Mentoring & Technical
Assistance Opportunities
One-on-one mentoring and technical assistance services
are available at no cost to AIM’s market participants
AIM is partnering with several other organizations to provide training opportunities and assistance free of cost to AIM farmers market participants. Receive support on a variety of topics, including financial advising, small business planning, land management & conservation planning, product diversification, and more.
Technical Assistance Services Available:
Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM)
Contact: Liana Orlandi, Program Grants Manager
Email: liana@agriculturalinstitute.org
Phone: 415.903.5216
Web: agriculturalinstitute.org/growing-success
AIM’s mission is to educate, inspire, and connect responsible farmers and producers as part of a healthy, Earth-friendly, equitable local and regional food system.
Sourcing reusable and environmentally preferred packaging
and containers at marketsDeveloping a seasonal growing calendar
Working with local health departments to obtain farmers market permits
Sourcing from farmers and ranchers for prepared food production
Produce displays & booth set-up to maximize sales
Accepting EBT at your farm stand or CSA
AIM Farmers Market participants
Contact: Liana Orlandi, Program Grants Manager
Email: liana@agriculturalinstitute.org
Phone: 415.903.5216
Web: agriculturalinstitute.org/growing-success
Peer-to-peer advising can be powerful! A few of AIM’s long-time market participants have offered open invitations to talk with new market participants, or others who may want to explore ideas together. Contact Liana Orlandi, Program Grants Manager, to get connected.
Connect with an experienced market participant who can share knowledge and tips for succeeding at farmers markets
Bank of America
Contact: Jacob Shklovsky, VP, Small Business Banking Manager
San Francisco/North Bay
Email: yakov.shklovsky@bofa.com
Phone: 925.510.0706
Web: bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness/resources/
At Bank of America, we are committed to making financial lives better for those we serve. We have done this in part by creating simple, safe, transparent, and easy-to-use financial solutions that give people greater control of their finances. When individuals and businesses feel financially secure and are able to achieve their financial goals, communities are made stronger.
Find out how to utilize technology to simplify and strengthen operations
Learn what banks and lenders look for before they approve loans
Learn how your income statement affects your ability to borrow
Talk to an advisor regarding your banking questions
Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative
Contact: Steve Schwartz, Executive Director
Email: steve@interfaithfood.org
Phone: 707.217.5603
Web: interfaithfood.org
Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative's mission is to advance the production of and access to healthy food produced in a sustainable, socially just manner. We empower faith communities throughout the Bay Area with models and resources to impact local food systems and advance public policy.
Partner with the faith community to access commercial kitchens in your area
Partner with the faith community to launch CSAs
Learn how to get licensed to accept WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program produce vouchers
Connect with new markets for livestock, including Halal and Kosher
Kitchen Table Advisors
Contact: Wendy Sosa, Cross Regional Program Coordinator
Email: info@kitchentableadvisors.org
Phone: 831.235.2772
Web: kitchentableadvisors.org
Kitchen Table Advisors fuels the economic viability of small sustainable farms and ranches through practical business advising and relationship building. Our work focuses on both directly supporting farmers and ranchers, as well as shifting the ecosystem within which they operate, to be more inclusive of their agricultural practices and their lived experiences.
Annual cohort selected each Fall for 3-year intensive business coaching program
Cohort of farmers and ranchers selected:
Must be inside service ranges: Yolo / Solano, North Bay, San Mateo,
East Bay, Central CoastPreferred BIPOC and Women-owned businesses that are certified organic or pasture-based animal systems
Inclusive of monolingual Spanish-speakers
Recruitment begins each Summer for Fall cohort
Learning areas include: Business Planning, Financial Management,
Access to Markets & Marketing, Land Access & Tenure, Access to Capital, Organizational Management and Balancing Farm and Family Needs
Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT)
Contact: Scott Dunbar, Stewardship Program Manager
– Sustainable Agriculture
Email: sdunbar@malt.org
Phone: 415.663.9721
Web: malt.org
MALT’s mission is to permanently protect Marin’s agricultural land for agricultural use. MALT’s vision for Marin County is a thriving agricultural community in a healthy and diverse natural environment.
Land stewardship for MALT - protected properties
Stewardship assistance grants for MALT - protected properties
Drought Resilience and Water Security Program (DRAWS) for any Marin producers
Marin Resource Conservation District
Contact: Michelle Katuna, Agroecologist
Email: michelle@marinrcd.org
Phone: (415) 663-1170 x 304
Web: marinrcd.org
The Marin Resource Conservation District offers a variety of programs to facilitate implementation of conservation projects in Marin County. We partake in innovative projects that explore alternative land stewardship practices relying on local history to guide our decisions about the future.
Creating full-farm Carbon Farming Plans (CFPs)
Providing funding and technical assistance to design and implement carbon and/or wildlife beneficial practices on farms including hedgerows, wind breaks, compost application, and riparian restorations
Providing funding and coordination for ranch and dairy improvements that benefit water quality in specific Marin watersheds
In collaboration with local partner organizations, educating local landowners and public about conservation and agricultural practices
Coordinating permits for conservation projects
Connecting local land managers with federal, state, and local organizations and agencies for technical assistance and grants
Small Business Development Center
Contact: Miriam Hope Karell, Marin SBDC Director
Email: miriam@marinsbdc.org
Phone: 415.482.1819
Web: marinsbdc.org
The Marin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a local nonprofit that provides no cost business advising to help you grow and expand. There are 22 skilled professionals that understand what it takes to run a small business and are ready to support you in answering your questions.
Marketing: strategy, SEO, social media, ecommerce, website best practices
Human Resources: small business employment law, hiring and retaining employees
Funding/Finance: crowdfunding, crafting a pitch, how to get a loan approved, accounting and bookkeeping, Quickbooks, cash flow management
Sales/Negotiation: communication tactics for better sales, lease negotiation, projections and business strategy
University of California Cooperative Extension
Contact: Vince Trotter, Sustainable Ag Coordinator
& Agricultural Ombuds
Email: tvtrotter@ucanr.edu
Phone: 415.473.4204
Web: growninmarin.org
Our mission is to sustain a vital agriculture, environment, and community in Marin County by providing University of California research-based information in agriculture, natural resource management, nutrition, and youth development.
We consult with individuals and organizations, publish newsletters, produce information for mass media, and conduct seminars and workshops.
Regulatory requirements for new farmers market vendors
On-farm food safety
Value-added production and cottage food
Farm and Market diversification
Funding for Growing Success: Expanding Career Pathways and Experiential Learning at Farmers Markets was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant No. AM190100XXXXG129. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.