Market Access Fund 2026 Cohort
Introducing the 2026 cohort of AIM’s Market Access Fund! The Market Access Fund provides grant money to reduce financial hardships to current BIPOC market participants. Each participant receives six months of market registration and stall fees, consulting and support services, tailored training in business best practices, and a $2,500 stipend for any market-related costs.
Read on to learn more about each business owner, their products, and how and where you can support each of them.
Maria Zavala, Blooming Maria’s
Flowers and wreaths
Grand Lake Farmers Market
Blooming Maria’s is a family powered team driven by energy, dedication, and a deep love for what they do. Maria Zavala relies on the unwavering support of her employees and family, help bring their shared vision to life through hard work.
Maria farms with respect for the land, using organic practices, crop rotation, and cover crops to nurture healthy soil and vibrant blooms. Every day spent among the colors, growth, and beauty of the flowers is an inspirational gift.
Alejandro Salazar, Salazar Organic Farm
Strawberries and other produce
Sunday Marin Farmers Market
Salazar Organic Farms is a family-owned and operated organic farm based in Watsonville, California. Founded in 2019, the farm was built through the hard work and dedication of the Salazar family, who share a deep passion for agriculture, sustainability, and providing fresh, locally grown food to their community. What began as a small family effort has grown into a meaningful source of organic strawberries, lettuce, and seasonal crops cultivated with environmentally responsible practices.
The family is committed not only to producing high-quality organic produce but also to strengthening connections between farmers and the community. Their goal is to ensure greater access to fresh, healthy food while preserving the land for future generations.
Support from the Market Access Fund will help Salazar Organic Farms expand their market opportunities, strengthen their operations, and continue growing as a sustainable family farm. This support will allow the family to reach more customers, increase access to their organic produce, and build a stronger future for their farm and community.
Vineeta Chand, Snoring Orange Studio
Mosaics
Sunday Marin, Grand Lake, Stonestown, Hayward, and Point Reyes Farmers Markets
Vineeta Chand is a stained glass mosaic artist based out of West Berkeley. Snoring Orange Studio is her independent glasswork and teaching business. With 25+ years of experience, her art is a form of bio-mimicry: she focuses on the native flora and fauna that inhabit California landscapes across seasons, terrains, and weather. From realistic renderings to indefinite, essentialized pieces evoking California hues and views, she hand-cuts her glass and upcycles unique frames to complement each piece. Vineeta is proud to be a member of the AIM community.
Carlos Salgado, Salviricans
Pupusas
Newark Farmers Market
Carlos Salgado, born and raised in Puerto Rico, and his wife Linda, originally from El Salvador, co‑founded Salviricans, a Fremont‑based food business serving the Bay Area. They specialize in authentic Salvadoran cuisine centered on handcrafted pupusas prepared with a signature sofrito cooking base. Salviricans does catering, farmers markets, and special events. The Market Access Fund will support the growth of their business through strategic investments in marketing and new equipment.
Dalene Dematteis, Dangerously Delicious Desserts
Cake pops, cookies, macarons
Newark Farmers Market
At Dalene Dematteis’s small cottage bakery isn’t just about desserts–it’s about community. At Dangerously Deliciously Desserts, everything begins with a love for baking and the joy of sharing it with others. Each cookie, cake pop, and macaron is made with care, not just to satisfy a sweet tooth, but to bring people together. Baking has always been her way of creating happiness with a treat for a neighbor, a smile at the farmers market, or a special moment for someone's celebration. She believes food connects us, and is grateful to share her passion. Every batch is baked fresh with creativity, heart, and a sprinkle of joy because her goal is simple: to make life a little sweeter one dessert at a time.
Dalene plans to use the fund to build a website and invest in new machinery to strengthen operations and increase market access.
Sayaka Tani, Nobunaga's Blue Ribbon
Flavored popcorn
Thursday Marin Market
Sayaka Tani is the founder of Nobunaga’s Blue Ribbon, a premium popcorn maker based in Napa Valley. Born and raised in Japan, she moved to the U.S. on her own in 2003 to pursue higher education. Today, Nobunaga’s Blue Ribbon is a two-person operation—Sayaka and her partner, Cole—crafting Japanese-inspired (and beyond) air-popped popcorn and seasonings in small batches made with care and precision. The brand is best known for its Japanese Curry flavor (savory and sweet) and continues to innovate with new favorites like Cheddar & Chives, Alfredo, Apple Butter, and more to come.
With support from AIM’s Market Access Fund, Nobunaga’s Blue Ribbon will reinvest in what helps the business grow sustainably: covering the real costs of showing up consistently at market (transportation, permits, and payment processing), improving booth infrastructure and sampling, and strengthening its digital presence so customers can easily follow market schedules and repurchase online. The goal is to keep building a stable, thriving small business that brings joy, connection, and cultural exchange to the community.
James Hong, Lion Kings
Sushi bakes
Stonestown Farmers Market
James and Tatiana Hong founded Lion Kings on the idea that American food is an ever evolving melting pot meshing ingredients, techniques, and flavors/textures/temperatures. It is this perfect mix that allows creativity to flourish and offer new food options to explore.
James and Tatiana have taken their house-made sauces, a 900° pizza oven, and Japanese-American flavors to create a new roll-in-a-bowl concept that promises to raise eyebrows and widen smiles.
Lion Kings intends to leverage the funds to address increased demand with a second pizza oven that will quicken service without disruption to quality. They also plan on increasing engagement through innovative digital marketing ideas.
Chen Huang, Luna's Good Cat and Dog Treats
Dog and cat treats
Stonestown Farmers Market
Luna’s Good Cat and Dog Treats was born from the kind of love that makes you want to give your pets the very best. Chen Huang crafts single-ingredient, high-quality jerky treats in small batches in Alameda, CA, using locally sourced, human-grade proteins. No additives. No preservatives. No fillers. Just pure, simple goodness made with care and integrity.
Their mission is to strengthen the bond between humans and their pets through wholesome, sustainable treats that bring joy to every tail wag and purr. With every purchase, they donate 25 cents per item to local animal rescues, creating a circle of care that connects local farms, responsible pet stewardship, and our Bay Area community.
Alicia Waters, MalDoni's
Barbecue and po’ boys
Hayward Farmers Market
Founded in 2021, Maldoni’s began as a way for Chef Alicia Waters to feed her community. Named after two of her late sons, the business honors their legacy through food. Since then, Maldoni’s has become a local staple, participating in pop-ups across the Bay Area. Known for its BBQ, loaded baked potatoes, and seafood po’boys, Maldoni’s is now bringing its famous po’boys to Hayward on a regular basis.
Nirali Maru, Leafy Veda
Microgreens
Newark Farmers Market
Nirali and Vraj grow premium microgreens, edible flowers and create plant-based wellness products. Leafy Veda’s name embodies their philosophy and mission. "Leafy" represents our fresh and vibrant microgreens, while "Veda," derived from the ancient Sanskrit word for "knowledge" or "wisdom," signifies the wisdom of nature and the profound benefits that microgreens bring to our health and well-being.
As a responsible urban farm, they grow using sustainable practices that prioritize soil health, minimal waste, and natural pesticide free production. They engage the community in meaningful conversations about how food is grown, why nutrient density matters, and how supporting local farms strengthens both personal and environmental health. Leafy Veda is a 2025 Climate Action Champion nominee.
With support from the AIM Market Access Fund, LeafyVeda will invest in eco-conscious packaging, strengthened production practices, and custom small-scale automation to elevate efficiency and sustainability in urban farming—allowing us to grow responsibly and bring fresh, plant-powered nourishment to more families.