Apply for the Farm to Community Food Hubs Grant
Program Overview
CDFA's Farm to Community Food Hubs Program has up to $13.75 million available to award in competitive grants for organizations developing and expanding community food hubs in California. Up to ten percent of the funding will be set aside for California Native American Tribes and Tribal-led nonprofit organizations.
This new grant program was established to pilot investments in (1) planning activities and (2) food aggregation and distribution infrastructure and operational costs needed for community food hubs to increase purchasing of local, environmentally sustainable, climate smart, and equitably produced food by schools and other institutions. These investments aim to build a better food system economy, support the local farming and indigenous food production economies, accelerate climate adaptation and resilience, and employ food system workers with fair wages and working conditions. You can read the state statute that authorizes this program.
How to apply for the 2025 grant
Applications are due 5 p.m. PDT on Monday, April 14, 2025. Submit all completed and required application materials by emailing them as attachments to cafoodhubs@cdfa.ca.gov. Review the "Application Submission Checklist" below to see which materials are required for each funding track.
Track 1 Planning
Award amount: $50,000 - $250,000 | Grant term: up to 24 months
Track 1 Planning Application Materials
Track 2 Infrastructure and Operations
Award amount: $350,000 - $2 million | Grant term: 60 months
Track 2 Infrastructure and Operations Application Materials
Program Priorities
This competitive grant program will fund community food hub projects that:
- Serve California food producers, such as farmers, ranchers, seafood harvesters, and California Native American Tribes, Tribal members, or Native American people using Indigenous food production practices
- Prioritize serving California food producers that represent at least one of the following:
- Operate on 500 acres or less
- Are cooperatively owned
- Are using sustainable, climate smart, or regenerative agriculture practices or production systems;
- Socially disadvantaged food producer
- Veteran food producer
- Beginning food producer
- Limited resource food producer
- Disabled food producer
- Prioritize distributing California food to public institutions and nonprofit organizations, with an emphasis on public schools, food banks, and other food distribution nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities in the region.
- Cultivate financial sustainability via strategies that help cover long-term costs
View the Track 1 Application Review Criteria and Track 2 Application Review Criteria for details on how applications will be scored.
The program will prioritize funding the creation of new community food hubs. Up to ten percent of the funding will be set aside for California Native American Tribes and Tribal-led nonprofit organizations.
Application Assistance
Read the Frequently Asked Questions or email CDFA staff: cafoodhubs@cdfa.ca.gov
Application Office Hours
Attend virtually to ask questions about the grant program. Meetings will be recorded and posted below.
- 4 p.m. PST Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | Watch the recordingfor February 25, 2025
- 12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | Register here
- 9:30 a.m. PDT Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | Register here
- 11 a.m. PDT Tuesday, April 1, 2025 |Register here
- 12 p.m. PDT Thursday, April 10, 2025 | Register here
Request Feedback on a Draft Application
From February 20 – April 11, CDFA will meet with up to 20 qualifying applicants (see details below) to provide feedback on draft application materials. Application materials can be in any stage of development. CDFA will review draft materials and provide feedback to help improve the application before applicants submit it for formal review. Applicants who cannot participate in this service are encouraged to attend CDFA’s virtual Application Office Hours or email cafoodhubs@cdfa.ca.gov for questions.
Important note. Having draft application materials reviewed does not guarantee the application will receive more points during technical review nor guarantee the applicant will be offered the grant award. CDFA staff reviewing draft application materials will not score those same applications once they are submitted for formal review.
Who can request this assistance?
CDFA will review draft application materials for up to 20 lead applicants that identify as one of the following groups.:
- California Native American Tribes (both federally and non-federally recognized)
- Tribal-led nonprofit organizations
Note: A Tribal-led nonprofit is a California-based nonprofit organizations with at least 50% of the Board of Directors and/or Leadership Team identifying as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian and whose organizational mission or strategic plan expresses a commitment to serving and/or empowering California Native American Tribes or people.
- Food producer businesses/organizations with 50% or more of owners identifying as at least one of the following:
- Socially disadvantaged food producer
- Beginning food producer
- Limited resource food producer
- Veteran food producer
- Disabled food producer
Note: a food producer is a person, group of individuals, nonprofit organization, or California Native American Tribe cultivating crops, raising livestock, and/or is a California seafood harvester. Also a California Native American, Tribal member, or person that uses Indigenous food production practices on this land or in waters for seafood harvesting.
