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About F3

The F3 (Farms Food Future) Initiative is supporting agriculture in California’s Central Valley by developing new ag technology, growing food sustainably using regenerative farming practices, and offering cutting-edge training for quality jobs in the world’s food production capital.

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The F3 Initiative was awarded $65 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge in September 2022 - the largest federal grant ever awarded to California’s Central Valley. Despite being the unrivaled food production region of the country, the Central Valley struggles to spur, adopt, and commercialize innovation. To address these challenges, the F3 Initiative is positioning the Central Valley’s ag-based industry and farmers to be competitive, resilient, and sustainable.

The F3 Portfolio

The F3 Initiative is a system of 3 robust programs (called gears): 
F3 Innovate, F3 Local, and AgTEC Workforce.

  • Commercialization & Business Acceleration

  • Industry Leadership & Global Identity

  • Innovation

  • Talent Pipeline Coordination

F3 Innovate: Integrator, navigator and champion of the cluster; tech-based economic development

GOALS: Diversified regional economy; higher quality jobs; increased exports; sustainable food production

  • Food Entrepreneurship

  • Small Farm Market Access

  • Technology Testing & Adoption

  • Business Support

F3 Local: Industry adoption and investment in small BIPOC farms & entrepreneurs 

GOALS: Inclusive, resilient local food systems; small business growth; small-to-large producer-informed  innovation; sustainable tech adoption

  • Industry-Aligned, Interdisciplinary Curriculum

  • Competency Based Education

  • Connecting Talent to Industry

AgTEC Workforce: Regional skilled workforce  pipeline ready for the future

GOALS: Industry-recognized skilled talent pipeline; removing barriers to upskilling; wage growth; creating & filling jobs

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Regional Impact

Over four years, the F3 Initiative will:

Increase regional GDP from 2.1% to 3.0%
annually

Attract $250M

in Private

Investment

Create and/or fill

more than 10,000

quality jobs

Central Valley Community Foundation

Fresno Drive

CVCF serves as the backbone organization for Fresno DRIVE and the F3 Initiative, providing support for collaboration, strategic planning, fundraising and evaluation of results.

The F3 Initiative is one of 14 Fresno DRIVE Initiatives. DRIVE is a 10-year investment plan to develop an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable economy for residents in the Greater Fresno Region.

F3 Farms. Food. Future.
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The F3 (Farms Food Future) Initiative

Central Valley, California

 

©2024 - 2025 by the F3 Initiative.

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