Connecting Sacramento communities to land, food, and opportunity.

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Alchemist CDC is a mission-driven organization that connects Sacramento area communities to land, food, and opportunity toward a vision in which all neighborhoods are vibrant, equitable, healthy, and diverse.

Everything we do is focused on community development through the lens of the local food system. What does community development mean for us?

  • Ensuring everyone has reliable, equitable access to the nutritious foods that are important for their households
  • Growing a more resilient, inclusive local economy that benefits many people and not just a few
  • Making vibrant places where people can meet their neighbors, experience belonging, and build networks of relationships that help us all to flourish in good times and bad
  • Advocating at all levels for good policies that help communities to thrive
  • Cultivating broad networks and awareness of local issues so that we can make introductions between others who can do great work together

Our programs connect not just to one another but also to many issues, policies, and partner organizations throughout the region and across the state.

Farmers’ Markets

We operate 6 certified farmers’ market and directly provide CalFresh access and Market Match nutrition incentives at 9 markets in Sacramento County.

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Food Entrepreneurship

The Alchemist Kitchen program trains, empowers, and equips under-resourced food entrepreneurs to start successful businesses.

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Neighborhood Empowerment

We cultivate community gardens and green spaces in order to empower neighbors and provide food to some of Sacramento’s most vulnerable families. This includes the Oak Park Art Garden, Oak Park Sol Community Garden, and Pansy Ave Community Garden Park.

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Alchemist Public Market

Our most ambitious project yet, Alchemist Public Market will open in early 2027 and bring all of our programs together in one place.

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Boxes and bags of produce on a table.

Convening & Connecting

We exist for the good of the community, and a good portion of our work is invisible: connecting people, organizations, and opportunities. Not every opportunity that comes our way is the right strategic fit for Alchemist CDC, but we love to make introductions that can lead to impactful collaboration.

Advocacy

Our work on the ground increasingly drives us to engage in advocacy for good policies that can help address the root causes of food injustice.

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CalFresh and Market Match Redeemed at 9 Sacramento County Farmers' Markers in 2025

The percentage of all SNAP/EBT Dollars spent at farmers' markets in the United States that were spent at the 9 markets served directly by Alchemist CDC.

Businesses Graduated from Alchemist Microenterprise Academy

Number of CalFresh customers at local Farmers' Markets in 2025

Pounds of Food distributed to vulnerable Sacramento families through Community Food Connections in 2025

Businesses in Incubation

"[Market Match] is the best thing ever. I only get $15/month [in CalFresh benefits] but I spend it all here- I get one and a half times my money and it’s all healthy stuff. You don’t have to be wealthy to eat well!"

– Janet, Market Match customer

"Feeding a family with $100 is so much more realistic, less stressful, and I can buy quality foods with that. The farmers’ market is a testament to that — I’m just amazingly grateful that that’s even an option for us"

– Rachel, CalFresh customer

“The Alchemist Kitchen programs have helped me launch an idea into a full blown business! Not only does Alchemist Microenterprise Academy take the baby steps with you and your company, but they also celebrate the huge triumphs your business makes! These programs are definitely part of the foundation of my sauce business.”

– Jasmine Bonilla. Owner and Founder at Jazz’s Saucy Sauce.

"CalFresh acceptance at farmers' markets allows access to healthy foods that is missing in so many of my patients' diets. For those patients especially struggling with their weight, diabetes, or heart disease, I make them aware of this important community asset that Alchemist CDC provides."

– Rachel Hollander, MD

"I highly recommend Alchemist Microenterprise Academy to anyone who's dreamed of opening a food business but doesn't know where to start! It's great to meet people who love food and want to engage their community through food. The class really helped me take my food business idea from a concept to a plan."

-AMA Graduate

"We would have been lost without Alchemist Microenterprise Academy, it put us at least a year ahead of where we thought we would be!”

-AMA Graduate

“The Alchemist Microenterprise Academy and Alchemist Kitchen Incubator Program have provided me with the right tools to begin my catering business. Not only have they empowered us with the knowledge of professionals and guest speakers in their fields, but their one-on-one mentorship has had an invaluable impact on my career and success to date!”

– Jennifer Romero. Owner / Chef at Hooked on Paella

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