The growing success fmpp project is designed to improve the financial viability of small-scale and socially disadvantaged producers participating in the nine certified farmers markets operated by…

The growing success fmpp project is designed to improve the financial viability of small-scale and socially disadvantaged producers participating in the nine certified farmers markets operated by agricultural institute of marin (aim) with the primary goal of expanding farm-direct sales opportunities. The project will provide capacity-building training and intensive one-on-one technical assistance to promote a more resilient and financially stable local food system in california. Aim will offer an annual in-person resource fair to introduce producers to technical assistance and training resources available through the growing success project. Aim will manage a team of five partner organizations to deliver intensive technical assistance to producers on farmers market operations, finance and funding, and sales and marketing, with content informed by farmers and ranchers in focus groups and surveys. After formalizing the curriculum during year 1, aim will deliver 10 training webinars annually during years 2 and 3 for small-scale and mid-sized farmers and producers from 40 california counties. Aim will also expand sales opportunities for participants at its certified farmers markets through a market ambassador training program and community-informed multilingual marketing strategy. Engaging diverse communities in farmers markets will increase customer counts and sales for producers while making healthy, local food more accessible to multilingual populations who have not traditionally shopped at farmers markets. Through these strategies, we anticipate reaching 400 training and technical assistance participants, with an anticipated 11 increase in sales, and a 5 increase in crowd counts at aims california certified farmers markets.