Pub. Resources Code, § 10102

For purposes of this division, all of the following definitions apply:

(a) “Department” means the Department of Conservation.

(b) “Farmer cooperative” means an entity that is either a worker cooperative, as defined in Section 12253.5 of the Corporations Code, whose articles of incorporation identify it as such, or a nonprofit cooperative association organized and existing under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 54001) of Division 20 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(c) “Program” means the Farmland Access and Conservation for Thriving Communities Program established pursuant to this division.

(d) “Qualified entity” means any of the following entities:

(1) A nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code.

(2) A public agency.

(3) A farmer cooperative.

(4) A tribal government.

(5) A tribal entity.

(6) An agricultural land trust, the primary purpose of which is the preservation, protection, or enhancement of land in its natural, scenic, historical, agricultural, forested, or open-space condition or use.

(e) “Qualified farmer participant” means a farm enterprise, whose beneficial owners are beginning farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, or tribal producers, that commits to using practices, methodologies, and techniques that improve soil health, biodiversity, conservation, and long-term sustainability in the production of agricultural crops to be sold in commerce or distributed.