Source: AGRICULTURE & LAND-BASED TRAINING ASSOCIATION (ALBA) submitted to
LATINO IMMIGRANT FARMWORKERS TRANSITION TO ORGANIC FARMING FUTURES (LIFT OFF)
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1020268
Grant No.
2019-49400-30070
Project No.
CALW-2019-03620
Proposal No.
2019-03620
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
BFRDA
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2019
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2022
Grant Year
2019
Project Director
Harkleroad, N. J.
Recipient Organization
AGRICULTURE & LAND-BASED TRAINING ASSOCIATION (ALBA)
1700 OLD STAGE ROAD
SALINAS,CA 93912
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) of Salinas California is proud to submit the Latino Immigrant Farmworkers Transition to Organic Farming Futures (LIFT OFF) project. LIFT OFF will lower the barriers to farm business initiation for limited-resource socially disadvantaged farmers through a comprehensive farm incubation program. The project leverages ALBA's experienced bilingual staff, a proven consortium of farm service providers and a 100-acre organic farm incubation facility in the Salinas Valley.LIFT OFF will reach 125 farms with the goal to strengthen the viability of 75 organic farm enterprises, which will be operational at the end of the project in 2022. Over 80% of these farms will be owned and operated by Latino farmers, most of whom come to ALBA seeking an alternative to low-paid seasonal field work. Project objectives focus on successive phases of a 10-year farm development pathway.? Objective 1: Plan & Pilot- 60 (20/year) aspiring farmers gain knowledge and prepare for business launch in a 1-year course, of whom 36 (12/year) graduate and test launch on ½ acre.? Objective 2: Establish and Expand - Another 35 start-up farms (launched in 2016-2018) build capacity and expand, 15 of whom will transition from ALBA onto their own land.? Objective 3: Move On and Mature - 30 alumni farms (launched in 2010-2015) are strengthened through customized assistance to address their individual business needs.In all, 125 farms will receive intensive farm incubation assistance through LIFT-OFF, and at least 60% (75) will strengthen their capacity leading to higher potential for long term viability. To accomplish this, ALBA will work with a consortium of long-standing partners who specialize in providing business support services to beginning, socially disadvantaged (BSD) farms.? California FarmLink (CFL) provides financial consulting, micro-loans and land matching.? Carlson Food Safety Consulting (CFSC) provides food safety education and assistance.? Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) does marketing education and linkages.? Kitchen Table Advisors (KTA) provides strategic and management consulting.? Resource Conservation District (RCD) offers technical assistance on conservation farming.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
20501993020100%
Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
0199 - Soil and land, general;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) of Salinas California is proud to submit the Latino Immigrant Farmworkers Transition to Organic Farming Futures (LIFT OFF) project. LIFT OFF will lower the barriers to farm business initiation for limited-resource sociallydisadvantaged farmers through a comprehensive farm incubation program. The project leverages ALBA's experienced bilingual staff, a proven consortium of farm service providers and a 100-acre organic farm incubation facility in the Salinas Valley.LIFT OFF will reach 125 farms with the goal to strengthen the viability of 75 organic farm enterprises, which will be operational at the end of the project in 2022. Over 80% of these farms will be owned and operated by Latino farmers, most of whom come to ALBA seeking analternative to low-paid seasonal field work.Project objectives focus on successive phases of a 10-year farm development pathway:? Objective 1: Plan & Pilot- 60 (20/year) aspiring farmers gain knowledge and prepare for business launch in a 1-year course, of whom 36 (12/year) graduate and test launch on ½ acre.? Objective 2: Establish and Expand - Another 35 start-up farms (launched in 2016-2018) build capacity and expand, 15 of whom will transition from ALBA onto their own land.? Objective 3: Move On and Mature - 30 alumni farms (launched in 2010-2015) are strengthened through customized assistance to address their individual business needs.In all, 125 farms will receive intensive farm incubation assistance through LIFT-OFF, and at least 60% (75) will strengthen their capacity leading to higher potential for long term viability. To accomplish this, ALBA will work with a consortium of long-standing partners who specialize in providing business support services to beginning, socially disadvantaged (BSD) farms.
