The Pollinator is part of Business Stewardship & Coaching portion of Our Work.
Pollinator
Pollinator is a tailored business planning and coaching program offered by the Local Food Economy Lab.
Every year, the program supports a cohort of six food business owners (including farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and other food business owners) operating in San Diego County. The experience is highly customized to fit the needs, scale, and stage of operation of each participating business.
The next round of applications will open in early 2025.
View guidelines for 2025 program applicants
View this year’s application questions
Pollinator is part of the Local Food Economy Lab’s long-term efforts to support the viability of farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food business owners in San Diego County.
Through this program, we aim to provide deep support to our region’s small food system businesses and help entrepreneurs build a strong foundation for viability and success.
Pollinator is focused on uplifting businesses led by individuals and/or communities that have been historically disinvested and face systemic challenges to achieving profitability and success in their sector. We center equity and community ownership, and prioritize beginning and small-scale enterprises—especially those led by Indigenous and people of color, immigrants, women, seniors, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with low income.
Program Details
Eligibility
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All food business owners operating in San Diego County can apply, including but not limited to farmers, ranchers, fishermen, beekeepers, value-added food processors, food distributors, restaurateurs, caterers, retailers, and composters. For-profit and nonprofit businesses, micro-enterprise home kitchen operations (MEKHOs), sidewalk vendors, and pop-ups are all eligible and encouraged to apply.
Priority is given to Indigenous and people of color, immigrants, women, seniors, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with low income.
We encourage all food business owners operating in San Diego County to apply, regardless of immigration or citizenship status.
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To be eligible, businesses must be in operation, meaning they are selling a product or service at the time of application. Operating businesses at any stage of development are eligible to apply, but priority is given to small-scale and early-stage businesses.
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Our guidelines for determining program eligibility are flexible. In general, we define small-scale businesses as those with gross sales under $500k annually and early-stage businesses as those that have been operating for less than ten years.
We understand that definitions of these terms can vary, and no one definition works for all. The goal is to make this program as inclusive as possible, taking a human, case-by-case approach and prioritizing a commitment to those who have been most affected by inequities in the food system.
Program Experience
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Start date for services begins in the spring, but can vary based on participant readiness and needs.
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Program duration varies based on participant needs, pace, and capacity. Formally, the program can last up to two years depending on their needs, scale, and stage of operation. Informal support can be available to participants through the Lab beyond the two years, if needed.
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Through Pollinator, participants receive support from values-aligned partners on their top priority needs. This can include anything from business plan development and coaching to marketing, legal support, and professional development opportunities that help ensure the long-term viability of their business. The goal of the program is to provide deep, one-on-one support to food system businesses to help them create a strong foundation for viability and success.
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Program participants are encouraged to select service providers and professional development opportunities that best align with their needs, with support and guidance from the Lab staff.
Lab staff support with referring and selecting service providers as needed, based on positive personal experiences with the provider or known expertise for offering high-quality services that match the unique needs of each business. The Lab encourages selecting providers who prioritize social and racial equity in their work and have lived experience in farming, fishing, and/or owning a food business, particularly in San Diego County.
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The value of services will depend on the needs of each business and available funding. We are striving to offer a maximum of $25k worth of services per business, over the course of two years.
Pollinator funds can be used for hiring consultants and paying for professional development fees.
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No, the program is free for selected businesses.
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The program is operated primarily in English. Our goal is to be able to support food business owners with limited English proficiency in the future, through offering the program in other languages.
In some cases, we may be able to provide businesses with select services in other languages, or referrals to multi-lingual service providers. Please contact us if this could meet your needs.
Application & Selection Process
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The application opens in early January and closes around the end of February. Select candidates will be invited for a 30-minute interview in March. Six (6) businesses are selected and accepted into the program annually, and will be notified in early April.
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The Local Food Economy Lab reviews and selects applications based on three categories of criteria:
Program Fit
Demonstrated Need
Community Impact
The Lab also takes into consideration factors like the following:
Business type
Business location
Scroll down to the Application & Selection Process section on this page to learn more about the criteria.
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If your business is not selected to join the Pollinator cohort, please don’t be discouraged! We hope to continue growing our relationship with you, following your journey, and supporting your business. You are always welcome to apply for a future cohort, or to engage with us in other ways.
As the Local Food Economy Lab grows, we will continue to offer additional programs, services, resources, and support for beginning and small scale food businesses in San Diego County. Watch this space for other ways to engage with us.
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Please reach out to Hanna Schuler, Business Stewardship & Outreach Director, at hanna@sdfsa.org.
“Building a more resilient food supply and economy means we need to ensure that through small business ownership, diverse entrepreneurs are able to increase their income potential, achieve long-term financial stability, provide for their families, and continue enriching their communities.”
— San Diego County Food Vision 2030
Objective 2 | Increase the Viability of Local Farms, Fisheries, Food Businesses, and Workers
Application & Selection Process
🗒️ Step 1 | Written Application
January 13, 2025 — February 28, 2025
Tell us your story. What are your business needs and vision? How long have you been operating? Who are the communities you serve or aim to serve? The written application helps us begin getting to know you and your business, understanding your needs, and evaluating whether the program is a good fit for you.
🖊️ Step 2 | Initial Review & Selection
March 2025
After the application period has closed, the team at the Lab makes selections based on program fit, demonstrated need, and community impact. We aim to inform applicants within three weeks about whether we’d like you to join us for the next step.
🗣️ Step 3 | 30-minute Interview
March 2025
The purpose of the interview is to further get to know you and your business. This intentional dialogue is a time to dive deeper into answers from your written application, and to answer any questions you may have about Pollinator Program.
🌱 Step 4 | Final Review & Selection
April 2025
By early April 2025, a cohort of six (6) farms, fisheries, and food businesses will be selected and informed. At this point, we are thrilled to get the program underway, and begin working with you on a tailored plan for business planning and coaching services, tailored to your needs.
If your business is not selected
If your business is not selected to join the cohort for Pollinator Program, please don’t be discouraged! We hope to continue growing our relationship with you, following your journey, and supporting your business. You are always welcome to apply for a future cohort, or to engage with us in other ways.
The Local Food Economy Lab offers additional programs and services that support small scale farmers, fishermen, and food business owners in San Diego County.
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