CAFF is a California-based membership organization that includes family farmers and other community members passionate about local food, farming, and the environment. As a farmer-serving organization, we recognize the historic and lasting inequities in the California food and farming system. We believe farmers of color, and other historically oppressed people, should have the opportunity to create and participate in a food and agriculture system that aligns with their needs, values, identities, knowledge systems, and communities. We commit to advancing racial, gender, and environmental justice in our larger systems, as well as in our own workplace. Currently, our programming is focused in four areas: Farm to Market, Policy & Advocacy, Farmer Services, and Ecological Farming. To learn more about CAFF, our history, and our core values, visit https://www.caff.org/about.
Location: Placed-based. Work will predominantly take place within the five county region of Fresno, Tulare, Merced, Madera and Kings. Providing in-person technical support and workshops are also expected for the greater San Joaquin Valley region and Central Coast as appropriate. Independent work-time may be remote with the option to work out of CAFF’s Fresno office.
Time Commitment : Approximately 25-120 hours per month, contingent upon activities and number of contractors hired
Other details: At least one contractor must be bilingual in Spanish (native/heritage speaker and bicultural). All candidates, regardless of language skills, are strongly encouraged to apply as multiple contractors may be hired.
Position Summary
The Small Farm Technology Hub at Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) works to support small family farms and food enterprises across the state of California. This position will focus on farmers operating out of the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding regions in adopting technology based solutions for identified challenges. The contractor(s) will work with our Tech Hub team in providing direct technical support to farmers, hosting workshops, collecting feedback and assessing farmer needs, and supporting the implementation and evaluation of a tool sharing pilot programs at 1-2 hosting farms or community gardens. This position will be an integral contributor to the CAFF Small-Farm Tech Hub team.
Firms welcome to apply.
Core Responsibilities
Multiple contractors may be hired to lead on specific responsibilities listed below. Applicants are encouraged to list out their areas of expertise for each identified section.
Farmer support
Provide at least three technology literacy workshops with content tailored to small-scale farmers. Most of the workshops will be hosted in the five county region, with occasional training in neighboring counties.
Provide direct in-person follow-up support to attendees of tech literacy workshops including farmers, ranchers, and food businesses (such as farmers market and food hubs) on web-based solutions that will make purchasing local food more convenient, accessible and competitive. Support includes assisting with answering technical questions, identifying what resources are available and how to access them, troubleshooting software issues, and general support as needed.
Contract goals include serving at least 30 farms at workshops and at least five farms for direct technical assistance cases. Disadvantaged farmers including historically underserved populations (immigrant, undocumented, people of color, LBGTQ) and older farmers with little to no background in using web based technologies will be prioritized to the largest extent possible.
Evaluation and Reporting
Supporting data analysis and evaluation of tech literacy workshops, including the creation and delivery of pre-event and post-event knowledge surveys and summarizing results.
Continuous collection of feedback and assessment of farmer needs. Providing written reports and evaluation that summarizes program deliverables and key findings.
Inform CAFF’s needs assessment for appropriate technology for small farms operating in the San Joaquin Valley.
Keep internal tracking documents up to date with farm contacts and key details from tech support sessions.
Project Development
Launch a pilot tool sharing program at multiple host sites. This project will provide host sites with a variety of new tools and technology for their operation (e.g. hand weeders, battery operated greens harvester, new software systems, etc) to help the farmers assess what small-scale tools and equipment best fit their needs.
Identify appropriate technology for adoption, including but not limited to; open source, grassroots agricultural technology and innovation, tools adapted to agroecology, digital, software, hardware, on-field production tools from hand tools to robotic carts, etc.
Lead the sourcing and adoption of the technology, implementation and practice of new tools by host site, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the technology.
Support field-days at host sites to share the technology with other farms and support peer-to-peer learning between farmers.
Outreach
Support the annual Small Farm Tech Expo, taking place annually in December
Create blogs and summaries of field-days to help promote CAFF’s resources to other farmers.
Attend other partner events and farmer gatherings
Other responsibilities as appropriate.
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Effective written and oral communication skills. Bilingual and bicultural candidate(s) in Spanish preferred. Hmong speakers will also be prioritized.
Experience in education, especially with populations of low education level.
Strong evaluation and documentation skills and word processing skills, including Excel and Google Suite.
An understanding of the most common technological challenges small businesses and farms experience.
Familiarity with web-based tools for farmers.
A proven track record on the ability to adapt to different technical assistance needs (e.g. not a one size fits all approach to technical assistance).
Preferred Qualifications
Effective communication skills with a service oriented mindset and passion for supporting small businesses.
Familiarity with the challenges small farms experience, especially within the Central Valley.
Experience or familiarity of the non-profit sector.
Demonstrated ability to enhance and effectively deliver programs to diverse audiences through your understanding of self, language, culture, and community.
Required Qualifications
Ability to work remotely.
Access to stable internet connection and mobile phone.
Familiarity with common computer-based tools such as Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and Google Drive (docs, sheets, slides); email platforms; and websites.
Familiarity with common mobile-based tools such as built-in apps (like Apple’s App Store, Google Play Store, camera, calendar, etc), email platforms, and others.
Fluency in English.
Valid California’s driver license
Willingness to travel within California occasionally, up to several times per week.
CAFF’s policy is that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. We strongly encourage those from diverse backgrounds and from historically underserved communities to apply. Multicultural candidates encouraged to apply.
Compensation: Annual budget of $40,000 - $53,000 contingent upon supplement activities, language skills, number of farms and workshops supported, and number of host sites for the tool lending project. Invoices billed monthly by contractor and paid by CAFF. Total contract amount will be determined based on the number of contractors, application of interpretation support services, location of hires, travel budget and identified areas of expertise.
To submit a proposal: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter highlighting their areas of expertise listed under “Core Responsibilities” and language skills, resume/CV, references, rate sheet, and availability with the subject line “Tech Hub Contract” to this ad by August 31, 2025.
