hensley

The Central California Food Bank celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its First Fruits Market Tuesday morning, providing the food-insecure population of Fresno with a dignified, choice food pantry.

First Fruits Market is located inside the newly opened City Center complex at 2025 E. Dakota Ave. in Fresno. Styled after a grocery store complete with stocked aisles, refrigerators and shopping baskets, the market will operate Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

As Fresno’s first free grocery store to those facing hunger, First Fruits Market will celebrate its first official day of operation on Wednesday.

CCFB co-Ceo Kym Dildine and Fresno City Council President Tyler Maxwell highlighted the irony of the Central Valley’s prowess as one of the nation’s leading agricultural and food centers, while serving as home to residents – approximately 18% – struggling with food insecurity.

 

“It’s this paradox that brings us here today to open First Fruits Market,” Dildine said. “It’s located here at City Center and it’s one of the unique ways that we will meet the challenges and barriers the neighbors face accessing nutritious food.”

Maxwell, who himself grew up struggling with poverty, said that the addition of the First Fruits Market will help countless residents also struggling with food insecurity.

“Having something like this 30 years ago would have been life changing, not just for my family but so many families in our community,” Maxwell said.

Fresno Mission CEO Matt Dildine said that the First Fruits Market fulfills one of the goals of City Center.

The $30 million project hopes to be home to more than 20 nonprofit organizations providing assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

“The idea behind the First Fruits Market is that we’re trying to give our very best – the ‘first fruits’ – to people who sometimes feel like the least,” Matt said. “At the heart of City Center that’s what we wanted to create.”

First Fruits Market will also offer essential resources including CalFresh enrollment, access to nutrition information, as well as recipe cards and healthy cooking demos. For more information about supporting First Fruits Market, contact CCFB Director of Development Chanel Ruiz-Mendez.