Small Farms Research and Extension
Our mission is to assist small-scale and diversified family farms to thrive economically through extension support, bilingual and culturally relevant training, research on small-acreage and emerging specialty crops, and policy engagement.
The Small Farms and Specialty Crops Advisor and program staff serve as an information hub connecting small-scale farms to the resources and programs of the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR).
We serve a diverse grower clientele including:
- Small-scale and diversified family farms
- Beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers
- Growers of specialty crops on smaller acreages that are not covered by traditional commodity-based extension programs
Specialty crops grown on small-scale farms in Fresno and Madera Counties include Asian specialty vegetables and herbs, jujubes, moringa, persimmons, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and a variety of other vegetable, herb, and fruit crops produced on diversified farms.
UC ANR Small Farms Advisors define small farms according to the USDA income-based definition, but also include additional categories. Click here for a working definition of small farms used by the Small Farms and Specialty Crops extension program in Fresno and Tulare Counties.
If you would like to donate to research and extension efforts to benefit small-scale, diversified, and socially disadvantaged farmers in Fresno County, click on the "Make a Gift" button and choose "UCCE Fresno Small Farms and Specialty Crops" from the drop-down menu.