How can someone request this assistance?
- Complete the online form or call 916-539-6017. Be ready to select which date and time you want to meet between February 20 – April 11, 2025. Meetings will be available from 8:30 am – 5 pm PST. Meetings should be requested at least 72 hours in advance.
- You will receive a confirmation email with further instructions and details.
- Email the draft application materials to cafoodhubs@cdfa.ca.gov at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. The materials can be at any stage of completeness.
Tip: request a meeting in advance to hold your spot. You do not need to send draft application materials until at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
¿Necesita un intérprete? Christina, la miembro del personal de CDFA, solo habla inglés y poco español. Si un solicitante necesita un intérprete para participar en las reuniones, háganoslo saber cuando complete el formulario en línea o llame y contrataremos un intérprete de idiomas. Necesitamos un aviso de al menos 72 horas para contratar a un intérprete. Todas las solicitudes deben presentarse en inglés. CDFA no traducirá las solicitudes.
What will CDFA do when reviewing draft applications?
- Provide free language interpretation for applicants that speak limited English (with at least 72 hours notice)
- Review draft application responses, draft workplans, and draft budgets
- Provide feedback to an applicant via phone call or virtual meetings (not by email)
- Provide guidance on how application materials could be improved to reflect an applicant’s project vision
- Provide guidance on how application materials could better align with the application evaluation criteria
- Provide guidance on whether proposed costs are allowable or unallowable. CDFA provides this guidance to all applicants, whether they participate in this service or not.
What will CDFA not do when reviewing draft applications?
- Write any portion of the application
- Tell or suggest how an applicant should accomplish a project. Applicants and their partners know how best to accomplish a project based on their specific context.
- Conduct research on behalf of the applicant
- Provide direct edits to materials
- Translate applications to English
Estimated Grant Timeline & Process
Please note these dates are estimates and could change
| Summer 2024 |
CDFA developed the draft Request for application (RFA) |
| November 12 – December 6, 2024 |
CDFA received public comments about the draft RFA from November 12 – December 6 and hosted three virtual public feedback sessions on November 18, November 21, and December 6, 2024.
|
| December 2024- January 2025 |
CDFA reviewed public comments and updated the RFA before opening the application period |
| February 19, 2025, 10am PST |
Virtual Application Information Session. Register here
View the slide deck -- Watch the recording |
| February – April 2025 |
Public virtual “Application Office Hours”.
- 4 p.m. PST Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | Watch the recordingfor February 25, 2025
- 12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | Register here
- 9:30 a.m. PDT Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | Register here
- 11 a.m. PDT Tuesday, April 1, 2025 |Register here
- 12 p.m. PDT Thursday, April 10, 2025 | Register here |
| Monday, April 14, 2025 by 5 pm PDT |
Applications are due. Find application instructions at the top of the webpage. |
| April – May 2025 |
CDFA staff and technical reviewers review and score applications. CDFA may contact applicants for additional information, if needed. |
| June 2025 |
CDFA notifies applicants whether they are selected for awards. CDFA publishes selected grant recipients.
Applicants who are not selected for an award have 10 calendar days to request feedback from CDFA and/or submit an appeal. For details on how to request feedback or submit an appeal, see Section 2.4 in the Request for Application.
|
| June – September/October 2025 |
CDFA works with selected grant recipients to develop and sign grant agreements (this process can last up to 90 days).
|
| Fall 2025 |
Grant recipients participate in CDFA’s grant onboarding . Grant recipients can start their projects.
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Other Resources
These resources from CDFA and other organizations can support grant applicants and future grant recipients develop applications or implement future projects. If you can’t find something, contact us at cafoodhubs@cdfa.ca.gov.
Food Hub Food Safety Resources (UC SAREP)
Organic Compliance Resources for Food Hubs (UC SAREP)
Guide to Energy Efficient and Climate Smart Refrigerated Equipment (CDFA)
Vendor and Contract Directory for Food Hubs (CDFA)
If your organization is looking for a contractor/consultant to support planning or building a food hub - or looking for equipment/supply vendors - this is a good list for you.
CA Trucking and Forklift Regulations (CA Air Resources Board - CARB)
- Zero-Emission Truck Transport Refrigeration Unit Requirements
- Requirements for zero-emission truck transport refrigeration units (TRUs) go into effect as early as December 2023.
- Find out if the regulations apply to your fleet at CARB’s website.
