Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: July 2016

Hunt for bugs with your smartphone – from the Sacramento Bee

NOTE – CDFA offers the Report a Pest app for those taking pictures of bugs in their gardens, or collecting specimens, and desiring help in identifying them. By Debbie Arrington As any gardener can tell you, bugs are always on the … Continue reading

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Cal Poly Pomona partnering with CDFA and citrus industry in raising an army of wasps to fight citrus disease – From the San Gabriel Valley Tribune

By Steve Scauzillo Cal Poly Pomona is training an army of tiny wasps to battle the Asian citrus psyllid, a voracious pest responsible for crippling the Florida citrus industry that has recently infiltrated Los Angeles County. Armed with a $400,000 … Continue reading

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The 2016 California State Fair – by the numbers

The California State Fair has completed its annual 17-day run at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Here are some numbers of note. Attendance – 675,000 Cars Parked – 155,874 People Assisted After Being Locked Out Of Their Cars – 24 Produce … Continue reading

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CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork builds bridges for access to healthy foods

As Californians, we are lucky to live in one of the most agriculturally productive places in the world, producing the variety we need for a well-balanced diet. We are constantly reminded of this as we travel through the diverse microclimates … Continue reading

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Fifty-nine organizations fighting international food waste – from Foodtank

Link to Foodtank It’s no secret that food loss and food waste are big problems. At least 1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted every year—in fields, during transport, in storage, at restaurants, and in markets in industrialized … Continue reading

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Apps for Ag Hackathon winners announced – from the University of California

By Pam Kan-Rice A gardening and produce-sharing app took top prize in the Apps for Ag Hackathon, after contestants pitched judges at the California State Fair in Sacramento on July 17. The first place team, GivingGarden, took home $7,500 in … Continue reading

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Growing California video series wins two Telly Awards

  The Growing California video series, a partnership between CDFA and California Grown produced in association with California State University, Sacramento, has been recognized with two 2016 Telly Awards, a video competition now in its 37th year. Growing California also … Continue reading

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Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research establishes $100,000 award for food and agriculture projects

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), a national nonprofit organization that supports innovative science addressing food and agriculture challenges, has established the first-ever National Academy of Sciences (NAS) prize dedicated to food and agriculture research. The $100,000 prize … Continue reading

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MRE cookoff at the State Fair – from ABC 10, Sacramento

The California Department of Veterans Affairs held an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) Cookoff this week at the California State Fair.   External video – link is no longer available

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Video – A visit to ‘The Farm’ at the California State Fair

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