Providing resources and support to farmers and food businesses at AIM
I managed four grant-funded programs supporting more than 20 farmers and food entrepreneurs. My work combined direct technical assistance, training, market access, grant management, program evaluation, and coordination across more than 30 partners.
What I worked on
Helping new businesses enter farmers markets
Selling at a farmers market can be an important step for a small farm or food business, but getting there takes more than having a good product. New sellers have to work through applications, permits, equipment, costs, and the challenge of learning how to sell in a new setting.
At AIM, I managed incubator booth programs for farmers and food makers entering our markets for the first time. I recruited and selected participants, coordinated their onboarding with market staff, arranged equipment and financial support, and connected them with mentors and other resources. In 2026, the programs supported six farmers and seven food makers. The part I valued most was getting to know each business well enough to understand what was holding it back and what kind of support would actually help it grow.
Training and one-on-one support
I developed farmers-market training and business resources around practical needs such as permitting, marketing, and sales; delivered workshops and webinars; organized AIM’s annual Resource Fair; maintained a library of resources; and worked directly with producers to understand a problem, find the right information, and connect them with specialized support when needed.
Keeping the programs accountable
Behind the direct service, I managed grant budgets, deliverables, participant records, technical-assistance tracking, and outcome reporting across initiatives valued up to $250,000. A recent evaluation achieved a 90% response rate; 67% of respondents reported sales growth and average satisfaction exceeded 94%. Before leaving AIM in November 2026, I documented program processes and prepared handoff materials so the work could continue smoothly.
Notes from this time
Before this role, it was easy for me to think about food systems at the scale of policy, sustainability, or economics. Those things still matter. But working directly with producers has made the system much more personal.
Behind each farmers’ market stand or locally made product is someone navigating permits, costs, weather, sales, and dozens of other hurdles to bring food to their community. The persistence of those people is what I notice most. Supporting local food systems means supporting them.
Organization references
AIM Farm & Food Business Resources ↗Photos from this time
Scenes and details.
