California expands food hub support
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) has announced $13.75 million in funding through its Farm to Community Food Hubs Grant Program. The funding will support 12 nonprofits, Tribal-led organizations, farmers, and other groups to plan, expand, and implement food hubs across the state.
Food hubs are businesses or organizations that bring together, market, and distribute food products from local producers to larger markets. These hubs create better opportunities for small- and mid-scale farmers while improving access to healthy food and supporting local economies.
The program received 165 applications, with funding requests totaling more than $148 million—nearly 11 times more than the available funds. Of the awarded funds, more than $2.2 million went to Tribal-led organizations, surpassing the program’s 10 percent goal for Native American groups.
The grant has two tracks. Planning grants will help organizations design business strategies, feasibility studies, and logistics plans in counties including Fresno, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Yolo. Implementation grants will provide five years of support for infrastructure and operating costs, benefiting at least 159 California food producers. Notably, 98 percent of these producers use sustainable or regenerative practices, 97 percent operate on under 500 acres, and 71 percent are considered socially disadvantaged.
These hubs will serve public institutions such as schools, food banks, food-is-medicine programs, and Tribal organizations. By linking farmers to broader markets, the initiative will also advance climate resilience, fair employment, and stronger local food systems.
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