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UC ANR Field Days: Connecting Farmers with Emerging Technologies

Posted on October 22, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

Article by Hilary Rance and photography by James Collier for CA GROWN

(Clockwise from top) A robotic lettuce harvester by SAMI Robotics and other Ag Tech is shown at a recent Leafy Greens Field Day in San Benito County. Hannah Johnson is director of the UC ANR Connect Program that hosts Field Days for companies to showcase their innovative solutions to issues facing California growers.

What if there were a way for farmers to communicate their most pressing problems – and an agency that could help facilitate solutions? Here in California, there is. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)’s Connect Program hosts Field Days that connect farmers with companies developing solutions to some of their biggest concerns.

What is UC ANR Connect?

Hannah Johnson, director of the Connect Program at UC ANR, created the program with one simple purpose – giving farmers the tools they need to survive and thrive. Her motivations are both altruistic and personal. Hannah’s family sold their alfalfa farm in 2017 – a difficult decision made after years of economic instability. Hannah hopes the Connect Program can help other farmers avoid a similar fate.

“The goal is to make sure there are not other farmers in the same spot, and to make sure they are connected to the tools, the expertise, the researchers, the investors, the state agencies, and the funding mechanisms that they need to keep going, because we cannot lose any more farms in California.” Hannah said. “The UC ANR Connect Program is the only program that is vetting technology for California growers.”

The Connect Program focuses on solving growers’ biggest problems. So, naturally, the first step is figuring out what those problems are.

“We ask growers up and down the state what are their biggest pain points,” Hanna explained. “We then go scout and vet tech that is solving those pain points.”

There are countless companies developing technology that could potentially benefit California growers, but only the most promising make it into the Connect Program and onto the Field Day lineup. Business models, teams and even pitches are meticulously reviewed and analyzed before a company gets the green light. “We put these companies through the wringer,” Hannah admitted with a grin.

What are Field Days?

The Connect Program’s Field Days showcase innovative solutions to some of the issues facing California growers. During these commodity or region specific events, companies are invited to showcase their products and demonstrate them in real-world conditions. Farmers, students and policymakers are invited to view and evaluate these emerging technologies. During a recent leafy greens Field Day, for example, SAMI Robotics debuted their robotic lettuce harvester, an innovative solution to labor shortages that plague farmers across the state.

Field Days are beneficial to both growers and emerging technology companies – and not just in terms of facilitating future sales. Growers can give real-time feedback on the products, highlighting potential issues and suggesting ways to improve efficiency. Technology companies then use this information to make any needed changes or adjustments, ultimately providing growers with a product that best meets their needs. 

For the Connect Team, Field Days are also an opportunity to learn which companies are truly passionate about the work – who is willing to go above and beyond.

“There is so much you can see about a company in how they show up and behave at Field Day,” Hannah noted. “I want to watch this company show up early, to see how they talk to researchers. I want them to be talking to the farm owner and I want to see them stay late. We clock all of that, and I think farmers do, too.”

Field Days: Planning and participation 

California grows over 400 specialty crops across the state, which the Ag Tech Alliance breaks into nine distinct growing regions, each with its own set of challenges. When planning future Field Days, the Connect team starts by “choosing a geography.” From there, they chat with growers in the region to determine their most pressing issues. Those conversations help shape an application that goes out to companies developing technology that could address those specific challenges.

The Connect Program carefully reviews the applications before selecting 10 to 20 companies to pitch their technology. From that group, the highest-ranking and most established companies are invited to join the Connect Program and, ultimately, participate in a Field Day.

The California Ag Tech Alliance

Field Days and UC ANR’s Connect Program fall under the umbrella of the California Ag Tech Alliance. While the Connect Program focuses on tackling some of the biggest challenges facing California growers, the Ag Tech Alliance takes a broader approach. The alliance brings together universities, growers and industry partners to support workforce development, build a statewide network and create an investment hub designed to speed up the development and adoption of new technologies for California agriculture. 

In just two years, the Ag Tech Alliance has already made a big impact. The organization has awarded more than $2 million in funding, partnered with more than 100 startups and trained 800 people for high-tech careers in agriculture – from drones and robotics to precision farming.

Supporting California Farmers

UC ANR’s Connect Program works tirelessly to support California farmers – and Hannah encourages consumers to do the same.

