SBDC director, Kelly Bearden kicks off this week’s free webinar from the World Ag Expo in Tulare with a look at value-added foods industry trends and specialty foods, potential value-added producer grants, and how the SBDC can help local agricultural businesses.
He is joined by Dr. Aaron Hegde, professor of economics at CSUB and executive director of the university’s Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business. Dr. Hegde presents recent statistics on agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County, along with opportunities for small businesses.
This marks the 371st episode of the “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners.
The CSU Bakersfield SBDC provides free one-on-one help to small business owners. New and existing businesses can go to https://csubsbdc.com/ for more information or to sign up to meet with a business advisor at no cost.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:36 What’s up today February 11, 2026
03:21 U.S Farm Service
06:55 SBA Disaster loan programs potential fit for ag businesses involved in production https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/02/10/sba-offers-relief-california-small-businesses-private-nonprofits-affected-2025-late-december-storms
07:38 USDA Rural Agricultural Programs https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/ca
08:05 Business and Industry (B&I) Loan: A guaranteed loan program for rural communities (population 50,000 or less) to support economic development, including shopping centers and commercial projects.
08:38 Value-Added Producer Grants https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants
• A grant program with approximately $30 million in total funding.
• Supports producers who add value to their commodities (e.g., converting grapes to wine, almonds to almond milk).
• Includes planning grants and working capital grants.
• Expected to open soon.
• Benefits small producers.
08:44 Previous Webinar Wednesday – USDA value-added agricultural producer grant program for farmers and ranchers https://youtu.be/lmRh6HnuT_g
13:00 Feb. 26 SBA webinar – How to Start a Manufacturing Business https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-start-a-manufacturing-business-tickets-1980588448365
14:55 Subscribe to our CSUB SBDC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@csubsbdc
16:38 Kelly introduces Dr. Aaron Hegde, professor of economics at CSUB and executive director of the university’s Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business
18:49 California Agricultural Employment by Regions
Discussion emphasizes California crops requiring labor, the dominance of three counties in ag, and the export orientation of almonds and other tree nuts, illustrating production and trade dynamics.
21:13 California Exported Crops – top importers, percentage exported, dollar value
26:58 San Joaquin Valley gross production value Kern County production value for 2024 totals just over $8 billion, with Tulare County similar, and Fresno County leading with just over $9 billion.
27:58 Kern County’s 2024 crop report top five commodities are citrus, grapes, carrots, almonds, and pistachios.
29:40 Water is the main constraint on growing bigger, with surface water varying year to year and groundwater acting as a buffer. Groundwater overdraft in some areas has caused aquifer pockets to collapse and the valley floor to sink up to 75-80 feet in a century.
30:45 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 aims to regulate withdrawals, increasing metering, pumping allocations, recharge, banking, and conveyance; leading to land-use shifts such as converting water-short lands to solar farms.
32:47 Labor availability, regulation, climate impacts on rainfall and pests, and rising input costs create ongoing production challenges and drive consideration of automation and food safety traceability.
35:35 Opportunities for small businesses – system audits, leak detection, retrofitting, and automation within water efficiency and SGMA compliance.
36:09 Opportunities for small businesses – leveraging ag tech and data analytics to compete globally, with dashboards and remote sensing as key tools.
37:09 Value-added services and workforce solutions – co-packing, cold storage, logistics and maintenance, workforce solutions.
39:55 Grimm Family Center for Agricultural Business 2026 Speaker Series https://www.csub.edu/gfc/
41:42 Questions and Answers with Attendees