Agricultural Platform Collective Achieves Nearly $2M in Sales, Building a Farmer-First Food System
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Participating California small-scale farmers receive 100% of revenue from the “farmer-first” initiative
FRESNO, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2025) — As small farmers in the top agricultural state face mounting pressures from climate change, rising input costs, and systemic barriers that limit market access, the Agricultural Platform Collective (APC) has reached a major milestone in its work to build a more just, regenerative food system. In less than a year, the California-based initiative has achieved nearly $2 million in direct sales for small-scale farmers—with producers receiving 100% of the revenue—demonstrating that an innovative system rooted in equity can scale and help strengthen both communities and local economies.
Launched in December 2024 with its strongest hubs in the Central Valley, Pasadena/Altadena, and the broader Los Angeles area, APC has already moved over 2.5 million pounds of fresh, local produce to schools, food banks, and community programs across California. Today, APC partners with a network of over 50 Black, Hmong, and Latino farmers, mainly rooted in the Central Valley. The collective evolved from Growing the Table, a COVID-19 food aid initiative launched by the TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation and administratively supported by the Office of Kat Taylor that connected 452 small farmers with more than 120 community organizations and moved 1.2 million pounds of food statewide.
“What started as emergency relief has become a platform for market access and stability,” said José Corona, Chief Agricultural Business Officer at the Office of Kat Taylor. “This milestone is about more than dollars—when farmers can access bigger, more stable markets, they can plan ahead, invest in their land, and transform how food reaches our communities. This is proof that a farmer-first system can deliver stability, fair prices, and the trust that turns short-term transactions into long-term change.”
California grows nearly half of the nation’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. However, many of the state’s small and underrepresented farmers are left out of the conventional food system while facing steep barriers such as land insecurity (often leasing year to year), limited market access, unnecessary middlemen, and thin margins that make it difficult to sustain their businesses. To ensure farmers lead the way in addressing these challenges, APC is guided by an Advisory Council, giving producers a direct voice in every strategic decision.
“Selling what I grow has always been the hardest part. With APC, it’s not just better prices, it’s the trust that what I plant will actually move,” said Miguel Reyes of Siembra y Cosecha Farm in Fresno. “That kind of stability helps me plan and gives me the confidence to dream a little bigger. For small farmers, that means everything.”
For APC, partnerships are a key component to building a just, regenerative food system. The collective pairs distribution with on-farm technical assistance and relationship-building from organizations like the Asian Business Institute and Resource Center, Kitchen Table Advisors, and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources to help farmers scale sustainably, help meet buyer requirements, and plan for long-term growth. This approach shows how public and private partners can work directly with farmers to create the stability and opportunity they need to thrive.
“Working with APC made it easier to do what we believe in: support small farms and feed people with dignity,” said Altadena Farmers’ Market Director Rafaela Gass. “To build resilient food systems, we have to invest in regional producers and local sourcing networks like APC. This isn’t charity—it’s infrastructure. Programs like this make it possible for buyers like us to source locally, reliably, and with heart.”
APC is actively growing its reach across California and exploring stable land access pathways as a part of long-term resilience. Over the next 12 months, APC is building towards statewide expansion—bringing in farmers from additional regions—while also strengthening distribution in existing regions. Farmers can contact APC to get involved. Potential buyers can view seasonal crop lists to purchase produce. Partnership opportunities are available for individuals or organizations that support small-scale farmers. Visit weareapc.org to learn more.
About the Agricultural Platform Collective (APC)
The Agricultural Platform Collective (APC) works alongside small, underrepresented farmers and ranchers to expand consistent market access, technical assistance, and financial tools that strengthen the economic vitality of small producers and advance a regenerative agricultural economy. Currently rooted in the Central San Joaquin Valley, APC partners with more than 50 Black, Hmong, and Latino/a farmers in Fresno, with plans to expand statewide and grow a more diverse, resilient community of producers.
About the Office of Kat Taylor
Kat Taylor leads a variety of social enterprises, public benefit and philanthropic ventures. She is the Co-founder and Board Co-chair of Beneficial State Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution, whose mission is to bring beneficial banking to under-resourced communities in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. Taylor is also the co-owner of TomKat Ranch, a cattle ranch that uses ecologically sound practices and research to demonstrate, inspire, and proliferate the adoption of regenerative agriculture. Taylor serves, and has served, on many nonprofit boards, including CuriOdyssey, Ecotrust, Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, the Harvard Board of Overseers, Insight Prison Project, KQED, ProPublica, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. In 2025, Kat Taylor was named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 List for Investment and Most Influential Women in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times.