Farms Food Future (F3) Initiative
Coalition Lead: Central Valley Community Foundation
Phase 2 Award: $65 million
Private Investment (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $1 million
Additional Public and Nonprofit Funding (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $55 million
Project Description: The Farms Food Future (F3) Initiative, formerly known as Fresno-Merced Future of Food Initiative, is accelerating the integration of technology and skills in the region’s agriculture industry, and in the process is improving productivity and job quality for existing farmworkers while driving a more resilient and sustainable food system.
The coalition is uniting partners across the region, including the University of California, Merced; the California State University, Fresno; Merced College; the California Department of Food and Agriculture; the California Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development; and the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
As of September 2024, the coalition has made significant strides in achieving its vision of a more innovative, equitable, and resilient agricultural industry:
- Seven partnering community colleges have developed a shared curriculum and transcript system based on a survey of over 12,000 farmworkers to develop more flexible education opportunities, especially for migrant farmworkers who may not necessarily live in places long enough for traditional higher education. Students have begun taking courses, and enrollment is expected to reach a maximum of 8,400 annually.
- Fresno BIPOC Produce, a partnering organization that is working to increase revenue streams for underrepresented farmers, is facilitating new business connections for agricultural producers in the Central Valley. To date, orders have been filled to the Los Angeles Unified School District—the second largest school district in the United States.
- The F3 Innovate 501(c)(3) was incorporated and hired a CEO. It has begun a feasibility study to assess whether to house the organization in a physical location in downtown Fresno past the duration of the BBBRC grant period.
Coalition Application Narrative (PDF)
“F3 is a collective effort by large and small farmers, workers and community organizations, cottage food entrepreneurs, university-based innovation partners, and investors to develop world-recognized ‘climate-smart food and agriculture systems’ that provide solutions for sustainable food production in the Central Valley and diversify the region’s economy with the potential to create and fill 10,000 quality jobs and attract $250M in private investment.”
Farms Food Future (F3) Initiative
Related Links
- Learn about the Central Valley Community Foundation’s leadership role.
- Learn about how this coalition is supporting agriculture technology innovation.
- Learn about how this coalition is supporting small-scale farmers and producers.