“California agriculture grows the best there is,” Hannah asserted. “Farmers care deeply about the land; they care deeply about their workers, and it’s hard to grow anything – anywhere. You’ve got to love it to keep doing it. It’s sacred work – and if you can choose to purchase California Grown, you should.”

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Farm to family childcare project receives national recognition

Posted on October 22, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs
Hands-on education fostered by First 5 Shasta and UCCE through a CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant includes (clockwise from top) a childcare provider and children experiencing a nectarine, a childcare provider teaching growing a sweet potato and a child painting with carrot tops.

Farm to school is for all ages! This is proven through a project by First 5 Shasta and University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Shasta County funded through the CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program.

Beginning in 2025, this project provided six weeks of hands-on education and California-grown produce to 12 childcares across Shasta County. Education was provided by Shasta College students via the USDA Grow It, Try It, Like It and Harvest of the Month resources. It was so successful that it won first place in the western region and third place nationally for the 2026 Early Childhood Child Care Training Award from the National Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

“This project showed us that farm to school can start well before children enter school,” UCCE Community Nutrition and Health Advisor Janessa Hartmann said. “We were able to increase young children’s acceptance of fruits and vegetables, build the skills and confidence of childcare providers, engage families and invest in our local food system. Most importantly, we saw the ripple effect at home where a child explores a new food at childcare, gets excited and talks about it at home and now that food becomes a part of the family’s routine.”

Over two years, the project purchased and distributed more than 8,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables from 11 farms. Providers not only incorporated the produce into meals and snacks but also made fruit leather, jam, cobblers, pickles, salsa, zucchini bread, spaghetti sauce and even peach ice cream. Many families were able to take home many of the fruits and vegetables.

This project engaged with 170 children that tasted 24 fruits and vegetables. Taste testing results were positive – 88% of children tried the featured item and 71% said they would eat them again. Among the 82 families that completed the final survey, 88% reported their child tried new fruits and vegetables and 96% said their child asked for fruits and vegetables at home. One parent shared, “She now says, ‘Try it ‘cause you might like it’ at the table.”

For more information about this project, contact Jackie Scott at jscott@first5shasta.org or Janessa Hartmann at jlhartmann@ucanr.edu.

October is National Farm to School Month! Join us and thousands of schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities and organizations across the country as we celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.

Posted in Agricultural Education, CDFA Inspection Services, Climate Smart Agriculture, Farm to School, Food Access, Nutrition | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CDFA funding helps Lawndale ESD incorporate scratch cooking into its 15-year-strong farm to school program

Posted on October 20, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs
(Left, L-R) Lawndale Elementary School District (ESD) Central Kitchen’s Production Chef Sandra Orozco and Doreyda Gonzalez-Davila are able to provide school meals made from scratch in part from CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant funding. (Right) Lawndale ESD’s work to highlight student voice and choice in recipe development led to this preferred Pozole Verde with Chicken dish being enjoyed by Will Rogers Middle School students.

Lawndale Elementary School District (ESD) in Los Angeles County is utilizing $200,000 in CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant funding to expand its 15-year-strong farm to school program. In particular, CDFA funding is helping the district expand procurement of California-grown items and create a Central Kitchen team to focus on scratch cooking.

Lawndale ESD’s Nutrition & Wellness Services Department served 979,820 meals, or about 5,443 meals a day, in the 2025-26 school year. During that time and continuing, the team worked to highlight student voice and choice in the recipe development process to bring culturally relevant and appealing recipes to school menus. This partnership yielded items like a Pollo Asado Bowl (Fire Grilled Chicken), Pozole Verde with Chicken (Tomatillo Hominy Stew with Chicken), Spicy and Cheesy Bean Dip, herby and fresh Buttermilk Ranch and Chocolate Chip Muffins, and more.

“The past two years have been filled with interesting and productive experiences where we have advanced and continue to grow and incorporate new recipes,” Lawndale ESD Central Kitchen Production Chef Sandra Orozco said. “We find new success each time we see our students smile. It’s a sign of their gratitude and appreciation for the work that we do.”

Lawndale ESD’s farm to school efforts include providing experiential learning opportunities like cooking and gardening to students in their pre-kindergarten-through-8th-grade urban district with an enrollment of about 4,300 students. Officials appreciate CDFA grant funding allowing them to strengthen the local economy through purchasing more produce from neighboring small farmers.

