You may not think of West Marin as a food desert, but that’s how Chloe Cook, the manager of West Marin’s Health and Human Services office, describes it. For those who cannot afford to shop at the high-priced local markets, a simple grocery trip to central Marin and back on public transportation can require more than one bus transfer and take several hours. Now, as federal emergency funding for the state’s CalFresh program ends in March, community organizations are gathering input on how to make West Marin less of a desert. A five-question survey devised by West Marin Community Services, the San Geronimo Valley Community Center and Marin Health and Human Services asks respondents how they feel about various ideas that could improve local food systems. Communal gatherings to share recipes and meals, easier access to community gardens, plant- and seed-sharing, and land trusts that give agricultural workers access to land for growing are among the suggestions. Despite being a food desert, West Marin has a large safety net, with multiple food pantries across the coast, Ms. Cook said. The pantries have become increasingly essential as food insecurity rises after the pandemic. Last year, West Marin Community Services distributed over 350 pounds of food weekly through its pantry. But many residents may soon be leaning more heavily on pantries. Federal pandemic funding for individual emergency allotments from CalFresh will end March 26. Three years ago, the United States Department of Agriculture gave states funding to boost recipients’ aid to the maximum allowable amount for their household size or provide an additional $95 a month for those already receiving the maximum. But the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 ended the allotments. The average CalFresh user will soon lose $200 a month. Single-person households that were receiving $281 a month are expected to receive as little as $23 a month beginning in April. Nearly 15,000 Marin County residents participated in CalFresh in December, and almost 10,000 households were reliant on the program. “We still don’t know what the food pantry system looks like in a post-pandemic era,” Ms. Cook said. “We need to see what we’re really up against. This is huge news.” To contribute your feedback on how to increase the consumption of fresh, organic produce and improve health outcomes, visit www.westmarincommunityservices.org. The survey closes March 3.