Agricultural Institute of Marin

What Agricultural Institute of Marin does

Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1983 and headquartered in San Rafael, California. It operates nine certified farmers markets across the San Francisco Bay Area — in Hayward, Newark, Oakland (Grand Lake), Point Reyes, San Rafael (Thursday, Sunday, and Summer markets), and San Francisco (Clement St and Stonestown) — serving 400+ farmers, food purveyors, and artisans drawn from more than 40 California counties and attracting approximately 2 million visitors annually. Its core programmatic surface area comprises the markets themselves, The Rollin' Root mobile market serving low-income senior housing and underserved communities in Marin and San Francisco counties, Diggin' Education (classroom, market, and farm-based agricultural education), Farm and Food Business Resources (including the Farmers Market Incubator Booth in collaboration with Kitchen Table Advisors and ALBA), Farm Fresh Nutrition Access (CalFresh/EBT acceptance plus Market Match incentive up to $15 per day), a Farm Audit Program, and Minimal Waste Initiatives.

AIM's revenue model is a blend of grants, donations, and program-related fees rather than product pricing. Funding sources cited include USDA programs (FMPP, LFPP, SNAP-Ed via UC CalFresh Healthy Living), California Department of Food and Agriculture grants (including CNIP/Market Match, where $35M was secured for the 2023-2024 cycle), County of Marin Nonprofit Community Partners grants, and major foundations such as the Stupski Foundation and Marin Community Foundation. Individual giving channels include corporate matching, Friends of the Market recurring giving, and the annual Gather for the Planet gala ($245K+ raised in 2024). Program-related revenue comes from vendor stall/participation fees at markets and transaction processing for 44,000 EBT transactions in 2023. AIM has no proprietary technology platform, app, API, or AI/ML capability identified; it operates through physical-market infrastructure, standard EBT processing, and digital channels (Flodesk newsletter, social, Squarespace-hosted website).

The organization is in a major growth phase, anchored by the September 2025 signing of a 40-year lease with Marin County for the Center for Food and Agriculture at the Marin Civic Center campus. The campus will include a permanent outdoor home for the Marin Farmers Market (anticipated mid-2027) and a Food Innovation Hub (2028), with an associated $7.5M+ capital campaign and a $2.5M County of Marin challenge grant approved unanimously in May 2025. AIM anticipates roughly $6 million in additional annual producer sales and over 190 new jobs tied to the permanent market. Recent mission-aligned additions include the Racial Equity Fund (9 BIPOC startup grants in 2023), StopWaste-supported reusable-container program, and ongoing food-recovery partnerships with ExtraFood and SF Food Runners.

Name

Agricultural Institute of Marin

Legal name

Agricultural Institute of Marin

Website

https://agriculturalinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Agricultural Institute of Marin is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1983 that operates nine certified farmers markets, a mobile market, agricultural education, and food access programs across the San Francisco Bay Area, serving 400+ producers and roughly 2 million annual visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers Market Operations and Food Access Services

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)

Keywords

• Certified farmers markets
• Agricultural education programs
• Food access initiatives
• Mobile farmers market
• Nutrition incentive programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: AIM receives significant funding from government sources including USDA programs (FMPP, LFPP, SNAP-Ed), California Department of Food and Agriculture grants, and County of Marin nonprofit grants. These grants fund farmers market operations, food access programs, and educational initiatives.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization raises funds through individual donations, corporate matching programs, monthly giving (Friends of the Market), and special events like the annual Gather for the Planet gala. 100% of donations go to supporting programs.
3. Farmers Market Transaction Fees: AIM processes CalFresh/EBT transactions at farmers markets and distributes Market Match incentives. In 2023, AIM processed 44,000 EBT transactions. The organization also collects stall/participation fees from market vendors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Agricultural Institute of Marin operates nine certified farmers markets across the San Francisco Bay Area connecting 400+ farmers, food purveyors, and artisans from over 40 California counties with approximately two million annual visitors. The organization complements the markets with The Rollin' Root mobile market, Diggin' agricultural education programs, CalFresh/EBT and Market Match food access services, a Farm Audit Program, business development resources for producers, and Minimal Waste Initiatives.

Product overview

The Agricultural Institute of Marin operates a portfolio of interconnected programs centered around certified farmers markets and food access. The core offering consists of nine Certified Farmers Markets across the Bay Area, supported by The Rollin' Root mobile market, Diggin' Education farm-based programs, Farm and Food Business Resources for producer support, Farm Fresh Nutrition Access (including CalFresh/EBT and Market Match), the Farm Audit Program, and Minimal Waste Initiatives. Major initiatives include the Center for Food and Agriculture (a permanent campus development) and specialized programs like the Racial Equity Fund and Incubator Booth for BIPOC farmers. These offerings work together to create an integrated food system that connects communities with local farmers while promoting equity, sustainability, and food access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Rollin' Root: A certified mobile farmers market delivering farm-fresh food and nutrition education to older adults and underserved communities.
• Diggin' Education
• Market Match
• Center for Food and Agriculture

