F3 Featured on NPR's Marketplace Tech

The F3 Initiative is proud to be featured in a three-part series on Marketplace Tech, a nationally aired podcast from NPR that explores the intersection of technology, business, and society. The series, which aired May 20–22, shines a national spotlight on the innovative work happening across California’s Central Valley to transform the future of food and agriculture.

Each episode highlights a different facet of the F3 ecosystem:

• Episode 1: California Farmers Reshape Agriculture with Cutting-Edge Tech – explores how growers like HMC Farms are adopting new technologies to adapt to labor shortages and climate change.

• Episode 2: Universities help make the Central Valley a hub for agtech innovation – dives into the research and development happening at UC Merced and the role of higher education in driving sustainable ag solutions.

• Episode 3: Farmworkers Head Back to School to Upskill in AgTech – profiles the AgTEC Workforce program and the students reshaping their futures through hands-on, competency-based education.

We’re grateful to Marketplace Tech for sharing our story and to all of the voices who contributed their time and insight. Thank you to the following interviewees:

• Karen Aceves, AgTEC Regional Director

• AgTEC students and faculty at Reedley College

• Nadia Olivos, AgTEC student at Merced College

• Leigh Bernacchi, Dr. Kimberly Gibson, and Dr. Reza Ehsani of UC Merced

• Drew Ketelsen of HMC Farms

• AgTEC graduates and faculty at Coalinga College

• Priscilla Koepke, CEO of F3 Innovate

This series is a powerful reflection of the collaboration, innovation, and community that drive F3. We invite you to listen and learn more about how the Central Valley is shaping the future of agriculture. Listen now at marketplace.org