- Contact: arber@arb.ca.gov / (888) 878-2826
- Visit CalFleet Advisor: receive free assistance to figure out how to get ZEVs in your fleet
- Zero-Emission Forklift Regulations
- New requirements for certain types of forklifts go into effect 2026
- Find out if the regulations apply to your operation at CARB’s website
- Contact: zeforklifts@arb.ca.gov . (877) 593-6677 / (877) 59DOORS
Summary of 2024 Public Comment Period
CDFA received public comments about the draft Request for Application from November 12 – December 6, 2024 and hosted three virtual public feedback sessions about the draft Request for Application.
Farm to Community Food Hubs Working Group
CDFA established a Farm to Community Food Hubs Working Group according to state statute to guide CDFA on developing the Farm to Community Food Hubs Program. The Working Group is part of CDFA's ongoing efforts to support community food hubs across California and one piece to how CDFA gathers feedback about the program. CDFA encourages and actively invites California food hubs, organization partners, and the general public to help shape the Farm to Community Food Hubs Grant Program through public comment, community outreach, and collaborating with community partners. CDFA thanks the Working Group members for sharing their time and expertise:
- Alicia Baddorf and Gwenael Engelskirchen (alternate), UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP)
- Andy Ollove, Fresh Approach
- Anna Nakamura Knight, Old Grove Orange
- Christina Lawson, Western Placer Unified School District
- Hector Reider, Community Alliance with Family Farmers
- Keng Vang, Fresno BIPOC Produce
- Maria Houlne, California Association of Food Banks
- Megan Kenney, Harvest Hub (North Coast Growers Association)
- Mireya Gomez-Contreras, Esperanza Community Farms
- Paula Aubrey and Louisa McCovey, The Yurok Tribe Environmental Department
- Shayne Zurilgen, Spork Food Hub/Fiery Ginger Farm
Where can I learn more about food hubs?
UC SAREP Resources for Food Hubs: the UC Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) has readings, videos, and technical resources about food hubs and values-based supply chains on their website.
CA Food Hub Network: UC SAREP: the CDFA Farm to Community Food Hubs Program collaborates with UC Agriculture Research & Education Program (UC SAREP) on the California Food Hub Network, but CDFA does not lead the Network. If you have questions about CDFA’s Farm to Community Food Hub Program, please contact via email. If you have questions about UC SAREP’s California Food Hub Network, please contact Alicia Baddorf.
Food hubs can join the California Food Hub Network, hosted and coordinated by UC SAREP. The California Food Hub Network is a learning network to coordinate technical assistance, collaborative learning and information sharing for and among food hubs in California. Activities include in-person convenings, networking events between food hubs and potential buyers, food hub tours, and technical assistance on a diverse range of topics related to food hub operations. The California Food Hub Network is not related to CDFA funding opportunities.
Additional Funding Opportunities & Programs
Opportunities with CDFA
Find all upcoming CDFA grants.
Farm to School Incubator Grant Program: The California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program offers competitive grants to support farm to school projects that cultivate equity, nurture students, build climate resilience, and create scalable and sustainable change.
California Nutrition Incentive Program: The California Nutrition Incentive Program encourages the purchase and consumption of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts by nutrition benefit clients. The program provides monetary incentives for the purchase of California grown fruits and vegetables at Certified Farmers Markets and small businesses.
Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program: The Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program funds energy efficient refrigeration units in corner stores, small businesses, and food donation programs in low-income or low-access areas throughout the state to stock California-grown fresh produce, nuts, dairy, meat, eggs, minimally processed, and culturally appropriate foods.
Opportunities with Other Programs
California's Farms Together Program: Through Farms Together, food hubs and aggregation partners work directly with producers to bring finished farm boxes and bulk food pallets to food banks and other community sites for distribution.
USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center: The Southwest Regional Food Business Center provides support for food and farm businesses across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah through coordination, technical assistance and capacity building. Financial assistance for food and farm businesses will be available through the Business Builder grants and the Center will provide technical assistance directly to small and mid-sized food and farm businesses including producers, processors, distributors, and other related businesses within the food supply chain.
USDA Local Agriculture Market Program: The Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) includes federal funding opportunities that support the development, coordination, and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing; local and regional food markets and enterprises; and value-added agricultural products.
America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (Reinvestment Fund): America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative offers resources including grants, loans, technical assistance services, programming, and other forms of support to eligible projects that will improve access to fresh, healthy foods in underserved rural and urban areas.
