THE ECOLOGY CENTER TEC PROPOSES A PROJECT TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE VALUEADDED PROCESSING CAPACITY FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ADDRESSING A CRITICAL GAP IN MARKET ACCESS FOR SMALL FARMS. THIS PROJECT WILL INVOLVE RENOVATING TECS PROCESSING WAREHOUSE TO ACCOMMODATE NEW EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGHDEMAND VALUEADDED PRODUCTS INCLUDING JAMS TORTILLAS DRIED BEANS AND SAUCES. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PROCESSING VOLUME WITH THE AIM OF PROCESSING 80000 POUNDS OF ORGANIC CORN LEGUMES AND FRUIT INTO 372000 UNITS OF ORGANIC VALUEADDED PRODUCTS. THE PROJECT SEEKS TO BENEFIT AT LEAST FIFTEEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAN ORGANIC PRODUCERS WITH A PRIORITY ON SUPPORTING SMALL AND BEGINNING FARMS REACHING AN ESTIMATED 40000 MORE REPEAT CONSUMERS AND POTENTIALLY INFLUENCING UP TO 400000 NEW CONSUMERS THROUGH THE LEVERAGING OF EXPANDED SALES CHANNELS. THIS INITIATIVE IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY 2.2 MILLION IN SALES ACROSS THE PROJECTS THIRD YEAR. THE PROJECTS SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED BY INCREASED MARKET ACCESS FOR THESE FARMERS BOLSTERING THEIR PROFITABILITY THROUGH ACCESS TO PROCESSING EQUIPMENT. THIS PROJECT WILL ENHANCE THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCALLY PRODUCED ORGANIC GOODS AND SUPPORT PROCESSORS AND STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIC SUPPLY CHAIN.