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Off a country highway in Woodland, California, a steady stream of activity flows around the headquarters of the Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL). A stroll outside the building reveals CLBL’s mission in action. On any given day, you may encounter a farmer like Michael, who is in his second year of CLBL’s Farm Incubator Program, clearing weeds and tending to lavender, daisies and eucalyptus. Or Kurt, CLBL’s ecologist, assessing the impact of biochar as a soil amendment on a thriving grove of olive trees.

For over 30 years, CLBL has worked tirelessly to provide hands-on experiences and training in sustainable agriculture and natural resource management. Its mission is clear: to inspire, educate and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards. This includes investing in the health and vibrancy of rural communities, bringing its mission to life through its Community Food Program and mobile market.

From farm to mobile market

On a Wednesday in July, a large truck emblazoned with a big red tomato pulls into a storage facility. Two women in light blue CLBL shirts hop out and begin loading the truck with a colorful array of fruits and vegetables from local farms. From there, they head to downtown Woodland to sell the produce straight from the truck at CLBL’s Mobile Farmers Market.

The market is a cornerstone of CLBL’s Community Food Program, which began in 2014 with West Sacramento’s first urban farm. By 2018, the program had expanded to five parcels growing an abundance of fresh and healthy produce. Recognizing the need to connect residents with the farm, CLBL purchased a truck and launched the Mobile Farmers Market in 2020. The truck provides farmers with new markets and offers residents convenient access to seasonal produce. Since 2021, the truck has serviced West Sacramento and expanded to Woodland and rural areas of Yolo County in 2024.

Susie Sutphin serves as Community Food Program Manager and has spent her career increasing food accessibility. "The Mobile Farmers Market is a great way for small farms to get started with selling to wholesale markets," Susie explains. "We can accept smaller quantities that a beginning farmer may have and aggregate it with produce from other farms."

Reaching out to food-insecure communities

Today, the Mobile Farmers Market operates in West Sacramento and Woodland, serving ethnically diverse, low-income neighborhoods identified as food insecure by the USDA. To better serve these communities, the Mobile Farmers Market accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds and extends a 50% discount to SNAP cardholders through the state of California’s Market Match program.

Community Food Ambassadors prepare the Mobile Farmers Market for customers.

Susie recalls a meaningful interaction while she was working at the mobile market. A woman approached, curious about the discount. She was so overjoyed by the amount of food she could afford that she gave Susie a hug out of sheer gratitude.

“The program fills a need. We go directly into the communities with the greatest need and make access to local food more affordable and convenient. By connecting with communities in this way, people learn about where their food comes from and how easy it is to incorporate fresh, local produce into their diets,” says Susie.

Flyers promoting the Mobile Farmers Market are translated into Russian, Farsi and Spanish so customers of all backgrounds can better understand where their food is coming from. The market also works with farmers to grow culturally relevant foods like okra and Afghan chives to connect with the diverse populations it serves.

Training new farmers and ambassadors

100% of the produce at the mobile market is grown by local farms within 100 miles of Woodland including some from CLBL’s Beginning Farmer Training Program. “In this program, the beginning farmers learn not only how to grow produce but how to sell it," Susie explains. “The beginning farmers run one of the mobile market stops on Sundays in West Sacramento, giving them the opportunity to connect directly with customers, understand market dynamics, pricing, and merchandising.”

Susie Sutphin discusses the market.

The Community Food Ambassador program — a six-week course focused on local food system education, healthy eating and regenerative agriculture — also supports the market. Graduates promote local farms and work at the mobile market. They serve as ambassadors in their communities, encouraging healthy food choices while supporting local growers and helping the market.

A bright future

Currently, the market season runs from May to November. Susie envisions this market becoming a year-round program where community members can access benefits through the colder winter months.

And CLBL continues to grow. It has organized a capital campaign to support its vision for the next 30 years while continuing to build programs benefiting agriculture, including a new farm manager apprenticeship program. AgWest is proud to support this campaign and the continued vibrance of CLBL.

“We're growing, and we need more support to build this future vision,” says Julia Thomas, Development and Communications Manager. “Our goal is to ensure we have a ready workforce to meet the challenges of California agriculture. This mission has driven us for over 30 years, and we’ll continue to cultivate a thriving agriculture future for generations to come.”

To find a Mobile Farmers Market in Northern California, visit FollowtheTomato.org. For more information about the Center for Land Based Learning, visit its website: LandBasedLearning.org.

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