Food Forward Hosts Zest Fest in Somis

There’s something special about a Saturday morning in Somis, especially when it involves fresh citrus and community spirit. According to the *Ventura Breeze*, Food Forward is hosting Zest Fest on Saturday, June 6, and it’s exactly the kind of event that makes Ventura County feel like home. They’ll be gathering volunteers to harvest surplus citrus from local trees, then sharing that fruit with neighbors experiencing food insecurity. It’s a simple, powerful idea: instead of letting oranges and lemons go to waste, we turn them into nourishment.

For those of us who’ve driven past the orchards along Highway 118 or grabbed a bag of avocados from a roadside stand, this hits close to home. Food Forward has been quietly doing this work across the region for years, but Zest Fest is a chance to show up, get your hands a little dirty, and meet the people who make our local food system more just. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or just looking for a meaningful way to spend a Saturday morning, this is a beautiful reminder that in Ventura, we take care of each other—one piece of fruit at a time.