Farms Together seeks to create more market opportunities for agricultural producers as well as aggregating businesses who have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and, where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. While purchasing from these producers and aggregators is not a requirement, it is a priority, and therefore they are referred to as “priority” throughout this solicitation." While purchasing from priority farmers is not a requirement, it is a target.
Additionally, in California, Black and American Indian/Native Alaskan have historically and systematically been denied access and opportunity to own, lease and farm land. As a result, these groups are particularly underrepresented in the most recent farm census.
Lastly, this project has the intention of supporting small farms who most stand to benefit from the extra income. In the bid solicitations for approved vendors, preference will be made for vendors sourcing from small farms, measured by range of annual sales.