GrubMarket Partners with CCOF to Support Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in Obtaining Organic Certification

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Jun 06, 2023, 09:06 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GrubMarket today announced a multi-year partnership with California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), a nonprofit organization that advances organic agriculture through organic certification, education, advocacy, and promotion. This partnership, part of GrubMarket's Sustainable California initiative, aims to support socially disadvantaged farmers in California by sponsoring cohorts of farmers from underserved communities to obtain organic certification, empowering them to adopt more organic farming practices and move towards long-term sustainability.

By providing farmers with financial and technical assistance, GrubMarket is leveling the playing field for farmers who may not have the economic means to pursue organic certification on their own. In addition to promoting equity amongst the farming community, GrubMarket's support for organic transition will also help farmers increase their revenue, improve product quality, and improve environmental stewardship.

"We recognize the numerous challenges that socially disadvantaged farmers face when trying to access critical resources. Right now, organic agriculture represents less than 5% of cropland in California and even less nationally. This needs to change. GrubMarket is committed to building a sustainable and equitable food ecosystem, so we are excited to work with CCOF to support the organic transition process for the many underserved farmers who need our help," said Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket. "Organic is truly the future of food and farming in California, so we will do everything we can to encourage marginalized farmers to adopt organic farming practices, which will also provide greater access to healthier and fresher food for all."

CCOF is a national leader in the organic certification space, having served the organic community for over 40 years. CCOF will work closely with GrubMarket to identify eligible socially disadvantaged farmers, provide mentorship and technical guidance throughout the organic certification process, ensure compliance with organic standards, and provide financial support as the farmers transition their land to organic production.

"CCOF is proud to partner with GrubMarket in supporting socially disadvantaged farmers in California," said Jessy Beckett Parr, Chief Programs Officer at CCOF. "Today, less than 1% of America's farmland is organic, and farmers who want to transition their land face a challenging process. By collaborating with GrubMarket, we can eliminate the financial barrier for farmers who want to make the leap to organic production, which opens doors to premium markets and provides a pathway to financial stability. With GrubMarket's support, we are making organic certification more accessible and inclusive."

As GrubMarket continues scaling its business and advancing its technologies, it will continue to reinforce its commitment to ensuring a more sustainable future for California's agricultural ecosystem. GrubMarket's efforts to sponsor organic certification for socially disadvantaged farmers represent a significant step towards creating long-lasting positive change within the agricultural community, while also providing consumers with greater access to high-quality, sustainably grown organic produce.

Any California-based farmers or technologists interested in learning more about Sustainable California or benefiting from GrubMarket's partnership with CCOF, please visit https://sustainability.grubmarket.com/ or send a message to [email protected].

About GrubMarket

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain eCommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American and global food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in all 50 U.S. States; Ontario and British Columbia (Canada); Argentina, Chile, and Colombia (South America); Egypt, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain, with plans to expand to the rest of the U.S., Canada, South America, and other parts of the world.