“We’ve also been able to make the Central Kitchen team a permanent part of operations,” Lawndale ESD Nutrition & Wellness Services Director Lissette Rooney added about benefits of the funding. “This ensures that high-quality, scratch-made meals and California-grown and produced items will continue to be featured in the thousands of meals that are prepared and served each school day.”

October is National Farm to School Month! Join us and thousands of schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities and organizations across the country as we celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.

Posted in CDFA Inspection Services, Climate Smart Agriculture, Community-based Food System, Farm to School, Food Access, Nutrition | Tagged , | Leave a comment

First Partner Siebel Newsom celebrates California’s nation-leading Farm to School program at statewide summit   

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

What you need to know: First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Governor Gavin Newsom, California leaders, farmers, chefs, and school nutrition professionals gathered Thursday to celebrate California’s nation-leading Farm to School Program that brings more fresh, locally grown food into school cafeterias.

RANCHO CORDOVA – First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom this week co-hosted California’s Farm to School Summit in celebration of permanent funding for the state’s nation-leading Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. The Farm to School Program connects schools with California farmers to bring more fresh, locally grown food into school meals while supporting child nutrition, climate-smart agriculture, and local farm economies.

First Partner Siebel Newsom delivers closing remarks at the 2026 California Farm to School Summit. 

“California’s kids deserve access to school meals that are locally-sourced, nutritious and delicious – food that helps them thrive. Through our Farm to School Program, we’re making that vision a reality by connecting children with fresh food from California farmers and producers, including food grown using regenerative organic practices, while strengthening local economies and supporting the people who feed our communities. I’m incredibly grateful for the strong partnerships behind this program that help give every child the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

“Healthy kids. Stronger farms. Smarter climate action. That’s what Farm to School delivers. We’re putting fresh, California-grown food on school trays, creating more opportunity for local farms, and building a stronger food system for our communities and our climate.”

Governor Gavin Newsom

Governor Gavin Newsom celebrates the success of California’s nation-leading Farm to School program during the 2026 California Farm to School Summit.

School meals by the numbers

In 2021, California became the first state to guarantee free breakfast and lunch to every public school student, regardless of family income. The Farm to School Program works in tandem with universal school meals to ensure more California students have access to two free school meals that are locally-sourced, delicious, and nutritious. 

“It is hard to overstate the impact the Farm to School Program is having across California,” said California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross. “The investments from this program are a true local development tool. Schools are better equipped to provide healthy, nourishing meals to California’s students. Students are also gaining a deeper understanding of where their food comes from, and farms are seeing benefits from these ongoing partnerships. This sustainable model is creating lasting, positive change for communities throughout our state.”

Together, these initiatives have delivered meaningful results for California’s children, farmers, and local economies:

  • Approximately 3.5 billion free school meals served.
  • $86 million invested through the Farm to School Incubator Grant Program.
  • 375 Farm to School projects funded, benefiting 4.2 million California public school students.
  • 80% of Farm to School Incubator grantees are Title I schools.
  • 100% of farmer grantees are small, mid-sized or socially and economically disadvantaged producers.
  • Every $1 invested through Farm to School farmer grants generates an estimated $2.10 in economic activity.
  • The state established ongoing funding to continue bringing California-grown food into schools
 Summit participants walk through Soil Born Farms in Rancho Cordova.

Inside the summit

In partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Center for Ecoliteracy, Alice Waters Institute, National Farm to School Network, Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, TomKat Foundation, and the Henry Ford, the summit was held at Soil Born Farms, a 55-acre urban farm and education center in Rancho Cordova that helps schools and communities teach young people about the importance of growing, cooking, and eating fresh food.

“When school districts buy food from local regenerative farms, they contribute to the economic empowerment of our communities, revitalizing and supporting farms that are taking care of the land for future generations,” said Alice Waters, chef, author, and founder of the Alice Waters Institute. “But just as important, they perpetuate the essential values of stewardship, nourishment, and interconnectedness directly through the cafeteria doors to our students.”

“When children get a chance to engage in hands-on experiences in the school garden, at the farm, in the kitchen and at school lunch, everything changes,” said Shawn Harrison, Founder and Co-Director of Soil Born Farms. “Learning how food is grown, practicing simple, delicious cooking and accessing a plate of healthy locally grown food each day at school lunch are the combined ingredients for long-term wellness. Thanks to the Farm to School program model, our children are more connected to what they eat on a daily basis, the farmers that feed us, the earth and the larger community around them.”

