Urban Agriculture

The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano, CA. PC: Keely Cervantes

California’s urban farmers are a growing force in the state’s food system, yet they face a distinct set of barriers. CAFF’s 2024 Urban Agriculture Roadmap, built from the input of over 200 urban growers, educators, and community leaders, found that many urban farms operate on less than an acre and struggle with the high cost of water and with limited access to land, equipment, and capital.

CAFF’s Urban Agriculture Program works to close these gaps: advising on state policy, funding grassroots leadership through a statewide advisory committee, and connecting urban growers to microgrants, training, and resources that help their farms take root and stay viable.

Policy & Advocacy

CAFF's Urban Agriculture Roadmap

This report from 2024 lays out concrete recommendations for state decision-makers, including expanding sustainable water infrastructure for urban growers, reforming land access policy, and improving urban farmers’ access to government resources and training.

CAFF’s USDA Urban Agriculture Cooperative Agreement

Funded through the federal Office of Urban Agriculture & Innovative Production. In partnership with several CA community based nonprofits and UCANR, we allocated nearly $2 million in direct grants to urban growers, a fellowship program, and partner organization support through early 2026. Read more about federal programs impacting CA farmers that we are tracking.

Artist: Julia Foote. Commissioned by partners for the USDA FSA Urban Ag Cooperative Agreement Project in California.

Programs & Resources

Urban Agriculture Microgrants — We provide small grants supporting urban growers with direct funding for their operations. Previous funding support was provided by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for CAFF’s urban ag fellowship and microgrants, and is currently provided by the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork for our advisory committee and 2026 microgrants.

Growing Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee — This seven member committee of urban ag practitioners guides CAFF’s statewide microgrant subaward program, organizes regional grower gatherings, and helps identify systemic barriers facing urban farmers to ensure their perspectives reach agencies and lawmakers directly.