2006 Research & Education Grants - Sustainable Community Food Systems

The goal of this funding cycle was to encourage farmers, consumers and communities to work together to create a more locally based, self-reliant food economy. Nine one-year projects were granted a total of $80,349. The grant awards were given to county-based UC Cooperative Extension advisors and directors who are partnering with community-based organizations.

Small Farms Marketing Assistance Program (M.A.P.)
Richard Molinar, UC Cooperative Extension, 1720 S. Maple Ave., Fresno, CA 93702, (559)456-7555, rhmolinar@ucdavis.edu. $10,000
This project will support the sustainability and diversification of the new “Golden West Side Farmers Market," particularly for African American farmers, through training and technical assistance to farmers and market management. A secondary goal is to raise public awareness of local and sustainable food systems, especially through direct market channels.

Solano County’s Agricultural Sustainability at the Crossroads…Which Way to Turn, What Choices Will Count?
Carole Paterson, UC Cooperative Extension, 501 Texas St., Fairfield, CA 94533, (707)784-1320, capaterson@ucdavis.edu. $10,000
This project will increase awareness of growers, policy-makers and local citizens about marketing options, agritourism, and sustainability issues in Solano County agriculture, through workshops and community forums.

Humboldt County Local Food Distribution Project
Deborah Giraud, UC Cooperative Extension, 5630 South Broadway, Eureka, CA 95503, (707)445-7351, ddgiraud@ucdavis.edu. $10,000
This project will focus on creating new markets for local farmers by piloting a farm-to-institution purchasing program in the county.

Needs Assessment for Small-Scale Livestock Harvesting and Processing Facilities in Northern California
Morgan Doran, UC Cooperative Extension, 501 Texas St., Fairfield, CA 94533, (707)784-1326, mpdoran@ucdavis.edu. $9,976
This project will quantify the demand for small-scale livestock slaughtering and processing services in Northern California and determine ideal geographic areas for such businesses.

Community Food Systems in Marin County: Connecting the Dots
Ellie Rilla, UC Cooperative Extension, 1682 Novato Blvd., Suite 150B, Novato, CA 94947, (415)499-4204, erilla@ucdavis.edu. $9,775
The project continues support of farm-to-school programming that connects food service and farmers in Marin County through on-farm tours and training for farmers.

Trinity Heritage Orchard Project
Larry Forero, UC Cooperative Extension, 1851 Hartnell Ave., Redding, CA 96002, (530)224-4900, lcforero@ucdavis.edu. $9,584
A heritage apple and pear orchard at Lee Fong Park will be used as a site to promote the use of heirloom fruit, as a focal point for agritourism and value-added marketing, and as a site to demonstrate production techniques.

PlacerGROWN Collaborative Community Supported Agriculture Project
Roger Ingram, UC Cooperative Extension, 11477 E Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603, (530)889-7385, rsingram@ucdavis.edu. $9,520
This project will pilot a collaborative community supported agriculture (CSA) project, supplying members with fresh, local produce from six to 10 farms.

Seasonal Availability Calendar for Placer County Produce
Cindy Fake, UC Cooperative Extension, 11477 E Ave., Auburn, CA 95603, (530)889-7385, cefake@ucdavis.edu. $7,989
This project will develop a seasonal calendar of Placer County produce to build awareness of local agriculture and stimulate the consumption of local agricultural products.

Farms of Tuolumne County Marketing Association
Jay Norton, UC Cooperative Extension, 2 S. Green St., Sonora, CA 95370, (209)533-5686, jbnorton@ucdavis.edu. $3,505
This project will support the development of a Web site and promotional materials featuring the Farms of Tuolumne County logo, ensuring the expansion and continuity of the marketing association.