The CDFA Office of Farm to Fork is committed to promoting Farm to School efforts throughout California by fostering healthy school environments and increasing market access for California institutional buyers and sellers. The Office acts as the host for the California Farm to School Network and a Core Partner for the National Farm to School Network. The Office also partners with the California Department of Education, Department of Public Health, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, UEPI, and Life Lab.
To increase agricultural economic viability, the Office of Farm to Fork created the California Farmer Marketplace, a free statewide website featuring California produce, grains, meats, and other products for sale. The Marketplace offers farmers the opportunity to post products and connect directly with school food service to increase the amount of California grown and produced foods on school lunch trays. Primarily established to reduce communication barriers between buyers and sellers, the website is free and open to the general public, including ranchers, producers, distributors, institutional buyers, community groups, and individual consumers.