Technical Assistance and Education: Webinar Series

Supporting the success of our farmers market participants through mentorship, peer learning, and access to expert resources.

One-on-One Guidance at No Cost

Peer-to-Peer Advising

Training & Expert Support

Recorded Webinars

Food Safety Webinar

An online workshop focused on basic food safety for small farms, understanding the difference between buyer driven/voluntary audits and legal compliance (FSMA), and why it might be important to have a food safety plan.

AIM offers individualized technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers, and food makers grow their businesses. Connect with experienced market participants who are eager to share insights, tips, and lessons learned from years of market success.

Building a strong community starts with learning from one another. A few of AIM’s long-time farmers and vendors have offered open invitations to connect with newer participants or those looking to explore new ideas. Reach out to Liana Orlandi, Program Grants Manager, to get connected.

Through partnerships with leading organizations, AIM provides free training and technical support on essential topics, including financial planning, small business development, land stewardship, conservation planning, and product diversification.

AIM is partnering with several local 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 and conservation planning, product diversification, and more.

CA Farmlink Webinar

AIM and California FarmLink give an overview of FarmLink’s valuable lending services and programs, including affordable ag loans, in-depth training in farm business management (available in both Spanish and English), employee management, and best practices for TA providers supporting farmers and ranchers.

Grants for Producers

A walk-through of CAFF's Grant Database. Learn how to navigate this amazing resource to stay on top of funding opportunities for your farm/ranch business!

Upcoming Webinars

Technical Assistance Services Available 

AIM is proud to partner with several local 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.

Explore the Technical Assistance Services available:

Agricultural Institute of Marin

Contact: Jenna Smart, Director of Programs & Community Impact
Email: jenna@agriculturalinstitute.org
Phone: 415-455-3309
Website

AIM’s mission is to educate, inspire, and connect communities, farmers, and producers in order to create a healthy, Earth-friendly, equitable local and regional food and agricultural system.

  • Sourcing reusable and environmentally preferred packaging
    and containers at markets 

  • Developing 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

Bank of America

Contact: Jacob Shklovsky, VP Small Business Banking Manager
San Francisco/North Bay
Email: yakov.shklovsky@bofa.com 
Phone: 925.510.0706
Website

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

Kitchen Table Advisors

Contact: Wendy Sosa, Cross Regional Program Coordinator
Email: info@kitchentableadvisors.org
Phone: 831.235.2772
Website

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 Coast 

    • Preferred 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 

Small Business Development Center

Contact: Miriam Hope Karell, Marin SBDC Director
Email: miriam@marinsbdc.org
Phone: 415.482.1819
Website

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
Website

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 

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

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.