Community Alliance With Family Farmers Foundation

CAFF'S MISSION IS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEMS THROUGH POLICY ADVOCACY AND ON-THE-GROUND PROGRAMS THAT CREATE MORE RESILIENT FAMILY FARMS, COMMUNITIES, AND ECOSYSTEMS.

FARM TO MARKETCAFF CONNECTS FARMS WITH BUSINESSES, PROVIDING GROWERS WITH A SUITE OF PRACTICAL SERVICES - FROM COORDINATING INSTITUTIONAL PURCHASING TO MARKETING RESOURCES - TO ENSURE SUPPLY AND DEMAND GROW TOGETHER. FROM OUR FARM TO CAFETERIA INITIATIVE, TO OUR WORK WITH THE CSA INNOVATION NETWORK (A PARTNERSHIP WITH 15 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GROUPS), AND THE "LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS RESPONSE TO COVID NETWORK", WE PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO FARMS ALL ACROSS CALIFORNIA THROUGH DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH, AND BY SHARING VALUABLE RESOURCES. PURCHASING COLLABORATIVES ARE GROUPS OF SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL FOOD SERVICE PURCHASING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SAME REGION, UTILIZING COMMON DISTRIBUTORS AND FARMERS. IN 2020, CAFF FACILITATED OVER $905,000 SALES VIA PURCHASING COLLABORATIVES OF 260 DIVERSE BUYERS AND 250 FARMS.

FARMER SERVICESIN 2020, WE PROVIDED DIRECT TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO HUNDREDS OF FARMERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA WITH SERVICES: THROUGH LAUNCHING OUR NEW TECH HUB (WHICH SUPPORTS SMALL FAMILY FARMS AND FOOD ENTERPRISES IN ADOPTING TECHNOLOGY-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR DIRECT MARKETING CHALLENGES) AND OUT ONGOING WORK IN OUR FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM THAT HELPS GROWERS PROVIDE HEALTHY AND SAFE PRODUCE TO THEIR MARKETS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, ONLINE RESOURCES AND MORE. OUR 2020 WEBINARS COVERED FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT (FSMA) INSPECTION UPDATES AND FAQS AND ON-FARM FOOD SAFETY DURING COVID-19, WITH EVERYTHING FROM EMPLOYEES TO POST-HARVEST TO EQUIPMENT. PARTNERS INCLUDED FULL BELLY FARM, CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS (CCOF), AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (CDFA).

ECOLOGICAL FARMING (FORMERLY CLIIMATE SMART)WE WORK WITH FARMERS, POLICY MAKERS, RESEARCHERS, AND LOCAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS TO PROMOTE, IMPROVE, AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ADOOPTION OF ECOLOGICAL FARMING THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. CAFF'S CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL WATER STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (CA WSI) TEACHES GROWERS HOW TO USE WATER MORE SUSTAINABLY, WHILE OTHER PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT, ON-FARM DIVERSITY, AND BUILDING HEDGEROWS. IN 2020, WE PARTNERED WITH 20 FARMS TO CONDUCT ON-FARM TRIALS AND DEMONSTRATIONS, HOSTED SIX WORKSHOPS, AND HELPED FARMS IMPLEMENT ECOLOGICAL FARMING PRACTICES ON OVER 350 ACRES. CAFF ALSO SHARED TWO NEW RESOURCES FOR GROWERS: OUR "COVER CROP DECISION GUIDE FOR PERENNIAL SYSTEMS AND "COVER CROP DECISION GUIDE FOR ANNUAL SYSTEMS CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FRESHWATER TRUST. THESE PRACTICAL GUIDES ARE DESIGNED TO WALK FARMERS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SELECTING THE RIGHT COVER CROP MIX FOR YOUR FARM, FROM ADDRESSING ISSUES SUCH AS SOIL COMPACTION AND PESTS, TO PROVIDING BENEFITS LIKE ADDING NITROGEN AND ATTRACTING POLLINATORS.