California Food System Alliance Network
The Alliances are county-based collaborations among food system leaders in in the community. The Alliance network includes both Food System Alliances (FSAs) and Ag Futures Alliances (AFAs), and are currently functioning in 7 California counties.
The first AFA was started in 2000 in Ventura County, California when leaders in the farming community decided to engage farming critics in process of sharing views, trust-building, and ultimately identification of common ground. In the years since the founding of the movement, new alliances have been formed in Ventura, Santa Barbara, Yolo, San Mateo, Sonoma, Santa Clara, and Fresno Counties.
The Ag Futures Alliance is a multi-stakeholder collaboration between farmers, ranchers, farm-workers, conservationists, and civic leaders in the county who share a desire to build a vibrant, healthy, and durable food system. In 2006, the Alliance concept expanded to include public health, food security advocates, chefs, school garden programs, and consumers, becoming the Food System Alliance.
Ag Innovations Network (AIN) is proud to be the sponsor and facilitator of the Alliance project. Our goal is to create a network of Alliances across the state of California that ultimately can link efforts to more effectively improve local, state and federal policies that impact agriculture, the food system, and the environment.
If you are interested in bringing an Ag Futures Alliance to your county, please see our introductory presentation and our Starting a Food System Alliance Frequently Asked Questions.
Alliance News
Announcing Our New San Diego Food System Alliance Coordinator
May 2012 We are pleased to announce the selection of Keryna Johnson as Ag Innovations Network’s new Alliance Coordinator for the San Diego Food System Alliance.
San Mateo FSA hosts a school garden awards ceremony with Margo True from Sunset Magazine
The Alliance hosted the first School Garden Award Ceremony on 4/28, celebrating and recognizing school garden educators and students throughout the county.
Read More »Save the Date: Field to Fork, July 19
Mark your calendars for the second annual Field to Fork fundraiser for House Farm Workers!
Read More »Ventura Ag Summit Success
Feb. 2012 The Ventura County Ag Summit on Feb. 17 was a huge success. Read on for presentations, photos, media coverage and to complete an evaluation.
Read More »Ventura Ag Summit Thanks its Sponsors
Feb. 2012 We would like to thank all of the Ventura County Agricultural Summit Sponsors! The event was a huge success in part because of the generous support of these organizations and individuals.
Read More »