The summit also brought together school nutrition professionals from across the state who received California Food for California Kids® Leadership and Innovation Awards for their work transforming what students eat at school. 

“These leaders are proving that fresh and local school food is possible at scale,” said Alexa Norstad, Executive Director of the Center for Ecoliteracy. “Whether it’s remodeling a kitchen that once served prepackaged food, training staff to cook with fresh ingredients, or developing recipes that can feed hundreds of thousands of delicious meals kids want to eat – they’re working miracles every day for the children they serve.”

First Partner’s leadership on Farm to School

The First Partner has championed California’s Farm to School Program to expand access to healthy, locally grown food for students. Administered by the CDFA Office of Farm to Fork, the Farm to School (F2S) Incubator Grant program supports sustainable, local food procurement, minimally processed school meals programs, and hands-on education for students from early childhood education through 12th grade. First launched in the 2021-2022 budget, the program has helped drive lasting change in California’s school food system.

With ongoing funding secured in Governor Newsom’s 2026-27 state budget, in partnership with the Legislature, this program will continue to improve children’s health while strengthening local food systems and creating new opportunities for small and mid-sized farmers. The initiative supports California farmers and local economies by helping schools purchase more food from nearby farms and producers, ensuring that more dollars stay within local communities. 

(Clockwise from top left) CDFA Secretary Karen Ross speaks at the summit, CDFA Farm to School Program Supervisor Nick Anicich emcees the summit, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork staff gather for a group picture and Secretary Ross interacts with attendees.
Posted in Agricultural Education, CDFA Inspection Services, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, Climate Smart Agriculture, Community-based Food System, Farm to School, Food Access | Tagged | Leave a comment

CDFA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2026: How Daisy Magaña Is Transforming Community Food Access

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

Daisy Magaña is a Latina micro farmer and the newest member of CDFA’s BIPOC Producer Advisory Committee. She is transforming food access in her rural community, and in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and the International Year of the Woman Farmer, her work stands as a powerful reminder that farming is not one‑size‑fits‑all, and that anyone can grow fresh food for themselves and their neighbors.

Raised by a powerful single mother in the Central Valley, Daisy describes her early life as shaped by movement, resilience and a deep connection to food. After her father was deported, she and her family moved a lot, eventually settling in the Bay Area. She later attended the University of Redlands, graduating with the familiar question many young adults face: “Now what?”

That uncertainty led her to working with AmeriCorps and a role with City Year in San José’s East Side, serving elementary and middle school students and running free afterschool programs. Through every chapter of her life, one constant remained, a desire to grow food and feed people. What began as a single tomato plant on a balcony grew into a lifelong calling.

In 2019, Daisy moved back to the Central Valley, just months before the pandemic. What started as one raised bed evolved into 15 raised beds, a greenhouse, a duck pond, a chicken coop and a resource where neighbors pick up fresh food – always free of charge. She calls herself a micro farmer, but Daisy’s impact stretches far beyond her small plot.

During the pandemic, as layoffs surged and food insecurity deepened, Daisy worked with the Visalia Farmers Market, bridging the access gap for locally grown produce through Market Match and CNIP grant to keep our most vulnerable fed. This work grew into a niche at the intersection of micro farming, local food systems and community resilience.

Daisy’s past work supports agroecology programs that help Tulare County residents establish food hubs and community gardens across Goshen, Porterville, Exeter and other regions of the Central Valley. Her network of growers trades and shares produce, seeds, and preserved goods, creating a hyperlocal system of abundance in communities where the nearest grocery store may be 30 minutes away.

Across small acers of land in these regions, Daisy grows and distributes around 100 pounds of food a week – feeding seniors, families and anyone who needs fresh produce. Through her work for Allensworth Progressive Association, they have recently secured a new 2.5‑acre plot where she is partnering with UC Merced to remediate salt‑affected soil and address arsenic in the water. The site will eventually serve as a model for rural resilience, connected to broader efforts to build a progressive farming model that includes access to a commercial kitchens, health services and a replicable handbook for rural communities.

Favorite Part of the Work

Seeing people who once insisted they “kill every plant” grow thriving gardens of their own. Daisy believes in the healing power of gardening and how an hour outdoors can dissolve anger, connect people to each other, and create a sense of safety and belonging.

