the center for food and agriculture
A new permanent home for the Marin Farmers Market — and a Food Innovation Hub for the future.
In a historic step toward securing the future of local agriculture and the regional foodshed, the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) and the County of Marin finalized a 40-year lease agreement on September 16, 2025 to establish the Center for Food and Agriculture (CFA).
This moment is the foundation of what we have all envisioned: a vibrant, climate-smart home for the Marin Farmers Market and a Food Innovation Hub that will serve farmers, chefs, and the community for decades
to come.
At A Glance
WHAT
The CFA — a visionary campus with a permanent outdoor Farmers Market and Food Innovation Hub for education, innovation, and food system growth.
WHERE
Marin Civic Center campus, San Rafael, CA, on the 3.7-acre former Christmas Tree Lot.
WHEN
Lease approved September 16, 2025; construction of Phase One, the permanent Farmers Market, begins in 2026 (opening in mid-2027); Food Innovation Hub is slated to open in 2028.
WHY
To strengthen the regional food system, expand access to healthy food, support local farmers and producers, and create a national model for climate-smart agriculture and food innovation.
HOW
AIM will raise funds and invest in infrastructure, with Phase One focusing on the permanent outdoor Farmers Market and Phase Two on the Food Innovation Hub.
Projected Timeline
40-year lease finalized
with County of Marin
Construction and opening
of the Permanent Marin
Farmers Market
Anticipated opening of
the Food Innovation Hub
Phase One: The Farmers Market
Designed with input from farmers who sell, chefs who source, and the community that shops, the farmers market will be built on a newly-developed 3.7-acre triangular site known as the Christmas Tree Lot on the Marin Civic Center campus by mid-2027.
Designed with input from farmers who sell, chefs who source, and the community that shops, the farmers market will be built on a newly-developed 3.7-acre triangular site known as the Christmas Tree Lot on the Marin Civic Center campus by mid-2027.
Phase Two: Food Innovation Hub
Following the launch of the permanent Farmers Market, AIM will establish the Food Innovation Hub, a space dedicated to income diversification for farmers, applied agricultural education at all levels, and food systems and climate education for both students and shoppers.
Located on the Marin Civic Center campus—originally envisioned by architect Frank Lloyd Wright to include a public market—the Food Innovation Hub will feature three Usonian-style buildings totaling over 6,600 square feet. The opening is slated for 2028.
Following the launch of the permanent Farmers Market, AIM will establish the Food Innovation Hub, a space dedicated to income diversification for farmers, applied agricultural education at all levels, and food systems and climate education for both students and shoppers.
Located on the Marin Civic Center campus—originally envisioned by architect Frank Lloyd Wright to include a public market—the Food Innovation Hub will feature three Usonian-style buildings totaling over 6,600 square feet. The opening is slated for 2028.
The Center for Food and Agriculture supports Marin County's Economic Vitality Strategic Plan which emphasizes inclusive growth, sustainable job creation, and environmental leadership. Based on 2024 data, AIM anticipates the permanent market's impact will result in $6 million in additional annual sales, stimulating over 190 new jobs.1
The Hub will support emerging entrepreneurs through AIM's Food and Farm Business Resource Programs, which incubate beginning businesses at farmers markets and create agricultural career opportunities that strengthen California's regional food system.
in new annual sales projected
new jobs created
Strengthened regional food economy through AIM's Food and Farm Business Resource Programs
1. Farmers Market Economic Impact, UC Davis, Local Food Economics Project, accessed September, 1 2025
The CFA's infrastructure will be fully electric, and once the Food Innovation Hub is complete, it will be powered by on-site solar panels. Features will include rainwater harvesting, pollinator and carbon-sequestering gardens, composting systems, and zero-waste service models. Producers in AIM's network will also gain enhanced marketing support through a Regional Badge program that highlights healthy soils management, rotational grazing, and water conservation—encouraging broader adoption of regenerative and organic practices.
The CFA has been endorsed by MarinCAN as one of nine flagship projects advancing the county's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
The permanent Farmers Market and Food Innovation Hub will expand affordable food access through CalFresh, Market Match, and produce donations, while boosting the capacity of AIM's Rollin' Root Mobile Market with new cold storage, making healthy food more affordable and widely available. The CFA will also foster deeper community engagement with cooking demonstrations, food education, and wayfinding signage that both guides visitors and elevates programming. In times of crisis, the CFA will serve as a vital resource for food distribution and community resilience—a gathering place where community members, farmers, and advocates come together to drive policy change and advance equitable solutions.
"This lease agreement demonstrates Marin's belief in resilient local food systems, climate-smart infrastructure, and shared public benefit. The Center for Food and Agriculture will expand the very idea of a farmers market and innovation space. It is a commitment to community well-being and a living demonstration of what a regenerative, just food future can look like."
— Andy Naja-Riese, AIM Chief Executive Officer
Under the terms of the lease, AIM will undertake significant capital improvements to develop the permanent market and related infrastructure. In exchange, the County will abate base rent for the initial 40-year term, ensuring AIM's resources are directed toward long-term community benefit.
"This agreement shows how public land can serve public good when paired with community vision and mission-driven leadership. It's a model for how we tackle climate, equity, and create a world-class marketplace for agricultural viability and economic growth all at once."
— Derek Johnson, Marin County Executive, Chief Executive Officer
Join in and support the future of AIM.
Many ways to get involved!
Make a donation
Follow the progress, stay up to date
Together, we can build this future by:
- •Donating to the Center for Food and Agriculture
- •Join us at our annual Gather for the Planet fundraiser (2025 is sold out — stay tuned for 2026 details)
- •Shopping at AIM's nine farmers markets
- •Signing up for updates through our CFA newsletter
About the Agricultural Institute of Marin
The Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) is a Bay Area-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of California's leading advocates for the regional foodshed. Beginning in 1983, AIM has operated certified farmers markets, educational programs, and food access initiatives that connect communities with farmers and producers. Today, AIM operates nine certified farmers markets across the Bay Area and The Rollin' Root Mobile Market, serving 2 million annual market shoppers and more than 400 small and midsize producers from 40+ California counties.
AIM envisions a food and farming system that is environmentally beneficial, economically viable, and socially just—nourishing people, place, and the planet.