Help fund the movement with a donation on #GivingTuesday.
The Alliance also gratefully accepts donations made by check, payable to “San Diego Food System Alliance”
Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 3185, San Diego, CA 92163
Tax ID: 84-2242207
Your donation helps fund programs like the following:
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A program of the San Diego Food System Alliance, the Local Food Economy Lab works to support the viability of small-scale farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food business owners, and the communities they serve in San Diego County.
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The Lab is a new program, but is already having an incredible impact. We’re excited to be steadily bringing services to life, including a small business resource hub, workshops & learning opportunities, digital community, home for policy advocacy, and community fund.
“I make it a point to attend every meeting that has to do with the Local Food Economy Lab. I love this group of people and what we’re working together to create. This is something I don’t want to miss out on.”
— Chuck Samuelson, Lab Advisor -
The Lab serves small-scale farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food business owners, especially those in our community for whom traditional business development services have been out of reach.
The team behind the Lab has been fortunate to work with a group of 17 advisors who are farmers, fishermen, and small food business owners in San Diego County, and who have organized and advocated for the viability of their small business communities.
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Every fall, we host the Annual Gathering, which brings together over 500 San Diegans and features inspirational speakers, workshops and sessions, space for networking, powerful storytelling, and local food. Our most recent Annual Gathering was on October 19, 2023.
At the Gathering, San Diegans share stories and ideas for how we can invest in our local food economy, preserve agricultural land and soils, elevate wages and working conditions for food and farm workers, increase community ownership and cooperative food businesses models, promote food sovereignty in all neighborhoods, and more.
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Following our 2023 Annual Gathering,
100% of surveyed attendees indicated that the Gathering was good, great, or the best event they’ve attended in a long time.
98% of surveyed attendees indicated that they formed new contacts or relationships that they expect to follow-up with after the Gathering
68% of surveyed attendees indicated that there are specific actions or changes in how they will approach their work, based on their experience at the Gathering
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At our 2023 Annual Gathering,
500+ attendees were present
55+ local food workers, community organizers, producers, small business owners, and storytellers spoke in 14 sessions
52% identified as Indigenous or people of color
40% identified as producers, processors, distributors, food workers, farmworkers, or food business owners and managers
36% identified as nonprofit staff
21% identified as community organizers
All 5 districts were represented
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We like to say it’s not an accelerator—it’s a pollinator!
The Pollinator is a tailored business planning and coaching program that provides comprehensive services to support the viability of farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food businesses in San Diego County. Services are highly customized for each participant, depending on their needs, scale, and stage of operation.
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We are thrilled to be one year into Pollinator, with our pilot and first official cohort of food businesses!
Nearly 20 small-scale farms, fisheries, and food businesses have received or are currently receiving ongoing, tailored business planning and coaching services
Applications for our next cycle of Pollinator open in January 2024.
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Pollinator is focused on uplifting businesses led by individuals and/or communities that have been historically disinvested and face systemic challenges to achieving profitability and success in their sector. We center equity and community ownership, and prioritize beginning and small-scale enterprises—especially those led by Indigenous and people of color, immigrants, women, seniors, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with low income.
And many more!
Our work is guided by the 10 objectives of San Diego County Food Vision 2030.
San Diego County Food Vision 2030 is a shared vision, plan, and movement for transforming our region’s food system. Published in 2021, it is the work of many people—3,000 residents of San Diego County voiced their needs and aspirations for the food system and provided essential input on the Vision.
If the 10 objectives of the Vision resonate with you, we hope you’ll support the grassroots movement working to bring these objectives to life.
Why Food?
Decisions made about food have a powerful ripple effect in all aspects of society. Changing the way we grow food, move food, share food, and think about food ultimately changes the way we treat the planet and each other.
Food connects us to one another, our cultures, and the earth. It nourishes our bodies, bonds communities, and provides a living for the millions of people who work to grow, move, and share food. And it does all this while sustaining and regenerating the resources that it depends on.
At least, food should do all those things. But the current U.S. food system too often plays a different—and destructive—role. Instead of keeping us healthy, it fuels chronic disease. Instead of supporting resilient communities, it exploits workers, worsens racial and income inequality, and drains money from local economies. Instead of working with nature in a regenerative, sustainable way, today’s industrial farming methods devastate ecosystems, pollute air and water, and accelerate climate change.
These problems didn’t arise by accident: they are the result of policies driven by profit and private interests rather than the public good.
The good news is that we know how to build a better food system—one that provides healthy and sustainably produced food for all, and treats everyone at every stage of the system with dignity. A growing movement of farmers, workers, scientists, community activists, business owners, and eaters is working to make this vision a reality. San Diego County Food Vision 2030 and the San Diego Food System Alliance are part of this movement—and you can be a part of it as well.
San Diego County is in the midst of a movement—to transform how we grow, move, share, and think about food. For the seeds of this movement to take root and grow, support is needed.
We thank you for your support and action today.