Favorite Crop

Asparagus, because it teaches patience. After trenching three feet down and waiting three seasons to harvest, the crop can feed a community for decades. To Daisy, offering a “luxury” crop for free is a transformative act of abundance. Sharing the harvest, the seeds, and the knowledge creates a ripple effect: “This is how we feed community together.”

Her Advice

“Just do it. Grab a seed and plant something.”

For Daisy, every seed planted is an act of saving communities – and proof that wealth isn’t measured only in money, but in the strength of the people we nourish.

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Farm to School connects local food system and community for Hoopa Valley High School students

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs
Hoopa Valley High School students participate in the annual Salmon Project, co-sponsored by the Klamath-Trinity Resource Conservation District receiving CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program funding to help connect students to the local food system and community.

The Klamath-Trinity Resource Conservation District (KTRCD) invests CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant funding to support local producers, local food procurement and hands-on education to help connect the classroom, cafeteria, local food system and community.

KTRCD is an Indigenous nonprofit working to connect local food, schools, producers and culturally relevant food education throughout the Klamath-Trinity region of Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity counties in Northern California. An important part of this work is the KTRCD Food Hub, which purchases food from local farmers and producers and helps connect locally produced foods back to schools and the community. The KRTCD Food Hub recently purchased food from 26 local producers and provided food safety education.

KTRCD’s Farm to School work also creates opportunities for Hoopa Valley students to learn about traditional foods and food practices through direct experience and community mentorship. In partnership with schools, Tribal programs, local organizations, producers and community knowledge holders, students participate in hands-on activities involving salmon, Pacific lamprey, deer, acorns, locally gathered plants, gardening, food preparation, preservation and other traditional foods.

“Our workshops offer an opportunity for students to engage with school and culture simultaneously,” said Hoopa Valley High School Cultural Connections, Cultural Studies and Natural Resources Teacher Natalie M. Scott. “And in turn, that improves our attendance and behavior outcomes. Students that sometimes struggle to engage with school are given another avenue of engagement.”

Recently, KTRCD was a partner in the annual Salmon Project where more than 30 Hoopa Valley High School students learned about salmon species, fisheries management, selection harvest, traditional processing, smoking, kippering and preservation. Students visited the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s weir at Tish Tang and worked directly with harvested salmon, learning how to gut, filet, strip, hang, smoke and preserve the fish alongside community instructors and partners.

“It’s a learning experience for all of us and it’s meaningful that we’re coming together to practice our culture,” Hoopa Valley High School student Marion “Buckeroo” McCovey said about the Salmon Project experience. “The more we are together, the more we build.”

October is National Farm to School Month! Join us and thousands of schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities and organizations across the country as we celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.

Posted in Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Farm to School, Food Access, Food Safety | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Farm to school fosters life skills and pride in seeing work grow for El Dorado County students

Posted on October 13, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs
Students in El Dorado Union High School District participate in hands-on agricultural learning through hydroponics and traditional gardens made possible by the CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant.

El Dorado Union High School District is utilizing CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program funding to bring hands-on agriculture into special education programs at five high schools in southern El Dorado County.

“This grant has given our special education students the opportunity to learn by doing,” said Adult Transition Program Teacher Trish Hardy. “They are growing food, comparing different growing methods, harvesting, cooking and developing real-life skills along the way. Most importantly, we have been able to create opportunities for students of all abilities to participate and experience the pride that comes from growing something themselves.”

Through $200,000 in grant funding, El Dorado, Union Mine, Ponderosa, Oak Ridge and Independence high schools have developed programs that fit each campus and its students. At one campus, garden beds and gravel pathways were added so students who use wheelchairs can more fully participate. Students use hydroponic systems, outdoor gardens and grow lights. Some schools are comparing hydroponic and traditionally grown plants, while others are using what they grow in cooking activities.

Students across El Dorado Union High School District are now planting, maintaining, harvesting and using what they grow. Along the way, they’re learning responsibility, teamwork, problem solving, cooking and workplace skills. District officials see the farm to school investments as a great starting point to continue expanding gardens and hydroponic programs, grow more food and eventually see food grown by students used in school cafeterias.

“Most of all, we want to keep creating opportunities where every student can participate, contribute and see the results of their work grow,” Hardy added.

