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.
Program Overview
CDFA's Farm to Community Food Hubs Program has up to $14.4 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-serving 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.
This competitive grant program will fund community food hub projects that:
- Serve California food producers, such as farmers, ranchers, sea harvesters, and Indigenous food production practitioners
- Prioritize serving California food producers that:
- Operate on 500 acres or less
- Are cooperatively owned
- Are using sustainable or climate smart agriculture practices or production systems;
- Are following state labor practices; or
- Identify as socially disadvantaged, veterans, disabled, a beginning farmer or rancher, or a limited resource farmer or rancher.
- Prioritize distributing California food to public institutions and nonprofit organizations, with an emphasis on public schools, food banks, and other food distribution nonprofit organizations in the region.
- Can identify the source (e.g. location of the farm) of 100% of food products that it sells.
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-serving nonprofit organizations.
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 gen8eral 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
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.
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.