Project Methods
ALBA provides subsidized access to training and resources to lower the barriers to launching a farm business and minimize early stage financial risk. As farmers move through the program, they earn larger parcels of land and more intensive technical assistance to help establish a viable farm business. As they prepare to leave ALBA after 5 years, they rely on partner services to help secure land and navigate the transition to successful independent farming within a 10-year time frame.With 18 years of experience, ideal growing conditions, strong local markets for organic produce and abundant agricultural talent in the farmworker community, ALBA is ideally located to incubate BSD farm businesses. The ALBA facility has 100-acres of organically certified and irrigated farmland, farm equipment, two demonstration plots and a training center. Farmable land is split into fourteen blocks each independently farmed by up to 40 beginning farmers and the training room accommodates up to 35 aspiring farmers.RecruitmentThousands of Mexican immigrants live in the Salinas Valley and work in its fields, but few have the desire and motivation to farm independently. Participants are recruited for the 1st Year PEPA course several months prior to its November start through English and Spanish print and broadcast media. ALBA also distributes information at community events and institutions and through speaking engagements at local community colleges.Word-of-mouth may be our most powerful marketing tool. Many applicants hear about the program from friends and family and drop-in throughout the year to learn more. Others learn of the program after having worked for one of our incubator farmers.About 70 applications are reviewed every year. Top candidates are interviewed to assess whether their experience, interests and expectations are consistent with ALBA's offering. Each student farmer presents an investment in time and resources. Therefore, we attempt to discern each candidate's potential to develop into a successful, independent farmer as soon as possible.Capacity Building ApproachALBA's approach to farm development is straightforward, recognizing that the best way to learn is by doing: on the land and in the market. To make it happen ALBA uses a few simple guidelines:1. Lower the cost to access land, equipment and training.2. Educate by exposure, using guest speakers, dialogue, networking, field trips and field days.3. Make available experts in key management areas to inform and guide decision-making.4. Link farms to financing, markets and business services to enable growth.It sounds simple but the complexity comes in the array of issues that must be learned and the myriad hurdles that must be cleared for a farm to attain success. Getting through it requires countless hours of hands-on training over weeks, months and years.Access to land and equipment is subsidized in the early years to minimize financial risk to our limited-resource farmers. Still, we require that each aspiring farmer invest in their venture.Subsidies are provided on a declining basis, accessing land and farm machinery at 20% in the first, and at 40%, 60% and 80% in the three successive years on ALBA's land. This subsidy schedule is to minimize the financial risk of attempting to launch a farm business in the early years, while also gradually preparing farmers for facing market rates upon departure.Over 80% are Latino and between 60-70% are immigrants. The median income of participants at intake is less than $30k. Most participants do not speak English and tend to have fewer years of formal education than U.S.-born participants. ALBA's provides instruction in a culturally appropriate manner to best tap into trainees' potential. Training is simultaneously translated in English and Spanish, and partner consultants are nearly all bilingual. Recognizing that many participants aren't accustomed to classroom learning, our approach is very experiential, stressing dialogue over lectures, learning-by-doing in the demo plot, exposure to different perspectives through guest speakers, and visual learning through field trips.Developmental StagesThrough nearly two decades of incubating farm businesses, ALBA has documented that farms pass through a series of phases, each of which presents distinct problems requiring tailored interventions. The six phases span ten years. Under LIFT OFF they are grouped into pairs and directly align with the three objectives.Phases Corresponding to Objective 1: Plan and Pilot (years 1 & 2)? Plan (Year 1, pre-launch) - Each November, 20 aspiring farmers enroll in the Programa Educativo para Pequenos Agricultores (PEPA) which translates to small-farm education program. It's a year-long, 300-hour course that features classroom instruction and field-based training to teach aspiring farmers how to launch and operate a small organic farm business. The course is split into 6 modules covering organic production, crop planning, marketing, business management, farm planning and applied farming, which takes place in the field. Participants apply lessons learned in the classroom by group farming the 1-acre practice plot over two crop cycles. The course is taught in a bilingual format by ALBA staff. ALBA engages partners and local professionals to lead class sessions from the organic farming sector.? Pilot (Year 2) - An average of 12 PEPA graduates 'pilot launch' farms in ALBA's Organic Farm Incubator. The farmers are grouped adjacent to the