Santa Cruz Standard

Santa Cruz, CA – United States Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) applauded the announcement that the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) Center for Agroecology will support the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Regional Food Business Center, to strengthen food supplies and connect producers to new markets.  Rep. Panetta has strong supported the work at UCSC.

The new Southwest USDA Regional Food Business Center, which will serve California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, is one of 12 Regional Food Business Centers the USDA will establish to help producers access a variety of markets, wholesalers, and distributors as well as resources, educational workshops, and technical assistance.  UCSC’s Center for Agroecology will serve North Bay and Central Coast producers through partnerships with community-based organizations that will share resources and training, integrate technology, and enhance market access.

“Farmers, ranchers, and other producers are integral to our economy in California’s 19th Congressional District and the bounty we provide both the country and the rest of the world,” said Rep. Panetta.  “Through partnerships with world-class institutions like UCSC, we’ll ensure our local agricultural community is able to reach new consumers and markets, strengthening our food systems for the future.  Better serving our producers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring every American has access to quality, safe, healthy food, begins at the community level, and I’m proud to support UCSC as it leads the way.” 

Regional Food Centers will target their work to historically underinvested communities, helping to diversify California’s food system by growing new businesses owned by underserved and historically underrepresented communities in both rural and urban areas.

“It’s an exciting time to deepen our region’s food and farming partnerships while leveraging the support of USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and the emerging multi-state Center to strengthen the economic viability and long term priority of a food system that supports our producers, sustains the land, and nourishes communities,” said Tim Galarneau, Education and Research Specialist who will lead the Center for Agroecology’s support of the new Food Business Center.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the Center for Agroecology to support and collaborate more closely with the extremely successful community-based organizations in our region,” said Darryl Wong, executive director of the Center for Agroecology.  “These organizations have been working tirelessly to support underrepresented growers for decades and bringing USDA’s institutional support to their efforts is essential for achieving broad based outcomes.”

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