AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MARIN
400 SMITH RANCH ROAD No D, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94903 www.agriculturalinstitute.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: AIM educates the public about the health, environmental, economic and social benefits of eating locally grown food, connects and supports communities and agriculture, and works to ensure all people can access healthy and locally grown food through its community education and outreach programs. AIM provides hands-on educational programs to thousands of children and adults, operates a farm audit program, runs a mobile market for older adults and underserved communities, and operates CalFresh/EBT and Market Match services to createa healthy, equitable food system.

Agricultural Institute of Marin's mission is to (1) educate the public about the health, environmental and economic impacts of eating locally grown food directly from farmers and (2) connect and support communities and local and regional food systems so the public can access healthy and sustainably-grown food.

Farmers Markets Educational Venues - AIM's seven year-round certified farmers markets, and seasonal market, provide critical learning environments where AIM, farmers, and food makers engage the community and educate about the health, environmental, and economic benefits of eating locally and sustainably produced food. In 2019, AIM managed 379 farmers market events. Farmers, ranchers, fishers, food purveyors, and artisans travel from nearly 40 California counties to have direct access to the public at AIM's markets located in the cities of Hayward, Newark, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Rafael. Approximately 18,000 weekly visitors directly interacted with 378 farmers, ranchers, fishers, cheesemakers, food purveyors, and artisans who rotate AIM's farmers markets and learn about local and regional food and fiber production. Communities learn about how and where food is grown, the importance of agriculture and responsible food production, the California and U.S. Pacific food shed, and California's rich agricultural history and present story. We also offered "Harvest Talks" at our markets in 2019 where community experts and farmers spoke on a range of topics, including Backyard Gardens, Beekeeping, Food Justice, and Healthy School Meals for children.

Diggin' Education ProgramsAIM offers three farm-based education programs: Diggin' in the Classroom, Diggin' at the Market, and Diggin' on the Farm. Our goal is to empower youth to make healthy food choices that will positively impact their longterm health. Knowledge of where food and fiber come from, how crops are grown, why farmers choose to farmand what is in season, is a powerful tool for teaching good nutrition. Our Diggin' on the Farm educational tours are designed to raise awareness about rural living and to give children and young adults an inside look at what life is really like on the farm. Students tour fields in different growing stages, learn about soil microbes, conduct pond or creek studies, feed sheep, visit baby calves, and explore the natural environment around these organic farms. Through hands-on activities, students learn connections between the environment, agriculture, and the food they eat. AIM offers a fee scale based on ability to pay and have scholarships available for schools or community groups serving low-income youth. In 2019, over 1,361 students in middle and elementary schools attended Diggin' on the Farm at seven partner farms in Marin County and the City of Hayward. AIM provided $5,00 in scholarships based on need. Our Diggin' at the Market program includes a free guided tour and field trip experience for school-aged children. Students use their senses as they taste what is in season while spending a day at the farmers market to learn how to make healthy food choices and build a sense of connection to the people who grow our food. In 2019, AIM provided 53 market tours to approximately 980 students and 287 chaperones, along with 2 tours to 43 older adults. Our Diggin' in the Classroom program entails AIM staff visiting the classroom to offer learning opportunities for youth. AIM provides hands-on interactive discussions that challenge school groups of all ages to think and care about where their food comes from. In 2019, we visited 10 schools in Alameda and Marin Counties, serving 913 students. The curriculum includes topics such as how food is grown, seasonality, carbon footprints and the difference between shopping at a farmers market and a food store. AIM's dynamic educational website which attracts over 2,000 visitors per month features content about local food, sustainable agriculture, seasonality, nutrition benefit programs, seasonal recipes, and farmers markets. AIM produces e-Blast news alerts that provide community members with important upcoming events and links to articles that relate to sustainable food and news about AIM's programs. AIM also has an online presence through social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Community Outreach and Food AccessAIM also conducts outreach, education and health promotion programs to reach underserved and low-income communities, facilitating access to fresh, healthy, locally-grown food through promotion of WIC, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers and CalFresh - California's name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called the Food Stamp Program. Market Match supports CalFresh participants who use their EBT card at AIM's eight farmers markets, who are eligible to receive a one-to-one match up to $10 in Market Match tokens, which can be used to purchase California grown fruits and vegetables. In 2019, CalFresh participants purchased nearly $166,189 in EBT tokens to shop at AIM's Farmers Markets, while receiving $118,506 in Market Match incentives.

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