Food & Agriculture
Upcoming Urban Agriculture Community Meetings
The City's Community Development Department, Economic Development Department, and Valley Vision will host two Urban Agriculture Community Meetings in January.
City and Valley Vision representatives will share information and participate in an interactive discussion about the upcoming Urban Agriculture Ordinance, what it means for members of our community, and how it can have a positive impact.
- Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019: 6 - 7 p.m., Bear Creek High School Library, 10555 Thornton Road
- Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019: 6 - 7 p.m., Cesar Chavez High School Library, 2929 Windflower Lane
- Meetings Flyer
- News Release - Urban Agriculture Community Meetings in January
- Draft Urban Agriculture Ordinance
Stocked Full of Produce Grant Program
The City’s Stocked Full of Produce Grant Program addresses food insecurity by offering retail stores grant funding to assist with needed infrastructure upgrades to promote the sale and storage of healthier food options. These grants can be used to make improvements such as the installation of new refrigeration or shelving. The City is able to offer this grant using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Federal Funding and partnering with the Refresh San Joaquin to address food insecurity in Stockton.
Eligible properties must be retail outlets, for example, corner stores or convenience stores, and located within an area designated as a Food Desert.
Eligible Projects
- Only retail properties, such as convenience stores or corner stores located within targeted areas of the City of Stockton (see Food Deserts Map in External Links), are eligible for this program. Properties outside of these areas will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for eligibility in accordance with CDBG regulations.
- Grants shall only be used for interior upgrades such as shelving or storage, cosmetic enhancements to improve the layout of the store and encourage customers to purchase healthier food options, infrastructure improvements to the building, eligible equipment such as cold storage units, and labor for installation of improvements.
- Properties are eligible for one grant under this program.
- The property shall remain in compliance with all program guidelines and be maintained in a way consistent with the City of Stockton building and zoning codes. These grants are provided at the discretion of the Director of the Economic Development Department, or designee, based upon staff recommendation.
- Maximum grant funding $10,000 per project.
Stocked Full of Produce Application
Stocked Full of Produce Program Guidelines
Food and Ag Plan
- In 2015, the City Council adopted the “City of Stockton Economic Development Strategic Plan,” which includes a focus on the strong food and agriculture-related assets in the region.
- By summer 2016, the city engaged Valley Vision to assist in developing a Food and Agriculture Action Plan.
- Published in 2017, the Action Plan created a roadmap for addressing topics such as:
- fostering a supportive agricultural enterprise ecosystem,
- promoting food and beverage manufacturing,
- agricultural workforce development,
- addressing food insecurity, and
- leveraging the region’s agricultural bounty & entrepreneurial spirit.
Current efforts underway to implement the Action Plan recommendations include the rollout of a new infrastructure grant program, Stocked Full of Produce, and the development of the Stockton Urban Ag Ordinance.
Food and Ag Activities to Date
March 2018: AgPlus Stockton
Small business forum held in partnership with AgPlus Fresno highlighting resources available to small agriculture and food manufacturing businesses.
March & April 2018: Urban Ag Ordinance Community Meetings
Series of community meetings to spotlight the development of an Urban Ag Ordinance.
May 2018: Feast at the Fox
Farm-to-table dining experience produced in partnership with Visit Stockton, the City of Stockton and Delta College Culinary Arts Program.
May 2018: Stocked Full of Produce Grant Program
Program for food insecurity that offers retail stores grant funding to assist with needed infrastructure upgrades to promote the sale and storage of healthier food options.
June & July 2018: Urban Ag Ordinance Community Meetings
Upcoming Activities
Fall & Winter 2018: Urban Ag Ordinance Community Meetings
Contact the Economic Development Department for information about upcoming meetings.
External Links
This City of Stockton web page last reviewed on --- 1/8/2019