New farm store coming to Cal Poly thanks to $5 million donation. Here’s a look
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Driscoll’s pledges $5 million to create a Cal Poly farm store and learning hub.
- Store will open summer 2027 in the Plant Sciences Complex.
- Farm store will let students market, sell products and study agricultural supply chains.
A new farm store is slated to open at Cal Poly in 2027, thanks to a multimillion-dollar partnership between the university and leading berry brand Driscoll’s.
According to a university news release, Driscoll’s pledged $5 million to Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The money will go toward the development of a new farm store, located in the Plant Sciences Complex.
The store will serve as a vessel for students to gain experience marketing and selling products, the release said. It will also feature Driscoll’s berries, allowing students and faculty to access fresh fruit right on campus.
The release said the store is slated to bring together the food and agriculture paths, giving students an inside look into each step of the supply chain. It will also serve as a hub for collaboration and community engagement, the university said.
“Our mission is to educate and empower the next generation of growers and food innovators who will shape the future of our food systems,” CAFES dean Brian Horgan said in the release. “Support from industry partners like Driscoll’s enables us to provide students with real-world learning experiences that prepare them to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving agricultural landscape ahead.”
Driscolls executive Brie Smith, a Cal Poly alumna, said in the release that the brand looks forward to seeing the impact of its $5 million pledge on future food and agriculture leaders.
“As someone who personally benefited from Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing approach, I’m thrilled Driscoll’s gets to be part of creating new learning opportunities that will prepare the next generation of industry leaders to bring innovation and entrepreneurial spirit to the food system,” she said in the release.
The farm store, which will be located at Highland Avenue and Mt. Bishop Road, is set to go under construction in 2026 and open in summer of 2027, the university said.
It’ll be located in the complex alongside the George Wurzel Plant Sciences Building and the Bee Sweet Citrus Agriculture Automation Lab, both slated to open in 2026.
This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM.
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