October is National Farm to School Month! Join us and thousands of schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities and organizations across the country as we celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.

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CDFA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2026: Gerardo Pérez’s Experience with Farmers’ Markets

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

Every day, California’s farmers and farmworkers help bring nutritious, fresh food to our tables—and Hispanic farmers are an important part of that story.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, the California Department of Food and Agriculture celebrates the many Hispanic farmers and farmworkers across our state whose hard work, knowledge and dedication help make California agriculture what it is today.

One of those farmers is Gerardo Pérez of Pérez Farms (El Dorado County, California), who has spent more than three decades bringing fresh, locally grown produce directly to customers at farmers’ markets. From peppers and tomatoes to strawberries, potatoes, garlic, onions and more, Gerardo and his family grow a diverse array of crops while building a direct connection between the farm and the community.

For Gerardo, that connection is at the heart of what he does: helping people have access to food that is fresh, healthy and grown close to home.

We caught up with Gerardo and his wife, Vicky—at the Cameron Park Certified Farmers’ Market, where you can find them each Friday morning from 8 am – 12 pm – located at the Cameron Park Community Services District.

Tell us about yourself?

Hi, I’m Gerardo Pérez from Pérez Farms. We’re here at the Cameron Park Farmers’ Market at the Cameron Park Community Center. We’ve brought produce here to sell.

What kinds of products do you bring to the farmers’ market?

We bring different varieties of produce. We also bring some sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes, and we grow strawberries as well. Here we have chicken eggs, what we call blanquillos, as well as poblano peppers. We have hot peppers, potatoes, garlic, and plenty of onions. And a few flowers here and there.

How long have you been selling at farmers’ markets and working on your own farm?

I’ve been doing farmers’ markets for 32 years, and I’ve been working for myself since 2010, working full-time for our business, Pérez Farms, which is my own family business.

Why is it important to you to bring your products directly to farmers’ markets?

We do this, so people can come and have the opportunity to get everything fresh at these markets. All of this was picked just a day before, compared with stores where produce can spend weeks in warehouses.

What is the importance of connecting directly with your customers?

So everything here is fresh. And that’s the importance of connecting directly with the public—from the farmer to the customer. There are no middlemen between us, nobody buying and reselling everything. We’re (Certified Farmers Markets) selling directly to the public. And that’s important so people can eat healthy, fresh food.

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CDFA Awards $2 Million to Support Biologically Integrated Farming Systems

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) is pleased to announce funding awards for two new projects under the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) grant program. These awards will help California growers address the many ongoing and costly pest-associated challenges that threaten crop yields, environmental health, and long-term farm viability.

BIFS supports the refinement and adoption of effective, economically viable alternatives to chemical intensive by fostering information exchange and leveraging a diverse network of stakeholders, including growers, pest control advisors, commodity groups, and scientists. Each four-year project under the program works to refine, demonstrate, and promote sustainable pest management (SPM) programs that address critical pest issues in California agriculture.

The first awarded project, led by Ruthann Anderson with California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA), advances SPM practices in California by seeking to shorten the time between research and on-the-ground adoption of management techniques, focusing on rodent management. Rodents have been a major issue in California recently, spurring a significant amount of research. Crafting the research into content that pest managers can immediately use is essential.

The team’s resourceful and innovative approach includes three prongs. First, the team will assemble diverse streams of information into one Best Management Practice (BMP) guide which will be translated into multiple languages, disseminating the most pertinent information directly to growers. The BMP will include findings from the team’s proposed study of bait station design and trap density efficacy.The team will also establish a lending library that houses high-tech rodent traps and other costly equipment, increasing access and decreasing overhead costs for growers who need it most. Finally, the  team will do multifaceted extension including  meetings, print, digital media, and accredited Continuing Education material to maximize participation. 

The second awarded project, led by Luca Brillante with California State University, Fresno Foundation, advances SPM practices in California by developing an area-wide monitoring system for two grape diseases (grapevine red blotch disease and grapevine leafroll disease). The SPM Roadmap highlights areawide and cooperative pest management; in fact, the shift from field level to areawide is a defining aspect of SPM.

To accomplish this, the team will refine the use of a new technology, hyperspectral imaging, which can remotely identify these grape diseases at scale. Successful implementation of this technology, paired with strong outreach channels, will enable quicker action to mitigate disease spread while reducing the amount of labor needed for intensive ground-monitoring efforts. With low incidence of the diseases, growers could potentially manage the vector, the vine mealybug, with pheromones and less intensive chemicals as it was before the diseases were widespread. 

