Racial Equity Fund

The Racial Equity Fund provides grant money to reduce financial hardships to current BIPOC market participants.

AIM’s Racial Equity Fund is direct financial support to underrepresented business owners at farmers markets. The grant program was created to assist AIM farmers, food producers, and artisans who are within their first five years at market and identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC).

Reducing the economic burden of establishing a new business for our BIPOC vendors is part of our continued work to make our markets more inclusive and accessible. It is a step towards farmers markets that fully reflect the diversity of our food producer and farming communities.

Applications for the Racial Equity Fund open once a year and are reviewed by an outside panel of BIPOC community members. The application process is currently closed. Please check back for more information, or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Racial Equity Fund Criteria

What the fund provides:

• Annual AIM farmers market renewal fee waived - $150 value

• Stall fees for 10×10 booth at AIM market waived for six months (26 weeks) - Approximately $1,300 value

• A $2,500 stipend for any market-related costs, such as:

  • Tents

  • Booth signage

  • Online marketing

  • Organic/other certification(s)

  • Health department fees

  • Other critical but sometimes hidden costs of starting and expanding a food-related business

• Mentorship with an established farmers market participant or Small Business Development Center advisor, if desired.

Eligibility criteria:

Must identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). We trust the self-identification of applicants’ race, ethnicity, and heritage.

  • Have been accepted into one or more of AIM’s farmers markets (excludes commercial or non-profit applicants).

  • Are within the first five years of participating in any AIM farmers markets.

  • Can demonstrate practices and positive engagement with their community that align with AIM’s mission.

Meet Our 2025 Cohort

Tatiana Thomas holds a plate of fried chicken, Mac and cheese, collard greens, and corn bread from her business Josephine's Southern Cuisine.

Tatiana Thomas, owner of Josephine’s Southern Cuisine; 2023 Cohort

“I loved the part where I did not have to pay the money back – a grant and not a loan. Money that I could put towards my business and not have the burden over me to pay it back.”

Racial Equity Fund Alums

  • Meaza Haile, 2024 Cohort
    Grand Lake Market

    Artisan-crafted garments proudly made in the USA.

    8 AM fashion is an artisan driven studio. We believe there is a balance between style and comfort. Our fashion is created from well selected fabrics from around the world and hand crafted in the Bay Area. Our mission is to merge different world cultures through fashion.

    8AMFashion.com

  • Annie Wang, 2023 Cohort
    Ships nationwide

    Sustainable Asian pastries. Rebranded to Little Moon Bakehouse.

    The vision for Little Moon Bakehouse is to capture the magic of traditional Asian bakeries in an eco-conscious way.

    littlemoonbakehouse.com
    @littlemoonbakehouse

  • Bettina Yap, 2024 Cohort
    Stonestown Market

    Artisan baked specialties.

    @babyandboypastries

  • Rachel Russell, 2022 Cohort
    Clement St. and Grand Lake Markets

    Granola from the Town, Made for the Globe.

    Chestnut Street Granola is a family owned and operated business located in Oakland, California.

     We produce high quality artisan granola inspired by flavors enjoyed around the world.

    chestnutstreetgranola.com
    @chestnutstgranola

  • Isaiah Powell, 2022 Cohort
    Started their own market

    It is the mission, duty and purpose of Dragonspunk GRO to apply the methodologies of environmental rehabilitation to meet the challenges of food insecurity, urban blight, environmental injustice, soil depletion, carbon footprint reduction, community building, plant and animal habitat restoration.

    dragonspunk.org
    @dragonspunk

  • Andre Thomas, 2024 cohort
    Newark Market

    Dré Jams & Jellies, nothing fake or phony. We use the best fruit in the world, grown in the sunny "Golden State" of California, "God's Country!" God Is great and, our jams are delicious! 

    drejamsandjellies.com

  • Sway Soturi, 2023 cohort
    Clement St. and Grand Lake Markets

    Forest & Flour makes delicious, wholesome food that is safe for people with food allergies and sensitivities to enjoy. Gluten free. Dairy free. Soy free. Corn free. Peanut free.

    forestandflour.com
    @forestandflour

  • Giovanna Rodriguez, 2023 summer cohort
    Thursday Marin

    Doughnuts and seasonal pastries.
    All doughnuts are made with love. The dough its self is a two day process. When ready, its then portions, rolled, proofed then fried. Once cooled, we toss it in a cinnamon-sugar mix then filled with the desired filling. We hand-make all the fillings (besides Nutella) by using the best quality ingredients out there.

    gigisonebitewonder.com
    @gigisonebitewonder

  • Stephen Cajilig, 2023 Cohort
    Stonestown Market

    Big Cookies. Small Bites. Golden Smiles.