Products and services

• Nine Certified Farmers Markets Weekly certified farmers markets in Hayward, Newark, Oakland (Grand Lake), Point Reyes, San Rafael (Thursday Marin, Sunday Marin, San Rafael Summer), and San Francisco (Clement St, Stonestown), serving 400+ farmers, food purveyors, and artisans from over 40 California counties and attracting 2 million annual visitors.
• The Rollin' Root Mobile Market A certified mobile farmers market and food truck stocked with seasonal produce and dairy products from farmers market vendors, serving low-income senior housing and underserved communities in Marin and San Francisco counties to overcome transportation and economic barriers; served 7,349 participants in 2023.
• Diggin' Education Hands-on agricultural education programs for children and adults, including market tours, classroom visits, and farm tours under the Diggin' in the Classroom, Diggin' at the Market, and Diggin' on the Farm program tracks; designed to empower youth to make healthy food choices.
• Farm and Food Business Resources Programs providing training, technical assistance, and business development support for farmers and small food businesses, including a beginning farmers market incubator program delivered with Kitchen Table Advisors and ALBA.
• Farm Fresh Nutrition Access (CalFresh/EBT and Market Match) Food access initiatives operating at all nine certified farmers markets, accepting CalFresh/EBT and doubling shopper value for fresh fruits and vegetables up to $15 per day through the Market Match incentive; processed 44,000 EBT transactions in 2023.
• Farm Audit Program A program that verifies and certifies that market participants meet agricultural and integrity standards before they can sell at AIM's certified farmers markets.
• Minimal Waste Initiatives Zero waste programs at AIM markets including reusable foodware, composting, surplus food recovery and donation, and efforts to phase out single-use plastics; partner-funded 540 reusable containers diverting 24,624 lbs annually from landfill.
• Center for Food and Agriculture (CFA) A permanent campus under development at the Marin Civic Center, including a permanent outdoor farmers market (anticipated opening mid-2027) and a Food Innovation Hub (anticipated opening 2028) for education, innovation, and food system growth; supported by a $7.5M capital campaign and a $2.5 million challenge grant from Marin County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44,000 EBT transactions processed in 2023; 89% of EBT card holders attend weekly
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• California Department of Food & AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing grants through CNIP (Market Match), Healthy Refrigeration program, and other agricultural initiatives. CDFA supports AIM's food access and nutrition incentive programs.
• USDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing funding through Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), and SNAP-Ed via UC CalFresh Healthy Living Program.
• County of MarincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner providing Nonprofit Community Partners grants, Economic Vitality Strategic Plan alignment, and the 40-year lease for Center for Food and Agriculture at Marin Civic Center campus.
• Kitchen Table AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit providing business development support to beginning BIPOC farmers. Partner in Farmers Market Incubator Booth program with ALBA.
• Agricultural and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural training organization collaborating on Farmers Market Incubator Booth program to support beginning BIPOC farmers at Hayward, Grand Lake-Oakland, and Clement St SF markets.
• ExtraFoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner for surplus food recovery and donations at the end of market day. Also partner in CDFA grant for expanding fresh food access.
• UC CalFresh Healthy Living ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA SNAP-Ed program providing nutrition education and food access support through AIM's programs.
• StopWastesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded 540 reusable containers for farmers to replace wax-coated cardboard, helping divert 24,624 lbs annually from landfill and save farmers $51,192 annually.
• Marin CANsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate action network that endorsed the Center for Food and Agriculture as one of nine flagship projects advancing county greenhouse gas reduction goals.
• SF Food RunnerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in food recovery programs to redirect surplus food from farmers markets to those in need.
• California Food and Farming NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition working on food systems policy and advocacy.
• Marin Food Policy CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal coalition advancing food systems changes through policy work and community engagement.
• Kaiser Permanente Northern CaliforniasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner supporting healthy eating initiatives and food access programs.
• California Alliance of Farmers MarketssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization supporting farmers market operators and advocating for the industry.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ecology Center: Berkeley-based nonprofit operating the Berkeley Farmers' Market and food access programs. Directly comparable as a Bay Area nonprofit farmers market operator with similar mission and educational programming.
• Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA): Operates dozens of certified farmers markets across the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley. Closest direct peer in terms of multi-market operations, vendor management, and food access programming.
• CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture): Operates the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco and runs food access and education programs. Comparable nonprofit market operator with strong educational and equity programming.
• Coastal Roots Farm: San Diego-based nonprofit farm operating a CSA, farmers market, and educational programs with food access initiatives for underserved communities. Comparable integrated nonprofit farm + market + education model.
• Mandela Partners: Oakland-based nonprofit focused on food access, BIPOC-led food enterprise, and community-supported agriculture. Comparable Bay Area food equity nonprofit working with small producers and underserved communities.

Emerging players

• Fresh Approach: Bay Area nonprofit running mobile farmers markets, CalFresh/EBT nutrition incentive programs, and farm-to-school initiatives. Closely aligned with AIM's mobile market and food access mission.

Broad incumbents

• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit pioneering nutrition incentive programs (e.g., Double Up Food Bucks). Operates at broader national scale with overlapping program design with AIM's Market Match work.

Others

• Farmers Market Coalition: National membership organization supporting farmers market operators through training, advocacy, and resources. Industry body that AIM interacts with rather than competes against.
• Kitchen Table Advisors: Bay Area nonprofit providing business advisory to small and mid-scale sustainable farmers, including AIM's Incubator Booth partners. Closely aligned ecosystem partner rather than competitor.

Regional players

• Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE): Bay Area nonprofit focused on urban-edge agriculture, farmers market development, and sustainable food system planning. Comparable regional food systems nonprofit with overlapping policy and market development work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/aim_farmers_markets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AIMFarmersMarkets/featured?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/AIMFarmersMarkets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aimfarmersmarkets
• Instagraminstagram.com/aginstituteofmarin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agricultural Institute of Marin