Despite national headlines touting easing inflation, families in El Monte, Baldwin Park, and South El Monte continue to adjust to food costs. While the U.S. inflation rate dropped to 2.3% in April—its lowest point since early 2021—the cost of groceries remains elevated in working-class communities across the San Gabriel Valley. For many households, especially those already stretching budgets to cover rent and fuel, the impact is still deeply felt.
Food Pantries and School Programs Expand
In response, community members and local organizations are stepping in. At the El Monte Union High School District, school officials report growing demand for their student meal programs, even during off-school hours. “We’re seeing more families picking up meals for students after class or asking about weekend meal kits,” said Maria Alvarado, a nutrition services coordinator. “For some students, this is their most consistent access to fresh food.”
Nonprofits like the South El Monte Community Center have also increased their food distributions. In April alone, the center saw a 40% rise in households picking up weekly grocery bags. The Baldwin Park Unified School District has extended its partnership with the USDA’s Farmers to Families program to distribute produce boxes to low-income residents. Volunteers say the need remains steady, even as national inflation numbers decline.
Cultural Buying Habits Shift
Residents are also adjusting their shopping behaviors. Local grocers in El Monte’s Valley Mall and Baldwin Park’s Maine Avenue report that more families are returning to staple ingredients like rice, beans, and frozen vegetables instead of fresh meat and prepared meals. “Shoppers are asking about deals more than ever,” said Simon Liu, owner of a family market in South El Monte. “We’re trying to keep prices low, but delivery costs haven’t gone down.”
Some families have started pooling resources to shop in bulk. Shared Costco memberships among extended families or neighbors are becoming more common. Maria Hernandez, a Baldwin Park mother of three, said, “I shop with my sister. We split big items like flour or chicken. It helps us both make it through the week.”
Home Gardens and Side Hustles Grow
In addition to changing shopping patterns, some residents are turning to small-scale food production. Community gardening groups in El Monte and South El Monte have reported increased participation. The El Monte Community Garden saw 15 new families sign up in the last quarter.
“I started with tomatoes and peppers last summer,” said Anthony Martinez, a South El Monte resident and city employee. “Now I grow cilantro, lettuce, and lemons. Every little bit helps when groceries are this expensive.”
Others are supplementing their income to cover the food gap. Informal home-based food businesses—like tamale deliveries, weekend fruit carts, and online baked goods—have grown in number. City officials in Baldwin Park confirmed that they have received more inquiries about permits for cottage food operations in the past six months than they did all of last year.
Community Impact and Ongoing Need
While inflation relief offers national optimism, the lingering effect of rising food prices still pressures families in El Monte, Baldwin Park, and South El Monte to adjust to food costs. The creative ways residents are adapting reflect both resilience and ongoing vulnerability.
“There’s no denying that people are working hard to get by,” said Janet Reyes, a caseworker with a local nonprofit. “Even with lower inflation, it’s not translating into cheaper food fast enough.”
For many families, the adjustments are now part of daily life. Whether by growing their own vegetables, sharing groceries with relatives, or tapping into school and nonprofit programs, local residents continue to find ways to navigate economic pressure close to home. As the broader economy improves, community leaders say targeted support will still be needed to keep pace with the realities of rising food prices in neighborhoods that were already under strain.