training room where they start on ½ acre of land. It is deemed a 'pilot' launch because they have yet to test their capacity and commitment to operating a farm enterprise. This year gives them a sampling of the experience, and an opportunity for supervised, hands-on learning before fully committing. During the year they continue to receive some classroom instruction and more field assistance from ALBA.Phases corresponding to Objective 2: Establish and Expand (years 3-5)? Establish (Year 3) - The beginning of year 3 is a watershed moment. Participants must decide whether to devote themselves to pursuing farm business ownership. The time demands of managing a larger parcel (2+ acres) requires that they quit their jobs, invest their savings and possibly take on debt. At this stage, new farm owners begin to receive technical assistance from partner organizations to rapidly adapt to full-time farm management.? Expand (Years 4 and 5) - Continuing farmers progress in terms of acreage, farming practices and sales but are typically struggling with myriad issues such as pest management, labor, marketing and food safety compliance. Though growing on up to 5 acres and $100k in sales, farms typically have skills and management gaps addressed by ALBA and partner TA.Phases corresponding to Objective 3: Move On and Mature (years 6-10)? Move On (Year 6) - Another watershed year, farms are required to transition from ALBA land. Even with several years of experience, beginning farms are at there most vulnerable until they successfully re-locate. New land may vary in size, climate, soil type, slope, drainage and infrastructure. Once farmers leave ALBA, partners step up to take a lead role in helping farms navigate the transition.? Mature (Years 7 - 10) - In the final stage of the development pathway, the assistance provided to farmers is customized to their unique needs. Every farmer is different and carries both strengths and weaknesses. Their chosen business and marketing strategy is also different, requiring guidance which is specific to their capacity and circumstances. Fortunately, at this stage relationships with partners are familiar and well-established enabling farms to develop and execute business strategies with expert guidance.

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience: Farmworkers Hispanic or Latino Immigrant producers Limited resource producers Organic producers Small farms Specialty crop producers Women Changes/Problems:Disaster Response 2020 has quite clearly been a challenging year for everyone. We are proud of the progress that we, our farmers, and partners have made despite a worldwide pandemic and, more locally, devastating wildfires. The COVID-19 pandemic changed how the Farmer Education Course was delivered.Although no replacement for in-person education, ALBA has successfully shifted its group trainings to Zoom and the use of Google Classroom. Participants have proven quite adept at navigating these new on-line platforms. One benefit of going mostly on-line is that we have been able to record many sessions for future use. Some ALBA staff have maintained a 'boots on the ground' presence. However, ALBA has had to adapt its technical assistance services on an appointment only basis with the use of mandatory preventative measures, such as, masks and a 6-foot buffer; additional hand-washing stations and signage has been implemented at ALBA to create a safer environment. ALBA's Community Relations Officer assisted farmers with successfully accessing 4 different COVID-19 relief funds. 11 different farmers obtained such funds. Several COVID-19 related documents were also translated into Spanish for farmers' use. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?, field layout, and conservation assistance to the landowners as new farmers transitioned to their land. The landowners also have a background in tech and have assisted farmers with developing an on-line storefront and a local CSA delivery program. iii. Staffing ALBA was fortunate to be able to increase its staffing during this period. We hired a Production and Marketing Supervisor who has quickly shown great promise for helping farmers. He acts as a liaison between existing buyers and ALBA farmers; assists with crop planning and logistics coordination; quality control; and has also helped farmer connect with dozens of new buyers. Furthermore, through coordination with partner, the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, he has advanced farmer production with soil testing, and irrigation monitoring techniques. The pandemic opened new marketing opportunities through distributors looking to source for the Farm to Families box programs. The Prodcution and Marketing Supervisor also assisted an ALBA farmer in developing a CSA for farmworkers to a local agricultural company. We are always happy when ALBA produce can make its way back into the local farmworker community! We were also able to hire a former food safety intern as our new Food Safety Assistant. This has helped the Compliance Manager begin to focus on updating the food safety curricula with a goal of also being able help ALBA alumni with their food safety needs. Lastly, ALBA hired a Special Projects Coordinator who has helped provide support to the Farmer Education Course and complete a number of deliverables relevant to beginning farmer training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Activity Timeline Objective 1: Plan and Pilot Phase Timeline Outreach