Saying that other businesses benefit from city support, two Fresno city councilmembers are pushing to fund a commissary kitchen near downtown Fresno.

The Fresno City Council is scheduled to vote on granting $700,000 to nonprofit Cultiva La Salud, to build the kitchen from the ground up.

Councilmembers Luis Chavez and Miguel Arias held a news conference Monday afternoon pushing for the idea.

“We have been continuously advocating for the last several years” to treat the entrepreneurs and small business owners the way they deserve to be “and not as a second thought to a city,” Councilmember Miguel Arias said.

Arias said the city invests in a façade improvement program for businesses and also spends millions to help recruit corporations to the city.

Related Story: AJ’s Commissary Kitchen Marks a New Day for Fresno Mobile Food Vendors

Kitchen and Training Center

Joined by Veva Islas, the founder and director of Cultiva La Salud, and former Mayor Ashley Swearengin, they stood inside an empty building at 620 N. Fresno St., north of Belmont Avenue.

If all the financing comes through, Cultiva La Salud plans to gut the building and start anew — with a kitchen and training center on the first floor and offices on the second.

The taxpayer money — from federal pandemic relief funds — would only go for kitchen building. This is on top of the $500,000 the city contributed to increase safety for mobile food vendors, including security cameras.

In 2021, a gunman killed food vendor Lorenzo Perez. The city helped form the Mobile Food Vendor Association, to help professionalize vendors. One of the goals was to create a prep kitchen.

“We really envision it being … a one-stop shop,” Chavez said. Other services include filling out health department applications, facilitating health inspections, and training.

Kitchen Costs: $3 Million

Islas, who is also a Fresno Unified trustee, said the total cost is around $3 million. Some funding comes from the Central Valley Community Foundation, which is headed by Swearengin, but restrictions in those funds would not allow purchasing land. Cultiva La Salud is reaching out to other funders.

When the kitchen is built — demolition is scheduled for later this year — vendors such as peddlers, bike cart operators and caterers will use the kitchen in small cohorts, Islas said. She eventually estimates 25-50 vendors per quarter using the kitchen.

A grant would help vendors pay for the kitchen space. Other kitchens can charge up to $50 an hour, Islas said.

“Being able to pay for a commercial space often becomes a challenge. And we want to invite them here,” Islas said.

Healthy Food Wanted

Islas, as her organization’s name indicates — Cultivate Health in English — wants vendors to provide alternates to fast food.

“A child could, instead of walking home with Takis and … a 32-ounce Coke could get some cherries, some strawberries, apples and carrots that are locally grown,” Islas said.

While any type of vendor would be welcome, Islas wants to train food sellers how to add healthier options to the menu. Churro vendors could add fresh strawberries.

Even the ice cream seller can market healthy foods.

“The paletero is always welcome. Paletero is actually very healthy. Let’s not create any misconceptions. Paleteros are made oftentimes with frozen fruits and water,” Islas said.

Another Kitchen in the Works

This would be the second kitchen the city is funding with pandemic relief money. The city council approved $500,000 in January 2023 for a similar commissary with nonprofit Helping Others Pursue Excellence.

Laneesha Senegal, the group’s CEO, said they are still developing plans, with an anticipated spring 2025 opening.

Several kitchens operate around town, Islas said, with some focusing on food trucks. A kitchen at Fresno Street and Belmont Avenue would help vendors sell in nearby downtown Fresno.

“We need a constellation of kitchens throughout the city really if we’re going to support catering micro food entrepreneurs that are required to have a certified commercial kitchen to operate out of,” Islas said.