About us

Centre Plate Farms

Centre Plate, LLC (CP) is an organization that addresses food justice among Stocktonians.  With a purpose to lift-up the plight of poor health outcomes centered on obesity, asthma, and healthy food access in the city of Stockton for more than 40 years, Centre Plate seeks to teach Stockton residents how to access healthy foods by strengthening their self-reliance and collective learning. 

CP staff will teach Stocktonians the value to mind, body, and soul through access to healthy foods by planting, growing, cultivating, cooking, and serving food grown with their own hands.  CP puts the responsibility of healthy eating on the individual and family, with a focus on Stockton women, while empowering community members who live in food deserts to give up reliance on the popular food structure; grocery stores, liquor stores, and convenience stores; and seek ways to access healthy foods on their own.

Programs at Centre Plate

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Centre Plate Gardens (CP Gardens)

Have a Seat at My Table (HSMT)

  • Mission

    Being well through access to healthy food, movement, and building a productive community.

  • Vision

    All Stocktonians can ‘be well’ and experience ‘being well’

  • Purpose

    Through food justice, focusing on the well being of our community by starting with those who are traditionally responsible for bringing and preparing food for the family table… our women.

Founder

Patricia Miller

Vice-Chair Board of Directors – Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Founding Steering Committee Member – Reinvent South Stockton Coalition

Founding Member – Black Urban Farmers Association

Founding Member – California Black Farmers Rising

Patricia Miller migrated from San Francisco in 1988 when she realized she could build a life in Stockton. Patricia was intrigued by the agriculture she saw everywhere.  Patricia knew she loved to cook and eat so, naturally she wanted to learn to grow food. It has been a 27-year journey creating food systems focused on community sustainability and food entrepreneurship as she wants to see the Stockton community thrive.

Patricia retired in 2020 as Senior Community Service Officer of the Stockton Police Department.  Patricia’s position allowed her build collaborations and relationships in Stockton in her role as the Public Relations Advisor for the Strategic Operations Unit.  As a founding member of PUENTES 209 – Bridging Sustainable Communities, Patricia was instrumental in building Boggs Tract Community Farm and co-founding Black Urban Farmers Association from the ground up.  Patricia enjoys addressing the issue of hunger, creating policy and infrastructure for sustainable growth, dialogue on social media, strategic marketing, and economic development.  After almost ten years, she still enjoys being part of the PUENTES team.

Beginning in Summer 2019 to January 2023, Patricia held the position of Community Engagement Manager and Farm Operations Manager, Edible Schoolyard Project – Stockton, California. Patricia’s leadership helped build sustainable momentum with a team of people on the program Our Pledge for Public Education, Children & Farmers.  This program was instrumental in building support for Sustainable School Lunch for all students in California by leveraging the purchasing power to buy food directly from farmers & ranchers who take care of the land and their workers.  The program also taught students the value of nourishment, land stewardship, and community building through diverse and inclusive activities. 

Currently, Patricia is the Co-Project Director –California Department of Food and Agriculture- Black Farmer Farmworker Training Program grant with African American Farmers of California- Fresno, California.  Patricia is creating a farm design build of an 18-acre parcel which is currently a demonstration farm for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers and ranchers.