A collaborative approach to solving local, regional, national, and global food challenges.
We Are Farm To Fork encourages the use of local food in the greater Sacramento region to make a positive impact on health, economy, the environment and our community. We pioneer solutions that address the same challenges being faced worldwide.
Our Region
Agriculture is the foundation of our region’s most distinct tradeable industry.
No other region in America has the natural assets, the academia, the health systems, the tapestry of community partners, and the inclusive advocacy like Sacramento. We embrace the We Are Farm To Fork brand. It manifests itself in a regional roadmap that is adopted by community partners to ensure a more equitable, accessible, and sustainable food system. Our local food systems can be a model of innovation and resilience for the nation and the world.
We support a regional $12B+ economy
We farm 1.5 million active acres
We grow over 150 crop varieties
We are home to more than 7,200 farms
Regional Needs
The Sacramento region is an agricultural gem; however, practices, policies, and investments must ensure that farmland, farm products, farmers, ranchers, and workers are supported, celebrated, preserved, and resourced.
The Food System Action Plan and Prosperity Strategy outline frameworks that identify the strategic priorities, actions, resources, and leadership needed to transform our regional food system and grow our regional economy.
The Sacramento Region’s recent Food System Action Plan outlined six specific areas of need for our region:
Viability of Agriculture
Environmental Sustainability
Food Economy
Careers in Food and Agriculture
Food Security and Healthy Food Access
Health and Nutrition
Priority Policy Asks for Our Region
Every year, We Are Farm To Fork helps identify the regional priorities and opportunities for the Sacramento Metro Chamber's Cap-To-Cap Issue Papers.
This year, our priorities are institutional procurement and nutrition security. These priorities align with the White House’s Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (view the region’s recommendations that informed the strategy).
Here are the 2023 priority policy asks, including those related to the 2023 Farm Bill:
Program Access
Increase equitable program access and resources for the highly effective SNAP / CalFresh programs to address the region’s high levels of food insecurity. Learn More: Food Insecurity Maps
Food Systems
Support the development of food system infrastructure, such as the Yolo Food Hub Network, to increase farm to institutional procurement.
School Lunch Programs
Provide “cash in lieu of commodities” for USDAs national school lunch programs to support local farm-to-school purchasing.
Food is Medicine
Support legislation for “food is medicine” interventions, such as Medically Supportive Food and Nutrition Services, to address food-related diseases.
Our Projects
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Soil Born Farms – hosts urban agriculture and education programs. View their report about a food system backbone here and their governance model report here.
Three Sisters Garden – brings community members together to grow food
Community Alliance with Family Farmers – works directly with farmers to implement climate-smart farming practices and systems
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UC Davis Campus Center for the Environment - collects organic waste from campus facilities for the student farm
CROP Project – recommendations to preserve and maintain sustainable agriculture in the Sacramento Region
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Yolo Food Hub Network – establishes a new food hub facility in Yolo County that supports local and regional agriculture production, purchasing, and consumption
AgStart – provides incubator space for ag and tech startup companies
Sacramento City Unified Central Kitchen – offers local, seasonal produce, opening a student’s world to delicious and nutritious meals
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Alchemist CDC – hosts a training program for aspiring food entrepreneurs from low-income populations in Sacramento
Center for Land Based Learning – hosts a farm academy and incubator program to support new and aspiring farmers
Aggie Square – will have a variety of training programs to support food and ag
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Family Meal – chef-driven initiative that provides nutritious meals to high-need populations
Meals on Wheels – addresses senior hunger and isolation
Sacramento Region Food Banks – serves hundreds of thousands of food-insecure residents
Yolo County HHS Agency – increases access to CalFresh for higher ed students and supports food insecure farmworkers
Sacramento Food Policy Council - aims to propel collective action toward an equitable and sustainable food system
Yolo Food Security Coalition - envisions a collaborative public/private partnership to develop and implement a Yolo County Food Security Plan
Placer County Food Security Coalition - advocates for every resident to have access to sufficient and nutritious food
Sacramento Region Food Resource Map - includes food banks, food pantries, free fridges and pantries, farmers’ markets, and farm stands
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Food Literacy Center – offers food and nutrition education for children
Wellspring Women’s Center – hosts food distribution and counseling for women and children.
UC Davis Health – procures farm-to-fork items for patients, part of food is medicine
Health Education Council – provides ongoing education to community members regarding their overall health and well-being, including a food resource list
CommuniCare Health Centers - provides a community garden and culinary education for patients, supporting food is medicine
El Dorado Healthy Eating Dashboard - ensures El Dorado County residents have access to healthy affordable food and existing resources
We Are Farm To Fork collaborates with local organizations to implement solutions that address various regional needs. We work together to invest and innovate in the region through the following partner-driven projects:
*This list is just a small sampling of the many food system projects in the Sacramento Region. Organizations may fall under more than one category.
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Food Literacy Center
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Sacramento City Unified Central Kitchen
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Yolo Food Bank
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River City Food Bank
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Center For Land Based Learning
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![happy man selling strawberries farmers market]()
Alchemist Community Development Corporation
Get Involved
Join us in strengthening the region’s food system! By securing additional resources and funding for the We Are Farm to Fork movement, we can continue to support projects aimed at making the Sacramento region’s food system more accessible, sustainable, and prosperous. Fill out the form to get involved, or email us at FoodAndAg@ValleyVision.org
Latest News & Upcoming Events
Learn more about our latest work and join our events where we discuss and develop solutions to tackle the biggest challenges faced by our regions’ food and agricultural sectors.
