Farm to Community Food Hubs Grant Program

CDFA Office of Farm to Fork

The Farm to Community Food Hubs Program received one-time funding of $13.75 million to award competitive grants for organizations developing and expanding community food hubs in California. Up to ten percent of the funding was set aside for California Native American Tribes and Tribal-led nonprofit organizations. CDFA awarded projects in 2025.

View the Program Fact Sheet

(Feb. 2026)

The 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. For questions, email cafoodhubs@cdfa.ca.gov.

Program Status

Closed

The program currently does not have funding for another round.

Questions?

Where can I learn more about food hubs?

The UC Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) publications, videos, and technical resources about food hubs and values-based supply chains on the UC SAREP website.
Michigan State University and the Wallace Center at Winrock International conducts national food hub surveys. View the food hub survey results on the MSU website.

How are institutions working with California food hubs?

Why do institutions work with food hubs? How do they start these relationships and scale them? How do they navigate funding, logistics, and organizational needs? Download these one-page case studies to learn how California institutions partner with food hubs to source more local food and meet procurement goals.

K-12 Schools:

Case Study: Menifee Union School District + Aziz Farms
Poway Unified School District and Dickinson Family Farms (coming soon)

Food Banks: SF-Marin Food Bank and Coastside Local Food Hub (coming soon)

UC Programs: UC San Diego and Foodshed Cooperative (coming soon)

2025 Awarded Projects

In September 2025, CDFA awarded $13.75 million to 12 projects to develop and expand community food hubs in California. CDFA awarded $1,108,688.50 to five Track 1 Planning projects and $12,641,311.50 to seven Track 2 Infrastructure and Operations projects. View the summary of awarded projects

Awarded Projects

Estimated Grant Timeline & Process

Please note these dates are estimates and could change.

Winter 2026	Projects begin.
Fall 2025	CDFA developed grant agreements.
September 2025	CDFA announced grant awards.
April – July 2025	CDFA and technical reviewers evaluated 165 applications. CDFA received 165 applications, collectively requesting $148,332,630 –almost 11 times more than the funding CDFA had available. Eighty-six (52%) applications were submitted for the Track 1 Planning funding track and seventy-nine (48%) applications were submitted for the Track 2 Infrastructure and Operations funding track. View the summary of the application period
February 12 – April 14, 2025	Application period. CDFA hosted six public webinars to share more about the grant opportunity and respond to questions. Watch the Farm to Community Food Hubs Program Youtube playlist
December 2024 – January 2025	CDFA reviewed public comments on draft Request for Application and updated before opening application period.
November 12 – December 6, 2024	CDFA received public comments about the draft RFA and hosted three virtual public feedback sessions on November 18, November 21, and December 6, 2024.
Summer 2024	CDFA developed the draft Request for Application.

Resources for Food Hubs

CA Food Hub Network (UC SAREP) — Food hubs can request to join the California Food Hub Network, hosted and coordinated by UC Agriculture Research & Education Program (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. Contact Alicia Baddorf.
Local Food in Cafeterias Map (CDFA) — Use this interactive map to find public school districts purchasing local food and food hubs serving public schools.
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.
California's Small Business Support Network — Get connected to local business advisors across California’s small business centers, receive 1:1 advising, join free or low-cost trainings, and more.
Publications, studies, and toolkits on UC SAREP’s Website

Permits, Licenses, and Certifications

This does not represent an exhaustive list of permits, licenses, or certifications that your food hub may need to operate.

CA Trucking and Forklift Regulations

California 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

Additional Funding Opportunities & Programs

Opportunities with CDFA

California Grants Portal — Find all upcoming grants offered through state agencies, including CDFA 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. Mobile Farmers’ Market Grant Program Urban Agriculture Grant Program

Opportunities with Other Programs

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.

Grant Program Application Materials — Now Closed

Request for Application (RFA) Application Submission Checklist (for Track 1 and Track 2)

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.

View the Summary of Public Comments and Responses Read the Press Release: CDFA Farm to Community Food Hubs Grant Program Seeks Public Comments Presentation Slides in English La presentación en español Draft Food Hubs RFA Public Session Recording in English La grabación en español Draft Request for Application Draft Application Submission Checklist

Track 1 Planning and Piloting

Draft Track 1 Application Questions and Evaluation Criteria Draft Track 1 Letter of Support Template Draft Track 1 Workplan Template Draft Track 1 Budget Template

Track 2 Infrastructure and Operations

Draft Track 2 Application Questions and Evaluation Criteria Draft Track 2 Letter of Support Form Draft Track 2 Workplan Template Draft Track 2 Budget Template

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, 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