Behind the Shishito Harvest: Supporting Farmers, Feeding Families

Coachella Valley, CA — May 2026

Shishito peppers may be small, but behind every harvest is a major investment of time, labor, and risk for local farmers.

This spring, Hidden Harvest partnered with local small farmer Audencio through our Small Farmers Program to help support the growing of shishito peppers in the Coachella Valley. Before a single pepper could be harvested, there were upfront costs for seeds, nursery starts, labor, irrigation, and field preparation—with no guarantee the crop would ultimately generate a profit.

To help reduce that financial pressure, Hidden Harvest assisted with a portion of the nursery sowing costs through Headstart Nursery in Gilroy. Rather than a traditional grant, this support functions as an advance on future harvests. As produce is harvested and purchased by Hidden Harvest, the initial support is gradually deducted from the farmer’s harvest payments. This partnership model helps farmers move forward with planting while creating a more sustainable system for both the grower and the organization.

For small farmers, market prices can shift dramatically. Even the cost of packaging adds up quickly—each empty cardboard produce box costs approximately $3 before any labor or produce is factored in. It takes about one hour of harvesting labor to fill a single 30-pound box of shishito peppers, and fieldworkers are paid hourly. When market prices drop too low, many farmers are forced to plow under the crop and move on to the next planting simply to avoid losing money.

For Audencio, growing shishito peppers would have been a significant risk without support and a pathway to distribution. Fortunately, this season brought a positive outcome. He was able to secure a market selling his shishito peppers for nearly $120 per box—creating a successful harvest and reinforcing the value of investing in local agriculture.

Hidden Harvest also benefits from this partnership model. By working directly with local farmers, Hidden Harvest is able to secure fresh produce at a fair and reasonable price—helping farmers reduce financial risk while allowing Hidden Harvest to continue providing high-quality, locally grown produce completely free of charge to neighbors in need throughout the Coachella Valley.

Fresh-picked local produce often reaches our distributions shortly after harvest, allowing fruits and vegetables to retain more flavor, freshness, and nutritional value compared to produce that travels long distances through traditional supply chains. For many low-income seniors, children, and families experiencing food insecurity, access to this level of fresh, locally grown produce is rare.

This is what Hidden Harvest’s Small Farmers Program is designed to do: create a system where local farmers, local families, and the broader community all benefit together. By supporting small farmers, we are strengthening local agriculture, reducing food insecurity, and helping ensure our neighbors in need have access to healthy, fresh food grown right here in the Coachella Valley.