F3 Local

10/13/2026

🌱 Small Farm and Food Businesses Needs Assessment
F3 Local, anchored by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), conducted a needs assessment among small farmers and food entrepreneurs across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare counties to better understand their business-development needs.

🔎 What can we learn from the needs assessment?

🌱 Provide more differentiated technical assistance.
📋 Include regulatory navigation within technical assistance services.
🏗️ Connect technical assistance to infrastructure and markets.
🤝 Build pathways rather than isolated workshops.

Financing alone will not address the barriers food businesses face. Growth requires business guidance, regulatory navigation, infrastructure, market access, and capital.

📖 Learn more and download the full report at f3local.org.

Interested in partnerships or assistance supporting local food entrepreneurs? Contact Gaëlle Chanlot at [email protected].

09/30/2026

🌱 Yonatan Weinberg was pleased to share a sneak peak of F3 Local's Food System Infrastructure Feasibility Study at this year's Building the Future Food System Summit - put on by Fresno Metro Ministries.

It was no surprise to the panel, or to the audience, how important cold storage and new processing facilities are to our farmers, eaters, and economy. After all, the Valley is known for its fruits and nuts - and the industry and resources built around them. But not everyone knows that our vegetable growers and market gardeners have very little support or infrastructure. As demand for this type of produce grows, like with Farm to School programs, the more cold storage and processing opportunities we need for the Valley to thrive.

📩 Reach out to us to learn more about the study or share your experience.
🔗 https://ucanr.edu/site/f3-local-farm-food-innovation/feasibility-study

09/23/2026

Jujubes: The Importance of Orchard Pruning and Mulching 🌱
Jujube trees show promise as a climate-smart crop for California’s Central Valley. Proper pruning and mulching can support healthy growth, fruit production, and long-term orchard health.

Why these practices matter:
✂️ Pruning - removes unwanted, damaged, or overcrowded branches, improves sunlight and air circulation, encourages new shoot growth, makes harvesting easier, and helps keep trees at a manageable size.

🌿 Mulching - placing organic material, such as chipped jujube prunings, around the tree or across the orchard floor can help conserve soil moisture, protect roots from extreme temperatures, reduce weeds and erosion, improve soil quality, and support on-farm biomass management.

☀️ Hot & Dry Conditions - a layer of mulch around the root zone can be especially helpful during hot and dry weather.

🌳 Pruning+Mulching - pruning helps manage branches and encourage productive growth, while mulching protects roots and improves soil conditions.

💧 With regular pruning, proper mulching, adequate water, and good nutrition, jujube trees can remain healthy and produce good-quality fruit for many years.
For support with pruning and mulching practices in your orchard, contact Dr. Tou Yee Thao at [email protected].

09/21/2026

🚜 Hands-On Training For Schmeiser Drill Seeder | F3 Local Equipment Lending Library
Interested in borrowing equipment from the F3 Local Equipment Lending Library? Growers must complete both a classroom training and an equipment-specific hands-on training before borrowing equipment.

🌱 Hands-On Training: Schmeiser Drill Seeder
📅 September 30, 2026
⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM

📚 Classroom Training
📅 October 7, 2026
⏰ 8:30–11:00 AM

📍 Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center
9240 S. Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA 93648

The Equipment Lending Library supports small-scale growers under 80 acres in Fresno, Merced, Madera, Tulare, and Kings Counties by providing access to specialized farm equipment.

Learn more and register through the 🔗 in our bio:

Hands-On Training: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScusCRHRURIVL1IgRjsUHdVT0pBJmmKbDNs9NUGN7Aa1UKOzw/viewform

Classroom Training:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdskY7ShyLvG_ujaMmIGP5Vbr4CHWhDUvUqK5BX3cHzNRzu3w/viewform?usp=dialog

Questions? Contact Amber Butland at [email protected] or (559) 614-4876.

09/16/2026

F3 Local Team Retreat Recap | Cambria, CA 🌊
Our team recently gathered in Cambria for an opportunity to connect, collaborate, exchange ideas, and align around our shared goals and priorities.
Our retreat focused on:
🤝 Team Collaboration - strengthening team relationships and connections through group activities and shared experiences.
🎯 Program Alignment - creating greater alignment around shared goals, priorities, and the work ahead.
💡 Strategic Planning - exchanging ideas, experiences, and best practices to broaden perspectives and encourage new ideas.
🌱 Centering the People We Serve - aligning our work and priorities with what matters most to the clients and communities we serve.
🧩 Understanding Our Roles - developing a clearer understanding of individual roles, contributions, and how we work together as a team.
🌊 Exploring the Central Coast - taking time to discover Cambria’s plants, wildlife, and tidepools along the way.
We returned with stronger connections, broadened perspectives, and greater alignment around our shared work and priorities.

08/28/2026

📢 Public Listening Sessions: Regional Farmer Equipment Pilot Program
wants to hear from you to scope the Climate Bond-funded Regional Farmer Equipment Pilot Program.
At each listening sessions participants will review and provide feedback on a draft program outline including but not limited to:
💰 Grant size
🚜 Eligible expenses
📋 Application scoring criteria
Following these sessions, OARS will develop the first draft of the program guidelines for a 60‑day written public comment period. Applications are anticipated to open in Spring 2027.
💻 Choose a virtual session:
📅 September 2 | 8:00 AM–10:00 AM
📅 September 2 | 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
📅 September 4 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📅 September 8 | 5:00 PM–7:00 PM
🌱 Learn more and register through the 🔗 in our bio:
https://ccof.org/events/

08/24/2026

08/14/2026

Whether you're a shared kitchen operator, food incubator leaders, industry service provider, or an ecosystem and community partner, The Food Corridor's 2026 Shared Kitchen Summit in Rhode Island, October 12th-14th, is the place to be!

Our Food Team, Yonatan Weinberg and Valentino Zubia, will be representing the Central Valley, discussing supporting shared kitchens in small cities and rural areas.

Learn more about the event through their website: https://www.sharedkitchensummit.com/

08/05/2026

Are you interested in training small farmers on how to use agricultural technologies and equipment more effectively?

🚜 Join the F3 Local team at UC ANR as an Agricultural Technician!

👩🏽‍🌾 Promote a culture of safety and communication as you empower farmers to optimize their operations.

First review date: August 14th.

Apply today!
https://link.ucanr.edu/agriculturetechnician

08/04/2026

Are you a small- to mid-size 🍽️ food or 🚜 farm business?
Do you need help with your business 💵 finances or ⚙️ operations?

🚀 Join UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), SW Regional Food Business Center (SW RFBC) and F3 Local for the Business Launchpad, Growing Resilient Roots For Food, Farm and Ranch Businesses.

📥Applications open July, 15, 2026- September 1, 2026.

🔎 The course will cover
•Business Planning
•Financial Literacy
•Regulatory Compliance
•Marketing and Branding

💻🤝Participation will be hybrid with
•Virtual Courses
•1:1 Coaching
•Regional Networking Events for Professional Growth

📈Be empowered with the tools necessary to maintain a viable and competitive business.

💪 Join us in building a stronger local food system! Sign up through the link: https://wkf.ms/3R37Oog