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Helping Small Farms Thrive in the Central Valley

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Small Farms, Big Obstacles

Farming in California’s Central Valley isn’t easy—especially for smaller operations. From rising equipment costs to shifting regulations and competitive markets, small-scale farmers face mounting pressures. Many lack access to the resources that larger farms rely on to stay efficient and profitable.

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F3 Local partners with small-scale and historically underserved farmers to level the playing field. Whether you’re growing on five acres or fifty, we provide:

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  • Access to shared tools and equipment

  • Connections to university researchers, engineers,  and agtech innovators

  • Training on sustainable farming practices

  • Field demonstrations of small farm equipment and technologies

  • Business support for compliance, marketing, and growth

  • Opportunities to connect with new local buyers and institutions

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We meet you where you are and help you build toward where you want to go.

Relevant Programs

SF-ADAPT

A collaborative network connecting farmers, researchers, engineers, and agtech developers to co-create tools that are affordable, scalable, and effective for small farms

Small Farm Innovation Challenge

Submit your idea—or collaborate on one—to solve real-world farming problems. Winners get funding, mentorship, and recognition

Equipment Lending Library

 Borrow specialized farm tools without the high upfront cost. Located at Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier

Small Farms Tech Hub

One-on-one guidance to support your business, adopt tech, and access funding. Includes market development, digital tools, and resource referral

Farm Research and Innovation

Work with researchers to trial and adopt new approaches to irrigation, soil health, and crop management—right on your farm

Resources

Step-by-step worksheets and templates from CAFF / CCOF that help organic growers brand, price and sell produce through farmers’ markets, CSAs and local retail channels. Community Alliance with Family Farmers

A 70-page PDF listing California organizations that provide training, technical assistance and funding support to beginning and small farmers, organised by topic and region.

An online index of current field schools, apprenticeships and short courses curated by California FarmLink, with direct links and contact details for each program.

A free 12-lesson series from Wild Farm Alliance that shows how to integrate habitat, biopesticides and scouting into whole-farm IPM strategies.

A 132-page SARE guide that translates soil-life science into practical field practices for building beneficial invertebrate communities and improving soil structure.

Let’s Work Together

Have a question or want to get involved? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below, and we’ll connect you with the right resources or team member.

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F3 Local is part of the larger F3 Initiative, awarded funding in 2022 by the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. This Agrifood Technology and Engineering Cluster is working to position the Central Valley’s ag-based industry and farmers to be competitive, resilient, and sustainable.

Click here to learn more.

 

Let's build the future of food together!  

F3 Initiative logo all in white with fruit and leaves, two smaller gears. F3 Local Food Farm Future

© 2023-2025 F3 Local. All rights reserved.

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