The Hillside Produce Cooperative – the original – handles exchangers in North Eastern Los Angeles, primarily in the neighborhoods of Glassell Park, Mt Washington, Eagle Rock, Silver Lake, Cypress Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Echo park, Highland Park, Montecito Heights, and Downtown LA. Contact Hynden at: hillsideproducecoop@gmail.com hillsideproducecooperative.wordpress.com
The Fairfax/West Hollywood Produce Cooperative – contact Lauren at: FairfaxProduceCooperative@gmail.com
Westside Produce Exchange in West L.A. Contact Naomi at: westsideproduce@gmail.com
The Valley Produce Exchange – covers the San Fernando Valley. Contact Colleen at: alohacolleen@gmail.com www.valleyproduceexchange.com
Ventura Produce Cooperative – Contact Maureen Durkin at: shareyourfruit@yahoo.com http://venturaproducecooperative.blogspot.com/
Merced Shares – Contact Ericka at: mercedshares@yahoo.com http://mercedshares.blogspot.com/
San Gabriel Valley Produce Cooperative – Contact Monica at sgvproducecooperative@gmail.com http://sgvproducecooperative.wordpress.com/
Garden Angels Produce Cooperative – So far we’re trading Long Beach with Lakewood, Los Altos, Los Alamitos, and we’ve tapped into OC via Seal Beach and Garden Grove! Contact Shannon at: GardenAngelsCooperative@yahoo.com gardenangelscoop.wordpress.com
And if you don’t see your area on this list, then consider facilitating your own Co-op Exchange for your community!
You may also be interested in RIPE* Communities (*Residential In-season Produce Exchange). RIPE Altadena started in 2007 and has over 200 members, mostly in Altadena, but also Pasadena and surrounding areas. The RIPE Arcadia-Temple City chapter just formed this year. We exchange backyard grown items at our park swaps and via email when we have a bounty to share. We also have educational classes and community referral resources. You can check it all out at ripealtadena.com or ripecommunities.com.
Gail Murphy – founder RIPE Communities