AIM's CEO, Andy Naja-Riese, was recognized with the Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership (CVNL) 2022 Heart of Marin™ Excellence in Leadership Award presented to an executive director who has demonstrated excellence in leadership and whose vision has inspired meaningful and lasting change benefiting the organization and community.

An outbreak in avian flu is taking a toll on the conventional egg market. Large scale conventional egg layers—often raised in confined spaces and cages—are getting hit much harder by avian flu given the size of their flocks and the spread of the virus.

The Agricultural Institute of Marin presented the Climate Action Champion Award to one of our market participants at the Gala. Bivalve Dairy is the recipient of AIM’s first annual Climate Action Champion Award, presented to an individual farm, or small business that has developed innovative and replicable solutions to address the climate crisis through agriculture, food production, or craftsmanship.

As many of you know, AIM is spearheading the ongoing development for our Center for Food and Agriculture (CFA), place for our flagship Marin Farmers Market to become a zero-waste farmers market and educational space dedicated to healthier food culture.

Lately we are seeing retail costs of food rising due to increased expenses (gas, labor, supplies, etc.) and inflationary related trends. It’s alarming, but also a good reminder to step back and talk about the true cost of food – as we all know that food costs more than what is paid at checkout.

The month of May marks CalFresh Awareness Month, the official month dedicated to increasing public awareness of CalFresh. CalFresh helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing improved access to healthy and nutritious foods. Last year, we distributed over $960,000 in benefits to increase equity at our markets!

Written by Matt Dolkas at MALT: Farmers from around the Bay Area congregated this week at MALT-protected Black Mountain Ranch for a workshop on low water farming practices and to compare notes as to what’s working amid the region’s historic drought.

Measure A’s sustainable agriculture program ensures that the people who grow our food can remain in operation. Farms and ranches that use climate-smart practices have the potential to help reverse the climate crisis and reduce extreme weather, like drought and wildfire.

AIM has been actively advocating for and supporting many recent policies to champion a healthy, Earth-friendly, food system.

The state legislative season is getting active, and AIM has joined up with 14 other organizations working in agriculture, environmental justice, and environmental groups as part of the Food & Farm Resilience Coalition.

A campaign from our partner organization Conscious Kitchen that is transforming school food supply chains to feature more fresh and organic foods. The project advocates for healthier school breakfasts that are made from foods free of pesticides and herbicides like glyphosate. Project Cereal is helping build the capacity for school cafeterias in West Contra Costa County to serve organic cereal and organic milk daily, sourced from local farmers and ranchers using responsible practices.

Marin County supervisors approved a revised version of the Measure A sales tax measure for the June 7 ballot. We would like to commend the Marin County Board of Supervisors for preserving the future of Marin County’s agricultural land by allocating 20% of Measure A funds toward land stewardship, conservation easements.

February is dedicated as Black History Month, a time to reflect and honor the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history.

A Tale of Two Flowers: Valentine’s Day is synonymous with flowers and chocolates, but did you ever take a step back to think about the dark side of the global flower industry?

In June MALT contributed $5,000 to AIM’s Rollin’ Root mobile market. The goal of the program is to ensure that all members of our community have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, regardless of transportation or economic barriers.

We recently had the pleasure of hosting KQED reporter and producer Cecilia Phillips at Grand Lake Farmers Market for their new KQED spin-off series, Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!

In celebration of Earth Day, AIM wants to recognize their eco-friendly practices and some of the producers who work hard throughout the year, nurturing the soil and providing habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, birds and other wildlife, to bring healthy, delicious food to us.

It’s no secret that the past year has been a difficult one for the planet. The pandemic, disastrous wildfires and drought have made it clear that climate change and other environmental issues pose serious threats to public health and society.

In January 2021, AIM teamed up with the TomKat Foundation and the Office of Kat Taylor to address the ongoing challenges of hunger and economic loss within Marin communities. Under the Growing the Table initiative, AIM was able to distribute Bounty Boxes free-of-charge to Marin families and older adults facing financial hardship.

At the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM), we condemn hate in all forms, including hate crimes against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.