The Current

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is proud to announce the launch of the Coordinated Rural Opportunities Plan (CROP), a regional strategy aimed at strengthening rural economies and preserving the natural assets vital to the Sacramento region. CROP represents a continuation of SACOG's Rural-Urban Connections Strategy (RUCS), building upon past successes and developing new pathways towards sustainable agricultural development. Funded through the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in collaboration with the Department of Conservation, CROP is a collaborative effort between SACOG and non-profit civic leadership organization Valley Vision, with the aim of addressing infrastructure challenges and fostering collective solutions across the six-county Sacramento region’s shared food system. SALC is part of  California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

The focus of CROP expands beyond conventional infrastructure to address the wider array of challenges confronting the Sacramento region. From water management to agritourism, CROP tackles issues at every level of the food system, ensuring that our region remains adaptable and responsive to changing needs. By providing recommendations on investment, strategy, and policy, SACOG empowers leaders to work together in shaping the future of agriculture in our region, driving sustainable growth and prosperity for generations to come.

“By providing space to coordinate our collaborative efforts, CROP will support agricultural food systems, and promote smart economic growth and sustainable development,” said Lynn von Koch-Liebert, Strategic Growth Council Executive Director. The plan is a comprehensive toolkit to support leaders who are tackling challenges facing the Sacramento region’s agricultural sector. The program recognizes that agriculture is deeply ingrained in the history and future of our region, with some of the world's most productive farmland nestled within our borders. Generating a staggering $2 billion in revenue, agriculture is not just an industry; it's a cornerstone of our identity and economy.

"As a SACOG alum, I am extremely pleased to see the remarkable efforts, strong relationships, and visionary approach taken to develop a well-coordinated plan that addresses the unique needs of each county," said the Department of Conservation Director, David Shabazian. "The progress made in building upon the RUCS strategy is a clear indication of the success of this approach. We are grateful that the SALC program allowed us to be a partner in this work."

The development of CROP relies on essential partnerships built over the past decade through the RUCS program.  SACOG and Valley Vision leveraged this network as part of CROP, drawing on input from over 100 stakeholders to develop comprehensive profiles of each of the six counties in the Sacramento region, identifying priority areas for infrastructure and examples of innovative models that can be leveraged across the region for shared solutions and resources. The Yolo County profile, for instance, highlights a rural perspective on the multifaceted nature of the food system. With agriculture as Yolo County's leading industry, the county seeks to increase access to local foods throughout the region and provide new economic opportunities, ultimately streamlining connections between rural and urban areas in the Sacramento region.

“By highlighting the interconnectedness of rural and urban economies,” said SACOG board member and Yolo County supervisor, Oscar Villegas, “CROP strengthens the bond between farmers, distributors, and consumers, fostering a more resilient and vibrant agricultural ecosystem.”

As the CROP strategy moves forward, the next step towards implementation is securing funding and resources by attending programs such as Capitol-to-Capitol in Washington DC, where stakeholders from across Sacramento will be able to advocate for the critical role that CROP plays in the Sacramento region's future.

Read the CROP strategy and county profiles on Valley Vision’s website here.