Ag Link is a food hub and aggregator located in Ballico (Merced County). Ag Link connects products from local farmers and producers to institutional buyers, with a focus on Unified School Districts. Ag Link serves as an important connector in the regional food system, growing the marketplace for local producers, while creating an opportunity for school systems in the Central Valley and beyond to increase the amount of fresh, local produce they serve.
Community Vision, the Program Executive of the California FreshWorks Fund, recently provided Ag Link with working capital financing to increase the efficiency of the company’s operations. In addition, Community Vision extended Ag Link a $457,238 loan to finance the acquisition and construction of a warehouse and cold storage facility and the purchase of a delivery truck, expanding Ag Link’s aggregation capacity.
Through its work with Unified School Districts, Ag Link aims to bring much needed fresh foods to areas with few healthy food options. With a poverty rate of 20% in the San Joaquin Valley, Ag Link’s new warehouse and expanded operations increases the availability of healthy, locally grown foods for low-income children through local public school systems.
