Success Story: 7 Lucky Farms

7 Lucky Farms Cultivates Community and Collective Power in Riverside

Location: Southern California | Riverside County | Riverside

Business Type: Agriculture / Farming

Small Business Center: Caravanserai – Alliance for Entrepreneurs

Assistance Received: Business Counseling, Marketing Strategy, Sales Strategy, Website Development, Capital Access

Visit 7 Lucky Farms online

Xochitl Alejo grew up watching her parents and grandparents work the land, carrying with them knowledge rooted in places far from the Inland Empire. That inherited connection to farming, and to the traditions embedded in it, shaped the way she thought about what small-scale agriculture could become for first-generation immigrant families in Riverside.

She built 7 Lucky Farms as a network for individual micro farmers to pool their knowledge, share resources, and coordinate access to land, distribution, and market partnerships that would be out of reach for any single small operation. The model lets each grower stay independent while gaining collective strength, scaling by getting connected rather than getting bigger.

To develop that model into a viable business, Xochitl connected with Caravanserai – Alliance for Entrepreneurs, a CalOSBA SCALE partner serving the Inland Empire region. Through Caravanserai’s programs, she received business counseling, marketing and sales strategy, support with website development, and assistance with capital access. The guidance helped her sharpen 7 Lucky Farms’ identity and lay a clearer path to market for the network’s growers.

After eight months in Caravanserai’s SEED Lab program, Xochitl took the stage at the 2026 SEED Lab Pitch Competition on April 25th at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs, presenting alongside nine other mission-driven entrepreneurs. When the audience voted, 7 Lucky Farms walked away with the Audience Award.

The work ahead is grounded in that same conviction. Xochitl is building toward a future where immigrant farmers in the Inland Empire own the land they work, where small farms have access to the same opportunities as larger producers, and where the next generation of growers inherits something more than a starting point.

To hear Xochitl share her story in her own words, watch the video produced by Cindy and Casey Ball, Co-Founders of the Desert Empire Filmmaker Foundation and 2026 SEED Lab Cohort Graduates. And visit 7 Lucky Farms online to learn more about the network and how to get involved.

If you are interested in starting or growing a business in the Inland Empire, connect with Caravanserai – Alliance for Entrepreneurs to learn about their programs for entrepreneurs from marginalized and under-resourced communities.​

Updated: 7/7/2026