    Our goal is simple: make REALLY good cookies with straightforward ingredients to satisfy those sweet tooth cravings. When baked, our cookies come in different shapes and sizes, but each flavor is distinctly unique - just like you! Baking is our passion and cookies are the medium through which we share that with the world.

    goldenmorsels.com
    @goldenmorsels

  • Elliott Johnson, 2024 cohort
    Hayward and Grand Lake Markets

    Small-batch seasoning company packing superior quality, high oil content herbs and spices for maximum flavor and aroma. Goldi’s Gourmet Spices believes in providing a superior product for a reasonable price along with exceptional customer service.

    goldisgourmetspices.com
    @goldisgourmetspices

  • Tatiana Thomas, 2023 Cohort
    Hayward Market

    Specializing in traditional southern food.

    Read AIM’s full profile: How Tatiana Thomas Started Josephine’s Southern Cuisine from Scratch

    @josephine__cuisine

  • Yuko Kaneko, 2024 cohort
    Thursday Marin, Point Reyes Markets

    Japanese home cooking + private party + catering + event + farmer’s market

    @kinoko.japanese

  • Imani Glover, 2022 cohort

    The Lemonade Bar specializes in fresh squeezed lemonade and organic handcrafted frozen lemonades.

    thelemonadebar.org
    @the_lemonadebar

  • Roselle Arianne Capili, 2022 cohort
    Newark Market

    Small batch, custom macarons.

    Read AIM’s full profile: Racial Equity Fund Spotlight: Roselle Capili

    macdwithlove.com
    @macdwithlove

  • Meera Deveriya, 2024 cohort
    Newark Market

    Best quality almond halwa delights. Indulge in almond-centric desserts made with premium, real ingredients—no artificial flavors. Enjoy gluten-free options and the artisanal touch of handcrafted, small-batch treats.

    Rebranded to Desserts N Delight.

    dessertsndelight.com
    @dessertsndelight

  • Comfort Asobo, 2023 cohort
    Grand Lake Market

    Inspired by Cameroonian roadside eateries

  • Jenny Fong, 2023 summer cohort

    Hand dyed organic clothing for women and men. Botanically dyed clothing & sustainable fabrics. Unique hand crafted items in sizes XS-3X, plus size clothing.

    Rebranded to Marree.

    marree.co
    @marree_co

  • Darren Oyobio, 2023 Cohort
    Thursday and Sunday Marin Markets

    Cold-pressed juices with optional seamoss infusion.

    Read AIM’s full profile: Mossed Juicery

    mossedjuicery.com
    @mossedjuicery

  • Nadia Montoya, 2024 cohort
    Thursday Marin, Stonestown, Point Reyes Markets

    Our mission has been to create a sweet combination of flavors and ingredients of good quality, to be able to offer our customers satisfaction.

    nadiasdessert.com
    @nadiasdessert

  • Cecilia Liang, 2023 cohort
    Closed for business

    Small batch, stone ground nut butters.

    @nutteaorganics

  • Reggie Borders and Nicole Felix, 2022 cohort
    Grand Lake Market

    Moist and rich pound cakes.

    poundbizness.com
    @poundbizness

  • Jamil Burns, 2022 cohort
    Clement St. and Grand Lake Markets

    Raised Roots is a Black-owned farming company based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

    raisedroots.com
    @raisedroots

  • Scott Chang-Fleeman, 2022 cohort
    Business closed

    Shao Shan Farm is a 5-acre farm in Bolinas, CA, that grows organic Asian heritage vegetables.

    @shaoshanfarm

  • Everardo Solorio, 2023 summer cohort
    Grand Lake, Stonestown, Sunday Marin Markets

    At Solorio's Organic Farm somos tu vecinos here to help produce a strong community, providing you with nutritional, fresh food options grown with tradition, experience, and at a very good price. Our story is one of hardwork and commitment and one that adds to the value we hold when producing goods to feed to your families.

    soloriosorganic.com
    @soloriosorganicfarm

  • Teyonna Allen, 2023 summer cohort

    Cakes & Cupcakes, a sweet taste of heaven in every bite!

    sweetteypastries.com
    @sweet_tey_pastries

  • Bria Hutson, 2023 cohort
    Grand Lake Market

    Plant-based made EASY. No soy, no nuts, no gluten.

    @tha_mfnvegan

  • Adjowah Brodie, 2024 cohort
    Grand Lake, Thursday and Sunday Marin Markets

    The Weekend Store offers a progressively designed, hand-made collection of exceptional home goods, clothing, and accessories for people who celebrate individuality, champion social justice, and appreciate wit.

    theweekendstore.com
    @theweekendstore

  • Li Xu, 2024 cohort
    Newark Market

    Handcraft silky coconut pudding & drinks from fresh fruits.

    yesococonut.square.site
    @yesococonut