GrubMarket to help disadvantaged farmers get organic certification

The process for gaining organic certification can be long, hard and financially unfeasible for many growers, so San Francisco-based food-tech firm GrubMarket is working on helping, starting in California.

GrubMarket created a multiyear partnership with California Certified Organic Farmers, a nonprofit organization that advances organic agriculture through organic certification, education, advocacy and promotion, according to a news release.

As part of GrubMarket’s Sustainable California initiative, the partnership 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.

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This partnership has clear benefits of helping these growers reach the end user, as GrubMarket offers food supply chain e-commerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as provides related software-as-a-service solutions, the release said.

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, according to the release. In addition to promoting equity among the farming community, GrubMarket said its support for organic transition can 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 CEO Mike Xu said in the release. “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.”

California Certified Organic Farmers has served the organic community for more than 40 years and will work closely with GrubMarket in several ways:

• Identify eligible socially disadvantaged farmers.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance throughout the organic certification process.
• Ensure compliance with organic standards.
• Provide financial support as the farmers transition their land to organic production.

Less than 1% of America’s farmland is organic, Jessy Beckett Parr, the nonprofit group’s chief programs officer, said in the release.

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“Farmers who want to transition their land face a challenging process,” Parr said. “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.”

The partnership is helping make organic certification more accessible and inclusive, she said.

Any California-based farmers or technologists interested in learning more about Sustainable California or benefiting from GrubMarket’s partnership with CCOF can visit GrubMarket’s sustainability page or send a message to SustainableCA@grubmarket.com.

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket operates in all 50 U.S. states; Ontario and British Columbia in Canada; Argentina; Chile; Colombia; Egypt; India; Mexico; South Africa; and Spain, with plans to expand to more parts of the world.