to tri-county area to solicit applications. Sep - Oct Review 50+ applications/year; interview top candidates; 20 aspiring farmers enroll Sep - Oct Module 1 through 6 of the Program Educativo para Pequenos Agricultores (PEPA). Nov - Sep Objective 2 - Establish and Expand Production Assistance (ALBA with RCDMC) 8 workshops and field days on organic pest management, irrigation and soil mgmt. Year round Monitor farmer performance on farm practices and compliance with lease/policies Year round Field assistance to farmers on mgmt. practices for soil, weeds, pests Year round Marketing Assistance (led by CAFF with ALBA assistance) Market research; client identification and development on behalf of farmers Nov - Jan Buyer-seller mixer and hosting of potential buyers Nov - Mar Marketing strategy development; regular check-ins Jan - June Business Management and Compliance (ALBA, FarmLink and KTA) Workshops: financial management, tax prep, obtaining loans, direct marketing, etc. Nov - Mar Assist farmers on financial analysis/projections to assess performance and forecast Nov - Jan Make operation loans to farms in advance of the season to cover off-season costs. Sep - Jan Quarterly 'check-ups' with ALBA management to discuss progress, issues & plans. Year round Food Safety Compliance (ALBA with CFSC) Workshops on Good Agricultural Practices and obtaining food safety certification. Jan - Jun Individual assistance to prepare for audit process. Mar - Aug Field monitoring of farmers food safety practices and record-keeping Year round Individual assistance to farmers in obtaining/renewing organic certification Year round Objective 3: Move on and Mature (all partners) Land matching services for transitioning and alumni farmers (FarmLink) Jun - Aug Finance equipment and operations of transitioning farmers (FarmLink) Sep - Dec Advise farmers on adapting to new soil, climate conditions on new land (RCDMC) Year round Advise farmers on adapting food safety plans to new parcels (CFSC) Aug - Dec Revise business plan and strategies based on new land, size and goals (KTA) As needed Monitor business performance of alumni and link them to service providers (KTA) Sep-Dec Advise farmers on marketing plans, crop mix and new client development (CAFF) Nov - Apr Invitations to workshops and information on USDA programs sent out (ALBA) Year round

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Year 1 ALBA i. Farmer Education Course and Organic Farm Incubator In November 2019, 18 farmers graduated from ALBA's Farmer Education Course. Of those, 13 launched a farm at ALBA in the Organic Farm Incubator. Prior to entering the Organic Farm Incubator, all participants received a Lease and Policy orientation, food safety orientation, and training in the use of tractors and the irrigation system. All of these new farmers managed to grow and sell crops, initially, on a 1/2 acre. Many were able to scale up during the course of the season, having demonstrated that they could achieve good production and keep up with ALBA's other requirements. The Compliance Manager worked with farmers very closely to ensure that they all were able to achieve for the first time or maintain their food safety and organic certification. This included, amongst other activities, weekly field monitoring to 38 farmers; monthly record-keeping review and check-in; and the completion of over 100 internal audits, as well as an ALBA systems audit. Six farmers successfully passed a third-party HGAP audit for food safety. A number of farmers were also able to develop logos, and a social media presence with the help of new partner, Pink Glitter Unicorn Productions. We are excited to be able to provide this new service to farmers, which is so important in this day and age. From November 2019 to August 2020, ALBA successfully recruited for and began carrying out its Farmer Education Course. Five of the six modules were offered reaching a total of 35 participants. The six module will be completed in the following grant period. One change for this cohort was ALBA's new 'business readiness' initiative. A number of new exercises and trainings were provided as a result. This includes tracking a 3-acre mock farm as a thread through the entire course and looking at the management decisions of said farm through a business lens. The students even got to choose the name of the mock farm (Dreamer's Farm)! Overall, the students really benefited from thinking of farming more like a business and in particular enjoyed learning about marketing channels through case studies (complete with corresponding financials) that partner, Kitchen Table Consultants, helped develop. Six ALBA farmers were able to leave ALBA and continue to farm independently. ALBA developed a relationship with a landowner in San Juan Bautista, about 30 miles to the north of and, conveniently, very close to one of ALBA farmers' main buyers, Coke Farms. ALBA was able to provide advising on leases, policies ii. Metrics and Evaluation ALBA developed an M&E framework for evaluating the project. We were able to survey farmers and collect baseline data that will be used to track farmer progress in terms of gross sales and net profit, family income, and acreage farmed, amongst other metrics. We hope to bring our BFRDP M&E approach into larger discussions at ALBA on how to create an overarching framework for tracking the most important outcomes and, finally, our program's impact. ?

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