• Transforming Urban Agriculture.

    Transforming Urban Agriculture.

  • Your Food, Your Story.

    Your Food, Your Story.

  • Cultiva-dores (verb):

    Cultiva-dores (verb):

    People transforming urban agriculture.

Our Mission

CultivaLA is a registered non-profit with Mission to transform healthy food access and wellness through people, social enterprise and environmental justice.

Grow local

With 32 active ‘cultiva-dores’ we grow and supply fresh organic herbs (e.g. mint, basil, papalo, cilantro, etc.) and vegetables to individuals and families, as well as to the community through our innovative Free Mercado Al Aire Libre (FREE Farmer’s Market) in the Westlake/MacArthur Park Neighborhood in Greater Los Angeles.

Empowerment

Unique partnership with social service providers and local leadership, we have developed a 12-week urban agriculture model with strong emphasis in community workforce development, mentorship, and entrepreneurship for youth and adults.


Social Enterprise

We utilize the act of growing local and organic food in a holistic and ecological manner to empower our communities. Our network is designed to facilitate access to market via our Farmer’s Market.

Our Method

CultivaLA is transforming urban agriculture movement in Los Angeles through people, social enterprise and environmental justice.

  • Workforce Development

    Learn about Career Technical Education (CTE) fields and higher education options in Agriculture.

  • Community Empowerment
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Active Cultiva-dores
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Pounds of mulch and compost used
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People served in 2019
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Pounds of produce given away in 2019

Our Farms

Our ‘cultiva-dores’ have had to farm for survival, understand collaboration, and value nutrition. Their prior experience as farmers is valued and seen as a strength, as they help to transform food access in Los Angeles.

Our Team

Jose Miguel Ruiz, MSW

Founder & CEO

Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, PhD

Board/Secretary

Robert J. Foss, JD

Board/Treasurer

Danielle C. Lara, MSW

Fund Development

Espiridion Ruiz Orea

Operations

Mayra I. Ramirez, MSW

Health Analyst

GET INVOLVED (COVID-19)

Volunteer at our FREE Emergency Grab & Go Produce Distribution

News

Cultivating Community in Downtown Los Angeles

In March 2020, Los Angeles Councilmember Gil Cedillo asked Jose Ruiz, MSW ’17, if he could upscale his community garden to provide 300 Emergency Grab-n-Go food bags each week to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Ruiz had just last year taken .16 acres of space in the Westlake neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles and created a farming community.
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