We wanted to offer a freshly grown, organic congratulations to People's Grocery. The West Oakland food justice organization just won the 2009 Human Rights Heroes at Home Humanitarian Award, presented by the good folks over at Global Exchange. 

 The annual prize is given to organizations who've done significant work in one of three core categories: Economic Justice, Peace and Green Alternatives. The grocery and this year's other recipients-Samina Faheem Sundas and Abel Barrera-are join a prestigious tribe of forward thinking humanitarians, including past recipient Harry Belafonte, Alice Walker and Dr. Paul Farmer.

Big names and some big shoes to fill, but the Grocery has been one of the more effective community groups in the city. They've succeeded over the last 7 years due largely to their efforts to really work within the community they're serving, by being realistic about the scope of their services (mainly the neighborhood around the 25th and San Pablo area) and by creating a series of succesful and well received programs, including their original traveling Mobile Market, their semi regular, and super delicious, People's Grub parties and their latest fresh-fruit-right-to-your-door project: The People's Grocery Grub Box.

Get more info over at their website, consider grabbing a Grub Box or think about volunteering for one of their programs.  Go ahead, do it for the people.