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INVESTIGATOR: Sowerwine, J.; Kraus, SI.; Ellsworth, SU.; Bennaton, RO.; Alcorta, MA.; Dufour, RE.; Getz, CH.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 94720

GROWING ROOTS: DEEPENING SUPPORT FOR DIVERSE NEW FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN CALIFORNIA

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Many of the beginning farmers and ranchers in our state are seeking scale and culturally appropriate training to help support the launch and sustainability of their farming operations. The long-term goal of this project is to support the economic and ecological viability of the next generation of diverse California farmers including urban, peri-urban and rural farmers and ranchers from diverse communities including Latino, Southeast Asian, and African American. Through in-depth training offered at established and emergent "agricultural learning hubs" this project aims to build on the successes and lessons of two prior BFR projects. By partnering with NCAT, UCCE, SAGE and ACRCD and several local agricultural training hubs, RCDs and NRCSs, UC Berkeley is collaborating to offer a combination of in-depth, culturally and regionally appropriate workshops, develop and distribute educational materials and videos, host field days and farmer tours, and strengthen farmer to farmer networks and learning hubs in 10 counties in central California. The expected outcomes are to 1) improve BFR access to sustainable farming information and technical support, 2) to increase adoption of organic and sustainable farming/ranching practices, 3) enhance the economic success of BFRs through business planning, value added, and marketing education and support, 4) provide referrals to agencies that provide access to land, financial and other services, 5) improve food safety among urban and peri-urban farmers, and 6) strengthen farmer-to-farmer learning networks via an innovative network of agricultural learning hubs

OBJECTIVES: The long-term goals of this project are to enhance the economic and ecological viability of the next generation of diverse California farmers and ranchers. These include Latino, Southeast Asian, African American and other ethnic groups farming in urban, peri-urban and rural areas in 10 counties (5 regions) within central California.The objectives of this collaborative project are to: 1) partner with local 'agricultural learning hubs' and other local partners to offer in-depth culturally and regionally appropriate training, which include a series of workshops/field courses and technical assistance (TA) 2) create and disseminate easily understood and accessed technical information, favoring audio-visual modes, such as short videos, as well as succinct tip sheets to complement the videos and simple guidebooks, and 3) support and enhance beginning farmer and rancher (BFR) networking for shared learning and access to resources.Providing ongoing in-depth training and resources to the next generation of urban/regional producers through our program, we will help keep farm and ranchland in production and strengthen urban-rural linkages, farmers markets, and the region's food system as a whole.