About Us

Cultivating Our Community’s Agricultural Roots

Totally Local VC is a community-driven initiative deeply rooted in the agricultural heart of Ventura County. It is dedicated to supporting and celebrating local farms, ranches, and the essential role agriculture plays in the community’s prosperity and well-being. The aim is to connect youth and community members with the land, emphasizing the impact of local agriculture on the county and the global food system.

Ventura County’s Field-to-Fork Connection

The initiative is the hub for supporting Ventura County’s growers, celebrating harvests, and building a sustainable future.

We Educate

• Raise awareness of the economic benefits of supporting local farms and culinary operations and how daily choices affect food production.
• Connect the journey from the field to the fork, showing the importance of a strong local food system.
• Connecting the dots from the field to the fork.

How we educate

• Eat Local, Hug a Farmer Talk Series. Conversations with local growers.
• High School Farm Talks. Inspire the next generation of farmers and culinary professionals.
• Farm-Related Talks with College Programs. Deepen connections between academia and agriculture.
• Social Media. Share local farm facts and highlight the agricultural heritage.
• Farm Tours. Provide hands-on experiences of Ventura County’s agriculture.
• Chef Farm Tours. Connect chefs with local farms for ingredient sourcing and inspiration.
• Informative Articles, Share stories and insights about the local agricultural landscape.
• Online Resource Guides. List local farms, farm stands, CSAs, Farmers’ Markets, and agricultural events.

We Cultivate

• Collaborate with local farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses to amplify their stories and connect them with the community.
• Help build strong partnerships within the agricultural community and bridge the gap between growers, local chefs and purveyors as well as our community.

How we cultivate

• Community Outreach. Connect farms with local events and initiatives.
• Building Partnerships. Foster collaboration among agricultural businesses.
• Marketing Support. Help farms reach wider audiences and share their stories.
• Collaborating on Events. Work together to showcase local agriculture.
• Sharing Content. Promote local farms through media channels.
• Linking. Connect agricultural partners with local consumers and businesses.

We Celebrate

Celebrate the bounty of the land and the work of farmers and ranchers, encouraging
support for local agriculture.

How we celebrate

• Totally Local VC’s Farm-to-Fork Dinner Series. Showcase local chefs, purveyors, and farms in agricultural settings.
• Totally Local VC’s Taste of Local Festival. A community gathering to enjoy local food, wine, and craft beverages, celebrating the harvest season.
• Ventura County Ag Week. A series of events dedicated to celebrating local farmers and the agricultural industry.
• Totally local VC’s Agricultural Education Scholarship Fund. A program established to support the next generation of Ventura County farmers and chefs by providing funds to students to alleviate some of their financial burden as they work to achieve their educational goals.

Cultivating Future Generations

The Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation

For over 20 years Totally local VC programs have supported agricultural and culinary arts programs, working with farmers and chefs to empower students.

The Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation

Established to further invest in initiatives and expanding programs that train future agricultural leaders and cultivate a deeper understanding of local food systems. Support helps grow this foundation, ensuring a vibrant future for agriculture in Ventura County.

Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.