Planning Library · Appendix B
Six organizations that anchor Groundworks' thinking — as partners, as references, and as proof the integrated model can work at scale in California.
Watsonville, CA
Priority #1 conversation
Food hub for small BIPOC farmers across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties. 20+ farm relationships. Subsidized CSA program. Farm-to-school distribution. Based in the Pajaro Valley. Co-led by Mireya Gomez-Contreras. Esperanza serves farmworker families and focuses on the Pajaro Valley — a different geography and audience than Groundworks' Monterey Peninsula target. Complementary, not competitive.
San Juan Bautista, CA
Potential launch sourcing partner
Established organic food hub. 80+ grower partners, 95% minority/women-owned farms. Wholesale, retail, and institutional distribution. For-profit grower-shipper. Could serve as the produce sourcing partner at launch — aggregation, cooling, and packing already handled. ALBA graduates sell through Coke Farm. A single-source launch strategy through Coke Farm could dramatically simplify the supply chain. Contact: Adele Gemignani (Sales & Business Development).
Salinas, CA
Complementary lane · supply pipeline
Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association. 100-acre organic farm in the Salinas Valley. 250+ farm businesses launched, 90%+ Latino-owned. Food, Land & Water youth education program (1,000+ students/year). Building a Farmworker Opportunity Center. Partners with Hartnell College. ALBA serves farmers; Groundworks serves the community. Complementary lanes. ALBA graduates represent a natural and mission-aligned supply pipeline.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Closest mission-comparable at scale
Integrated farm, food hub, education center, and community space. The closest mission-comparable organization at scale in California. Key reference point for Founder's Table cultivation timeline, Year 1 operational lessons, earned vs. grant revenue ratios, and programming attendance benchmarks.
San Diego, CA
Founder's apprenticeship · operational learning
Farmer-owned cooperative with 60+ farm members. Drew's apprenticeship organization (2025–2026). Role: advisor and operational learning source. Groundworks' revenue does not depend on Foodshed. Zero-dependency posture. The apprenticeship provided direct experience in farm-to-consumer logistics, subscription models, and daily food hub operations.
Pescadero, CA
Phase 3+ Half Moon Bay reference
CCOF-certified organic farm on 150 acres in Pescadero, San Mateo County. ~700 CSA members. Founded by UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems alumni in 2008. Sells at Bay Area farmers markets and to restaurants. Values-aligned production farm demonstrating how to build community through food. Participates in WIC and donates surplus to gleaning organizations. Relevant to Phase 3+ Half Moon Bay / San Mateo coast expansion thinking.