Coastal Roots Farm

Pay-What-You-Can Markets Provide Food for the Common Good | Eater

"A 17-acre regenerative farm just north of San Diego that was an early adopter of the pay-what-you-can model and helped inspire similar efforts elsewhere. Originally part of a foundation before becoming its own nonprofit, the operation donates about three-quarters of its annual harvest to local partners while selling regeneratively grown produce twice a week; last season it sold more than 57,000 pounds, with stand revenue contributing roughly 5 percent of the organization’s budget. The stand is run on community-focused values (inspired by the Jewish concept of pe'ah), prioritizing trust and dignity so people pay what they can; the share of customers taking discounts rose from about one-third pre-COVID to more than two-thirds now. Off-site distributions for low-income seniors and Indigenous families extend reach, though rising costs for gas, labor, and time constrain sourcing and distribution capacity." - Gabriel Pietrorazio