Detailed information on this program is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oars/opca/bifs.html

Information on the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oars/opca

Information on the Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oars

Posted in Fertilizer, Sustainable Pest Management | Leave a comment

Alyssa Burkart Gonzales values representing family farms on Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

This International Year of the Woman Farmer, CDFA celebrates and thanks CDFA advisory committee members for contributions to their industries and communities. Following is a spotlight of a member of the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee.

Alyssa Burkart Gonzales
Burkart Organics

What inspired you to pursue a career in agriculture?
Agriculture has always been a part of my life. I grew up on my family’s farm, started in 1965 by my grandmother, surrounded by orchards, harvest seasons, farmers’ markets and the hard work that goes into producing tree fruit. I watched my dad dedicate his life to farming and it has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the industry and the people who make it possible. Today, I have the privilege of helping carry on a family legacy while finding new ways to connect consumers with the people and stories behind their food.

Could you please describe your farming operation?
I am part of Burkart Organics, a family-owned and operated organic fruit farm located in California’s Central Valley. Our family has been farming for six decades, and we specialize in a wide variety of organic stone fruit, citrus, dried fruit and other tree fruits. I manage our marketing, social media, website, customer communications, sales initiatives and farmers’ market operations. I work closely with our customers, helping bridge the gap between the farm and the communities we serve. We sell directly to consumers through Certified Farmers’ Markets throughout California, allowing us to build relationships with our customers and share firsthand knowledge about our farming practices and products. We also sell wholesale to Earl’s Organic Produce in San Francisco and have for several decades, as well as direct wholesale in the Central Valley and Los Angeles areas.

One of the most rewarding aspects of our operation is being able to connect people directly to the source of their food. Whether it’s explaining how a particular variety was grown, sharing the story behind a harvest, or helping customers discover a new favorite fruit, those interactions are what make direct-to-consumer agriculture so special.

What does being a woman in agriculture mean to you?
Being a woman in agriculture means honoring the generations of women who have contributed to farming, often without receiving the recognition they deserved, while helping pave the way for future generations. Agriculture today is incredibly diverse and women are leading in every aspect of the industry – from production and research to marketing, advocacy and business management.

For me, personally, being a woman in agriculture means proving that leadership comes in many forms. While I may not spend every day driving tractors or managing irrigation systems, I play an important role in helping our farm thrive and grow. It means bringing a unique perspective, building relationships, advocating for farmers and helping ensure that agriculture remains strong and sustainable for future generations.

Why did you become a member of the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee, and what do your duties entail?
I became involved with the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee because I am passionate about preserving and strengthening California’s direct marketing system. Certified Farmers’ Markets provide farmers with an opportunity to connect directly with consumers, educate the public about agriculture and receive fair value for their products.

As a committee member, I help provide input and recommendations on issues affecting Certified Farmers’ Markets, producers and consumers. The role involves reviewing policies, discussing industry challenges, and helping ensure that the integrity and effectiveness of California’s Certified Farmers’ Market program are maintained. I value the opportunity to represent the perspective of family farmers and contribute to conversations that impact the future of direct agricultural marketing.

What advice would you give the next generation of women in agriculture?
Don’t be afraid to pursue a career in agriculture and make your voice heard. Agriculture needs passionate, innovative and dedicated leaders, and there is room for women in every corner of this industry.

Be willing to learn, ask questions and take on challenges even when you don’t feel completely ready. Some of the greatest opportunities come from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Build relationships, find mentors and remember that your perspective is valuable.

Most importantly, stay connected to your purpose. Agriculture can be demanding, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re growing crops, conducting research, advocating for farmers or connecting consumers to food, your work matters. The future of agriculture depends on the next generation bringing fresh ideas while honoring the traditions and values that have sustained our industry for generations.

CDFA’s Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee advises the Secretary on all matters pertaining to direct marketing of agricultural products at Certified Farmers’ Markets, with the primary goal of ensuring the integrity of Certified Farmers’ Markets. The committee comprises 14 members and their alternates who are producers or representatives of agricultural organizations that represent producers, Certified Farmers’ Market operators or representatives of the operator, one public member and one county agricultural commissioner.

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