F3 Local

How can we feed a growing human population with finite resources? How about intercropping! Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more different crops close together in the same field at the same time. This approach maximizes land use efficiency and adds biodiversity to the farm. When you pair the right crops, they complement each other and benefit both the farm and the environment. The first picture above is a research site where rainfed winter oats are grown in the alley of a young almond orchard. 🌱The oats protect topsoil from erosion, conserve soil structure, improve water infiltration, and retain essential nutrients that are susceptible to winter leaching. 🌾In the spring, the oats are harvested for forage feed, providing additional income to offset their cost.

Gaëlle Chanlot is a Project Scientist with the UCANR. She has more than 15 years of experience in food and sensory science, following a PhD in Food #SensoryScience from AgroParisTech and previous work in industry, market research, and at University of California, Davis. Her research examines how handling, processing, and storage affect flavor, texture, aroma, and consumer perception. At UC ANR, she works with teams supporting #SmallFarmers and #FoodBusinesses in California’s #CentralValley to strengthen #LocalMarkets for #SpecialtyCrops. Her applied research includes #jujube, a crop with growing regional production but limited consumer awareness. Through sensory and consumer studies, she evaluates product perception, awareness, and purchase intent to support market development. Watch more from the UC Postharvest Research and Extension Center here: https://lnkd.in/gy_fpnD6

At the World Ag Expo in #Tulare, #California, F3 Innovate sat down with members of the F3 Local (Local Farms & Food Innovation) team: Santanu Thapa, Research–Industry Liaison Coordinator; Amber Butland, Lending Library Coordinator; and Manpreet Singh Sandhu, Technology and Innovation Small Farms Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension. Read more here about what was shared on available #resources for #farmers:

🧑🌾 Are you a #Farmer or #FoodBusiness interested in improved distribution, processing, or storage for your products? 📍Are there #markets you'd like to access but can't without enhanced #infrastructure or #services? 🛒 Are you a #FoodHub or #Distributor eager to reach new customers or improve access to fresh fruit and vegetables for your local community? If this sounds like you, please scan the QR code or follow the 🔗 below to take this brief 8-minute survey. Also available in Spanish. We've collaborated with Roots of Change to map existing #FoodSupplyChain infrastructure and identify #gaps, #resources, and #needs for small- to mid-scale #Farmers and #FoodBusinesses. This survey addresses: 🚜 Farms and food businesses interested in improved distribution, processing, or storage. 📈 Market access barriers due to lack of services or updated infrastructure ⚙️ Food hubs and distributor access to new markets, and fresh produce for the community. Anonymous data will inform an ongoing food infrastructure study to improve market access, local food availability, and supply chain resilience within the Central San Joaquin Valley. For more information, reach out to Susan Ellsworth at sellsworth@ucanr.edu English: https://lnkd.in/gQ42ZdJ7 Spanish: https://lnkd.in/g--ktTNC

For decades, the end of an almond orchard's life cycle meant one thing: smoke. 🔥 Old trees were pushed into massive piles and burned, sending carbon straight into the atmosphere. ♻️ But as California pushes toward more sustainable agriculture, a method called Whole Orchard Recycling (WOR) is proving that the past can actually feed the future. 🌳 Our recent study on a four-year-old replanted almond orchard has shed light on exactly how this process transforms the soil—and the results are a win for both farmers and the planet. Read more from Touyee Thao, PhD, here:

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! 🌻 Join us on an exploration of Agritourism in the San Joaquin Valley. We are hosting an Agritourism 101 Session with California State University, Fresno Smart Farm University in July, followed by a 4-week Agritourism Intensive Program in September with the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program. Agritourism 101 is a primer for those curious about agritourism and whether it's a good option for them. 🧑🏽🌾 The Agritourism Intensive Program will provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to agritourism and a supportive network of local farmers starting an agritourism operation. 💼 Expect to dive into the topics of business planning, liability and safety, and marketing, while building out your own unique action plan! 📍 Hear from experts and experienced agritourism operators and engage in hands-on activities and group discussions. REGISTER NOW! https://lnkd.in/gKmu9GCs