Promoting Food Equity and Innovation

Community Partners remains committed to the incubation of new ideas and innovation that support community leaders to make their vision into a reality. Today’s good ideas can become transformative solutions for tomorrow, and that couldn’t ring more true than for Terence Latimer, Project Lead of 29 Dines, a culinary and food equity initiative in the Twentynine Palms community.

29 Dines, a dining program, sponsored in part by the City of Twentynine Palms, and fiscally sponsored by Community Partners, created a culinary sensation kicking off its inaugural 29 Dines Restaurant Week and Food Festival, September 22-29, 2024. In partnership with Taste of the Desert, Black Cactus Co-Working, local businesses and the City, the weeklong celebration of “tastes and tunes” showcases the unique and diverse culinary experiences from local restaurants and food providers in this vibrant community.

“Twentynine Palms is a diverse, rural community that can sometimes feel isolating due to its expansive desert landscape and extreme climate,” said Terence Latimer, Project Lead of 29 Dines. “But through this initiative we’ve seen an immediate connection, expanding into an incredible coalition showcasing over 20 desert food vendors and restaurants, local artisans, and entertainment. This past weekend, visitors to the Joshua Tree National Park Visitors Center had an opportunity to engage and support local, family-owned businesses. This is a true community collaboration which featured over 1,000 participants.”

In collaboration with 100 Desert Artists of Color, the festival will celebrate not only the culinary arts but also the cultural diversity and artistic expression of the region. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to inclusivity and community engagement.

The food festival and restaurant week is not just about featuring the best foods and tastes the community has to offer. It ultimately supports local restaurants and food providers, providing economic stability and mobility for entrepreneurs and businesses, while promoting sustainable tourism for the City. Investing in new ways of providing an inclusive dining experience not only supports restaurants, chefs, local agriculture and providers, but enables tourists to experience authentic, locally-sourced flavors.

29 Dines is on the culinary frontier in Twentynine Palms showcasing the region’s cultural and culinary diversity. Through the expansion of new opportunities and partnerships, food vendors, providers, culinary artists and business owners are empowered to come together, leveraging the tools and resources needed to thrive in the local economy.

Learn more about 29 Dines Restaurant Week and Food Festival.