The USDA has announced the selection of USDA Regional Food Business Centers. Twelve organizations were selected to establish community food centers, including the University of California College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The center provides coordination, technical assistance, and capacity development to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local governments. resources, thereby bridging the gap to success.
In September 2022, USDA announced $400 million available to fund this initiative. USDA will establish a total of 12 regional food business centers to serve all regions of the country, including US territories. Regional Food Centers serve communities that have historically been underinvested in their area.
The USDA and the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources enter into a cooperative agreement to establish the Southwestern USDA Regional Food Business Center to serve the states of California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. The $35 million project is located in southern Arizona and California, primarily in rural areas of the U.S.-Mexico border, with a particular focus on the colonial communities with challenging housing and infrastructure requirements.
Similar hubs in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions are co-hosted by Oregon State University and Colorado State University.
“USDA is thrilled to partner with UC ANR on this innovative and unprecedented initiative,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA’s secretary of marketing and regulatory programs. “By leveraging the expertise currently available through these regional food centers, USDA is able to provide unique support for local food system development across the country.”
UC ANR is primarily responsible for coordinating technical assistance provided throughout the region across multiple states, timing technical assistance providers for the Southwest USDA Regional Food Business Center, the overall portfolio of educational courses, workshops, and training, Manage frequency, serving, and conflicting duplicate content.
Glenda Humiston, vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of California, said: .
“Our strategy of rapidly scaling up existing successful programs is focused on ensuring services to disadvantaged and historically underrepresented communities of producers, farmers and agri-food businesses. Our focus gives us a quick return on this investment.”
impressive cross section
Collectively, the selected organizations reflect an impressive cross-section of the various agencies, organizations and associations that must work together to achieve a truly strong and decentralized food system. UC ANR and other selected organizations are already working with grassroots food and agriculture organizations and are adopting a variety of creative strategies to build resilience in local food systems.
The University of California provides technical assistance statewide through a joint expansion program made up of UC campus-based subject matter experts covering small farm programs, community food systems, urban farming programs, community and economic development networks, and food safety. provide. economy and cooperatives.
Partners include the California Department of Food and Agriculture. California State University – Chico; California State University – Fresno; Occidental College; Riverside Food System Alliance; San Diego Food System Alliance; Foundation; University of Arizona; Nevada Department of Agriculture; University of Nevada-Reno; Utah Department of Agriculture; and Utah State University.
many collaborators
Collaborators include Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Center for Good Food Purchasing, Agriculture & Land-based Training Association, Prosperity Market, Farmer Ken, California FarmLink, BAR-C, The Farmers Marketplace, Lost Sierra Food Project, Northern California Chamber of Commerce of Commerce, 3CORE, Chico-based consulting firm Morrison, Glenn County Resource Conservation District, Kitchen Table Advisors, Diaspora Groceries, The Larta Institute, Los Angeles County Food Equity Roundtable, Los Angeles Food Policy Council, Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles , Growing Communities Inc., Health Care Without Harm, Community Investment Corp, Pinnacle Prevention, Arizona State University, White Mountain Economic Development, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Nevada Farm Bureau Federation, Zion United Methodist Church, Reno Food Systems, Three Square, Blue Lizard Farms, Garden Nevada Farms, Churchill Entrepreneur Development Association, UNR Desert Agriculture Initiative, Utah Farm Authority, Salt Lake City International Rescue Commission, Utah Small Business Development Center, Utah Cattlemen Association.
For more information, visit the Agricultural Marketing Services Community Food Business Center web page. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/rfbcp.
Source: University of California, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
