Institute for Food and Agriculture

Fresno State's Gibson Farm Market is a reflection of the Central Valley's diverse and plentiful agriculture production. The market boasts a wide selection of student made products from the famous Fresno State sweet corn to our award winning sausages, the possibilities are endless.

With over two hundred and twenty seven acres of trees, almonds are the number one crop in Fresno County. Here at Fresno State, we have over 100 acres of almond orchards, 8 different varieties of almonds, as well as many different flavors of roasted almonds available at the Gibson Farm Market

Poultry and eggs are among the top commodities in Fresno County, bringing in almost six hundred million dollars each year. Fresno State's poultry unit plays an important role in both the research and production of poultry here in the valley, with several staff members running research trials and teaching classes about poultry production each semester.

Fresno County's grapes are among the most valuable crops grown here in the valley, bringing in over a billion dollars annually. Grape farmers in Fresno County account for just over two hundred thousand acres of farmland with one hundred and twenty of those acres belonging to Fresno State Vineyard. The Gibson Farm Market sells seven different types of student grown raisins and over twenty different types of wine.

California leads the nation in dairy production, with almost fourty billion pounds of fluid milk, over one hundred and five million gallons of ice cream, and four hundred and fourty two million pounds of yogurt produced annually. This is reflected in Fresno State's dairy production, where hundreds of cows are housed and milked everyday. This milk goes to produce the famous Fresno State ice cream as well as other popular dairy products, which are made and sold by students on campus.

Our Priorities

The Fresno State Institute for Food and Agriculture (IFA) plays a vital role in encouraging growth and innovation in California's food and agriculture industry in an ever-changing and increasingly competitive world. The independent facility conducts research and training in food and fiber systems as well as market and policy analysis. Its partnerships with industry and the Jordan College’s nationally-recognized water, viticulture and enology research centers and academic departments offer a unique combination of expertise, services, outreach and resources. A key component of its reorganization from the formerly-known Center for Agribusiness is its industry advisory board of state agricultural leaders that help define important issues, collaborative research opportunities and industry support and partnership ideas.

Areas of Expertise

IFA activities address all major components of agriculture and agribusiness, including production agriculture, processing, distributing and marketing, management, and policy-making. Research and training efforts focus on these specific issues:

International trade and export marketing
Water and energy management
Farm labor and personnel management
Agricultural safety education and training
Farm labor research
Farm management and accounting methods
Computer applications in agribusiness
New agribusiness opportunities

Our Resources

IFA works closely with faculty from the Department of Agricultural Economics to conduct many of its activities. The faculty's diverse background of expertise and industry contact enables them to successfully support research and training programs. IFA conferences and workshops are typically co-sponsored by at least one industry organization, and instructors are often from industry or are professional trainers.

How We Can Help

IFA has become nationally known for its applied research and educational information programs for agricultural business. We sponsor training sessions, workshops and forums designed specifically for the agricultural community.