UC Co-Sponsors Groundbreaking California Earthworkers Summit at UCSC
On September 11-12, 2025, UC Procurement proudly co-sponsors the inaugural California Earthworkers Summit™—a bold, two-day gathering of farmers, food justice leaders, and climate stewards from across California. Held at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology, the Summit aims to rebuild our relationship with the land and each other by tackling the most pressing issues facing California’s food system.
Billed as a space for “Earthworkers”—those working in service of the planet and its communities—the Summit is equal parts training ground, matchmaking hub, and grassroots movement-builder. From panel discussions and farm tours to cultural events and policy workshops, the Summit is packed with programming designed to spark real action.
Bridging Values and Supply Chains
For UC Procurement, this isn’t just another conference. It’s a chance to help shift the food system toward justice, sustainability, and long-term resilience—starting with how public institutions source their food. Two of the Summit’s most hands-on moments are the Farm to Institution (F2i) Match-Making breakout sessions, co-facilitated by Marilyn Biscotti, Food & Hospitality Sr. Category Manager for UC Systemwide Procurement. The goal is to connect values-aligned growers with institutional buyers and equip producers with the tools and confidence to scale up.
F2i Match-Making Session Part One: Wholesale Readiness Bootcamp / Pitch Workshop
📅 Friday, Sept 12, 9:45 - 10:45 am (pre-registration required)
🧑🏽🏫 Facilitators: Amanda Chu (Real Food Challenge), Sheyna Burns (Square One Foundation), Marilyn Biscotti (UC Procurement)
Small growers often face a steep learning curve when trying to break into institutional markets. This morning workshop aims to flip that script. Participants will dig into the essentials of wholesale—pricing, compliance, packaging—and walk away with a polished pitch and practical tools for scaling up. It's about helping producers tell their story and sell it.
F2i Match-Making Session Part Two: Procurement Match-Making Session
📅 Friday, Sept 12, 1:45 - 2:45 pm (pre-registration required)
🧑🏽🏫 Facilitators: Andy Olive (Fresh Approach), Eve Cohen (Marcellus Foods), Keng Vang (Fresno BIPOC Produce), Marilyn Biscotti (UC Procurement), Darryl Sweet (UCANR Procurement)
The afternoon session brings producers and buyers face-to-face for curated, no-pressure matchmaking conversations. This isn't speed dating – it’s about building relationships that can lead to long-term, values-driven supply chain partnerships. Panelists will share how they bring equity into procurement, then guide conversations that can reshape institutional buying from the ground up.
Change Rooted in California’s Agricultural Heritage
Organized by the Square One Foundation, the Earthworkers Summit is rooted in California’s deep legacy of environmental and agricultural leadership. But it also looks forward, with an eye on dismantling silos, redistributing power, and investing in the next generation of food leaders—from youth programming to grant-writing support to cultural celebrations of land and lineage.
By supporting the summit, UC Procurement is helping create pathways for small, underrepresented producers to thrive in larger markets, like UC campuses. It's not just about contracts and compliance—it’s about building a food system that reflects the values of the communities it feeds.
To learn more or register for the California Earthworkers Summit, visit earthworkerssummit.org.
UC Procurement is proud to be part of this movement where food is more than a commodity – it’s a commitment.