SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) has introduced AB 2313 which would create a new program to increase equipment access for small and underserved growers as well as offering essential technical assistance for farmer cooperative development. Despite the Governor’s veto of this vital legislation last year, our food and farming communities have expressed a continued and strong need for this program which will increase access to necessary farm equipment for healthy soil and on-farm conservation practices, storage, and processing. The program will also offer essential technical assistance to farmers on the development of farm cooperatives as well as the maintenance of tools and tool demonstrations. The bill is co-sponsored by the California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN) and Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF).