Monthly Archives: October 2012

Almonds now number two commodity in California – from the Merced Sun-Star

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/10/30/2621159/almonds-now-no-2-california-commodity.html Almonds were the second-most valuable commodity in California in 2011, surpassing grapes for the first time ever, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In 2011, almonds generated $3.87 billion of economic activity, according to agriculture department … Continue reading →

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From the LA Times – Profile of California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara.

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-1028-himi-craig-mcnamara-20121028,0,1752156.story The gig: Craig McNamara is a sustainable farming expert, organic walnut farmer in the Sacramento Valley town of Winters, founder of the nonprofit Center for Land-Based Learning and the California Farm Academy, and president of the state Board of … Continue reading →

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CDFA Information Technology Projects Recognized for Excellence

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Robert Schmidt, CDFA Director of Information Technology

Leveraging information technology through partnerships with agency programs is a key to success at California Department of Food and Agriculture, which recently received a 2012 Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology in State Government from the National … Continue reading →

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Food Safety Workshops for California’s Artisan Cheese Makers

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Dr. Annette Whiteford Jones, California State Veterinarian

Consumers in general and Californians in particular are showing new and enthusiastic interest in their food – where it comes from, who makes it, and how it is made. Farmers have responded with a renewed devotion to agricultural products that … Continue reading →

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Food Day a time to look forward

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary

The return of Food Day, with its second annual observance scheduled for today, is a timely reminder of the important road ahead for our food supply. The world’s population is growing at such a rapid clip – from the current … Continue reading →

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Secretary Ross Among “Health Happens Hero” Award Recipients

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is among eight individuals recognized by the California Endowment as a “Health Happens Hero” for her work in promoting the use of California Grown products in school meals.  Connecting farms-to-schools, improving the nutritional health of school … Continue reading →

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California leads the way as organic agriculture spreads its wings from coast-to-coast

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

  The USDA has released its first-ever survey of organic farmers to determine that organic sales across the country in 2011 totaled more than $3.5 billion, with nearly 40 percent of that –almost $1.4 billion–coming from California.  The development is discussed further … Continue reading →

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The Snail Wrangler – From the New York Times

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/dining/raising-sought-after-snails-in-california.html EVEN if you love eating snails, it is possible that you have never given much thought to the way they live. Maybe you assume that they are weak and slow, enduring lives of quiet desperation, as Thoreau once described … Continue reading →

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Providing Export Opportunities for California Small Business

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Candy Hansen-Gage, Fresno Center for International Trade Development

This November, foreign buyers from across Asia will travel to Oakland to participate in the ‘Taste of California’,  a mini-trade show and conference  that will highlight the best food products California has to offer. This two-day event will combine business meetings with … Continue reading →

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CDFA’s Director of Measurement Standards recognized for contributions to weights and measures

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

Kristin Macey, CDFA’s Director of Measurement Standards, was recently honored by the Western Weights and Measures Association with the Ray Rebuffo Award, which is presented to individuals for demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing weights and measures principles. Macey, who was … Continue reading →

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