F3Local

Are you a food system advocate with proficiency in Hmong or Spanish? The F3 Local Bilingual Outreach Community Educator (Community Education Specialist 1) is vital in supporting small-scale farmers and food businesses through outreach, extension education, technical assistance, and applied research activities. Under the direct supervision of the Regional Director of Local Farm and Food Innovation and as part of the F3 Local team, the Community Educator will focus on engaging the Hmong-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities respectively to enhance access to resources, tools, and support. In this role, the Community Educator will assist with conducting outreach with small-scale farmers and food business owners, focusing on  Hmong-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities respectively in Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kings, and Tulare Counties. They will support and deliver bilingual educational materials, presentations, and workshops tailored to the needs of small-scale food and farming businesses. The Community Educator will aid in providing technical assistance and extension support to farmers and micro-enterprises, including guidance on appropriately scaled tools, equipment, and technology. Apply to be a Bilingual Outreach Community Educator today! English/Hmong Role: https://lnkd.in/gf-cDGq3 English/Spanish Role: https://lnkd.in/gDh-uNND #SpanishSpeaking #HmongSpeaker #CommunityOutreac #F3Local #CentralValleyFarming #CentralValleyFood #FresnoJobs #MaderaJobs #MercedJobs #KingsCountyJobs #TulareJobs 

Big news for local farmers! The USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture recently awarded Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grants, and four Central Valley farms - Angela's Ranch, Madera's Queen Honey LLC, Riverdance Farms, and Siembra y Cosecha - received a total of $242,862 with support from F3Local and Community Alliance with Family Farmers. These grants will help strengthen our food systems, support small farms, and advance sustainable practices. Congratulations to these hardworking farms for their incredible efforts! Read the USDA press release for more details at: https://lnkd.in/d2fYCP7m #F3Initiative #FarmsFoodFuture #F3Local #SupportLocalFarms #BuyLocal

We are hiring an Industry Partnerships Coordinator! The Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology & Agriculture and F3 Innovate at UC Merced is seeking an Industry Partnerships Coordinator to connect research with the agriculture and tech industries. In this role, you will: - Build relationships with industry partners, farmers, and researchers. - Facilitate collaborations like field trials, hackathons, and projects. - Support cross-disciplinary work in agtech, data science, and climate-smart innovations. -Help advance sustainable food systems in California’s Central Valley and beyond. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact by connecting UC Merced’s researchers with industry leaders tackling the future of food, farming, and technology. If you're a strong communicator with a passion for innovation, we want to hear from you! Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gE8_Rv_d Join us in driving the future of sustainable innovation in agriculture! Leigh Bernacchi Joshua Viers

Join us for the 4th Small Farm Tech Expo at Kingsburg Historical Park—a community event that features a tech exposition tailored for small-scale farmers and dynamic workshops focused on technology. This annual event brings together farmers, community members, and supporters of family farms in the Central Valley. Immerse yourself in a day of innovation and camaraderie! Date: December 12th, 2024 • 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Kingsburg Historical Park Register here: https://lnkd.in/g_nApF8e Learn more at  https://lnkd.in/gcu-wrSs Event Highlights Exhibition hall: Live demonstration of 15+ companies that develop tools and technologies for small-scale farms including Sutton Ag, Parabug, SBA, Farm-ng, Farmhand Tractor, Fresno State, Renewables Inc and more! Grants & Resources: Learn about available grants and resources that will help you access and purchase tools and equipment Workshops to learn how to use technology to leverage your farm business Launch of the Small Farms Alliance to Develop Appropriate Technology (SF-ADAPT) Refreshments and Lunch will be provided to keep you energized during the event Spanish interpretation available

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first-ever F3Local Central Valley Flavor Fest! From delicious jujube treats to inspiring conversations with local farmers, vendors, taste testers, and attendees, the event showcased our Valley’s diverse crop offerings. Stay tuned for more info on our next Flavor Fest event in the new year. #F3Initiative #F3Local #FarmsFoodFuture #CVFlavorFest

This was a great event focused on #AgTech solutions addressing labor challenges in California agriculture. The F3Local team was at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center for the Connect Field Day with The VINE, Farmhand Ventures, and UCANR. Featuring live demonstrations of technologies such as robotics for crop transport, AI-powered farm monitoring, and precision harvesting robots. This was an opportunity to learn more about practical tools designed to improve efficiency in agricultural operations. 🚜AMOS Power featured a fully electric autonomous tractor with a compact size built for vineyards. 🍇Gather.ag, based in #Merced, demoed their Gather Rover, built to assist in-row crop transportation on table grape farms and minimize or eliminate the use of hauling with a wheelbarrow. 📍RapidAIM Pty Ltd demoed real-time pest detection systems to help farmers protect crops and reduce the need for pesticides, with systems built for almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and sweet corn. 🧠 After the Field Day, F3 partners and stakeholders gathered to discuss how to be in partnership and better connect on shared work. If you missed the event, feel free to reach out for more information!

Small Grants Program now accepting applications: UC SAREP Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems. Up to $10,000 available for projects that fall within two priority areas: Priority Area 1: Support California’s farmers, ranchers, and Tribal and non-Tribal land stewards of all scales in piloting, evaluating, and transitioning to: - environmentally regenerative approaches to producing crops and livestock (including but not limited to soil health, organic and agroecological practices, integrated pest management, crop diversification); - pathways for realizing economic return from ecologically-sound crop management practices and fair labor practices; - marketing and distribution strategies that support diversified, decentralized, and locally-based supply chains; - strategies that promote producer-to-producer networking and/or producer-to-supply chain networking. Priority Area 2: Support California’s rural, urban, and Tribal communities in identifying, implementing, and evaluating strategies to: - expand access to healthy, sustainably produced, culturally appropriate foods; ensure worker wellbeing across the food chain; minimize the community and environmental costs of food production and distribution; - strengthen connections between consumers and producers; - establish and strengthen producer-to-producer connections and producer-to-supply chain connections. https://lnkd.in/gmwjgPVp

Register to join The VINE on 11/4 for the Connect Field Day for demonstrations on #AgTech labor solutions. #CentralValley #AgTECWorkforce #SmallFarmers #Sustainable #Agriculture #Ag #F3Initiative #FarmsFoodFuture #InclusiveInnovation #FresnoDRIVE #CVCF #CDFA #ClimateResilience #EconomicDevelopment #Agriculture