Launched Official Website | Santa Barbara County Food Action Network

SBCFAN Definitions

What we mean by…

FOOD JUSTICE

SBCFAN defines Food Justice as the right of all people to access, grow, sell, and consume nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. This includes advocating for the well-being and safety of food system workers from production to point of consumer sale.

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

SBCFAN defines Food Sovereignty as the placement of control of territory, land, grazing, water, seeds, livestock, and/or fish populations into the hands of local food providers and food producers. It asserts their right to use and share these resources in socially and environmentally sustainable ways.

AGROECOLOGY

SBCFAN defines Agroecology as the ancestral practices of Indigenous food systems and the study of whole agroecosystems. Agroecology promotes equity, decentralizes power, fosters new social relations for ecological resilience in local food systems, and supports the science of sustainable agriculture.

FOOD ACTION PLAN GOALS

Click on any food action goal to learn more (opens in a new tab).

INVEST IN OUR FOOD ECONOMY

1. Train the next generation of farmers and food system entrepreneurs.

2. Create shared resources and tools that encourage entry into the local food economy.

3. Develop a local food purchasing policy.

4. Strengthen local food distribution systems.

5. Facilitate investment in food systems development.

INVEST IN OUR HEALTH & WELLNESS

6. Support neighborhood peer-to-peer education and empowerment to improve health outcomes.

7. Facilitate the adoption and implementation of workplace wellness policies.

8. Integrate food literacy into school programs.

9. Establish “Food As Medicine” programs.

INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY

10. Establish community food access centers.

11. Increase affordability and accessibility to locally grown food.

12. Support fair compensation and affordable housing for food system workers.

INVEST IN OUR FOODSHED

13. Increase the food system’s climate resiliency.

14. Protect existing and potential farm land, ranch land, and ecosystems.

15. Reduce food waste through policy education and collaboration.

16. Promote and incentivize best management practices for farms and food system businesses.

Cities by County Area

Recent Achievements

The first in the nation government/nonprofit meat processing enterprise to be launched in 2024
- Bureau of Prisons stated they will only partner with SBCFAN, “…don’t even ask because it will be no.”
- SBCFAN will catalyze not only critically needed meat processing, but also pursue certification for the meat processing training and ensure livable wages are paid.
- Exiting members will be bonded for jobs upon exit and SBCFAN will connect with regional food systems networks nationwide to identify employment pipelines.
- The Head of the vocational training program just won a butchering award (see new story sent to production) and is on his way to Belgium to compete for the European prize!
The first food justice centered grant program on the Central Coast
- co-developed and seeded by our first LOCAL corporate partner
- Launches in the spring
The first emergency relief program on the Central Coast for individuals who lack alternative resource access (ie food system workers)
- Launching in 2024
Technical Assistance to underinvested BIPOC nonprofits for access to state funding (Healthy Refrigeration Program)
Launched a Community Kitchens online hub –
We have not yet launched a marketing campaign due to a lack of funding.
This program area is one of the most widely desired across sectors and the state.
Launched a Countywide Nutrition Collaborative
to connect to activate food as medicine programs with a local procurement
Convened the only six-county Community of Practice in the state
food policy and programmatic priorities have been identified!
Completion of our first Strategic Plan

SB County Community Kitchens

Subscribe by Becoming a Member

SBCFAN Members receive our seasonal member newsletter and occasional alerts about food system resources, opportunities, and advocacy. Membership is free and the only prerequisite is that you be an active participant in the Santa Barbara County food system. If you eat, grow, gather, buy, sell, ship, process, raise, fish, and/or engage with food as it moves from farm to table, we hope you’ll become an SBCFAN member.

In addition to receiving our email newsletters, the Network provides members with an online “hub” to further connect, align, and activate with other food system “actors” so that together, we can build a more resilient food system.

Become a Member

How can we make a food system healthy and sustainable?

with a PLAN.

Well, it all starts

Invest in Our Food Economy

Invest in Our Community

Healthy, Sustainable Food System

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Plan

Invest in Our Health & Wellness

Invest in Our Foodshed

The plan outlines the areas
we need to work on here and now
to get to a healthy food system.

Invest in Our Food Economy

Invest in Our Community

Healthy, Sustainable Food System

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Plan

Invest in Our Health & Wellness

Invest in Our Foodshed

The plan outlines the areas
we need to work on here and now
to get to a healthy food system.

Invest in Our Food Economy

Invest in Our Health & Wellness

Invest in Our Community

Invest in Our Foodshed

There are 16 goals detailed across the four areas.

The plan outlines the areas
we need to work on here and now
to get to a healthy food system.

Invest in Our Food Economy Invest in Our Health & Wellness Invest in Our Community Invest in Our Foodshed

Are you ready to join the Network?
Choose an area and let’s get to work!

What Badges Have People Earned?

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A Food Action Network for Everyone

A successful Network is a community where everyone can participate, contribute, and benefit from connecting with others. That’s why we are setting a table with space for everyone. We welcome you to grab a seat and join the conversation so that together, we can build a more resilient food system.

That being said, the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network is a work in progress. We have much to learn, including how we can create a hub for our countywide food system that over time will reflect all of you. We are committed to taking a stepped approach to inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility as we develop our language and communications, outreach, and leadership.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding while we continue to evolve.

The SBCFAN Team

Una Red de Acción Alimentaria para Todos

Una Red exitosa es una comunidad en la que todos pueden participar, contribuir y beneficiarse de la conexión con los demás. Por ello, estamos preparando una mesa con espacio para todos. Te invitamos a tomar asiento y unirte a la conversación para que juntos podamos construir un sistema alimentario más resistente.

Dicho esto, la Red de Acción Alimentaria del Condado de Santa Bárbara es un trabajo en progreso. Tenemos mucho que aprender, incluyendo cómo podemos crear un centro para nuestro sistema alimentario en todo el condado que con el tiempo reflejará a todos ustedes. Nos comprometemos a adoptar un enfoque gradual para la inclusión, la diversidad y la accesibilidad a medida que desarrollamos nuestro lenguaje y las comunicaciones, el alcance y el liderazgo.

Gracias de antemano por su paciencia y comprensión mientras seguimos evolucionando.

El Equipo de SBCFAN

Por favor, disculpe nuestro extraño español

Estamos diseñando nuestro sitio web y nuestro portal de miembros para que sean multiculturales y multilingües. Pero aún nos queda mucho trabajo por hacer.

Mientras trabajamos para lograr un contenido completamente bilingüe, utilizaremos una combinación de traducción humana y automática. Nos comprometemos a proporcionar un acceso inclusivo, diverso y equitativo, y le agradecemos de antemano su paciencia y comprensión mientras evolucionamos. Por ahora, por favor, perdone nuestro extraño español.

El equipo de SBCFAN

Please Pardon Our Awkward Spanish

We are designing our website and member portal to be multicultural and multilingual. But we still have a lot of work to do.

As we work toward completely bilingual content, we will use a combination of human and machine translation. We are committed to providing inclusive, diverse, and equitable access – and we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding while we evolve. For now, please pardon our awkward Spanish.

The SBCFAN Team

North County	Mid-County	South County
Cuyama Guadalupe Los Alamos Maricopa New Cuyama Nipomo Orcutt Santa Maria Vandenberg AFB Ventucopa	Buellton Lompoc Los Olivos Santa Ynez Solvang Vandenberg Village	Carpinteria Gaviota Goleta Isla Vista Las Cruces Montecito Santa Barbara Summerland