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Celebrating Community, Culture, and a Shared Commitment to Protecting California Agriculture

Posted on November 3, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Division and Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division were honored to participate in the Nagar Kirtan celebration in Yuba City!

Rooted in the Sikh traditions of faith, service, and community, Nagar Kirtan brings people together in a spirit of unity, generosity, and connection. We appreciated the opportunity to be part of this vibrant celebration and connect with community members from across the state and world.

Our team enjoyed sharing information about invasive pests and plant diseases that threaten California’s agriculture, natural resources, and local communities. From recognizing potential threats to understanding how everyday actions can help prevent the spread of invasive species, public awareness and community participation are essential to protecting our state’s agricultural and resources.

California’s strength lies in its diverse communities. Building relationships, sharing knowledge, and working together across cultures and communities helps create a stronger, more resilient California.

A sincere thank you to the event organizers and everyone who stopped by our booth. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with the Yuba City community and be part of such a meaningful celebration!

Together, we can protect California’s agriculture, environment, and communities.

Posted in Agricultural Education, Citrus, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Leave a comment

CDFA Awards $500,000 Through “Adaptive IPM for Invasive Agricultural Pests” Grant Program 

Posted on November 3, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has awarded $500,000 in funding through the Adaptive IPM for Invasive Agricultural Pests grant program to Dr. Mark Hoddle for a three-year project titled “Proactive Development of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program for Cotton Seed Bug in Bt and non-Bt Cotton in California.”  

This project aims to develop the first comprehensive IPM strategy in California for the cotton seed bug, an emerging pest that has recently become established in urban areas and is now expanding toward key cotton producing regions. Building on the principal investigator’s prior laboratory and field research on cotton seed bug biology and ecology, this new effort will shift toward applied, field scale evaluations.  

Upon completion, the project will deliver the foundational IPM components needed by California cotton growers to manage this pest proactively and sustainably. 

The goal of the Adaptive IPM for Invasive Agricultural Pests Program is to develop IPM program(s) or components that can be rapidly implemented when new invasive agricultural pests arrive and become established in California or when recently arrived invasive pests resurge or expand their range or host species. The program also supports research to refine and optimize existing IPM strategies to improve their effectiveness or exploring additional control measures against established invasive agricultural pests that drive extensive pesticide use but remain uncontrolled due to developed pesticide resistance.  

Funding for this grant program is from an on-going general fund appropriation. This program funds one award per year.  

Detailed information on this program, including the application process and application requirements, is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oars/opca/adaptive-ipm.html 

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

Posted in Sustainable Pest Management | Leave a comment

Benicia USD incorporates student feedback into scratch-made school meals for greater participation

Posted on October 29, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs
Benicia Unified School District farm to school activities include (clockwise from top left) Harvest of the Month, on-campus farmers’ markets and a recipe card for students to take home to share a scratch-made recipe created by Food and Nutrition Services staff featuring seasonal, local ingredients.   

Benicia Unified School District (BUSD) in Solano County is utilizing $200,000 in CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program funding to provide students with nutritious and delicious meals by incorporating more scratch cooking, minimizing processed foods and developing recipes utilizing ingredients from local farms. The project includes hands-on educational activities for students, including gardening, taste tests, field trips to farms and cooking demonstrations.

“The CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant has allowed us to expand our efforts in bringing fresh, locally grown foods into our schools while creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn about nutrition and agriculture,” said Gesley-Marie Prado, BUSD Nutrition Manager. “One of the most rewarding experiences has been seeing students excited to try new foods and become more engaged in what they eat. None of this would be possible without the dedication and teamwork of our Food and Nutrition Services staff, who bring these initiatives to life every day. Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable farm to school program for our students and community.”

Through CDFA grant funding, BUSD developed scratch-cooked recipes that highlight seasonal local ingredients, including three sisters stew, butternut chicken chili, scratch-made marinara, pork torta sandwich, house-made pickled jalapenos and carrots, fresh Brussels sprouts and zucchini, local farm-fresh eggs in breakfast burritos and fried rice, farm-raised beef in carne asada and homemade refried beans.

Among BUSD’s hands-on nutritional education events is Harvest of the Month, for which a seasonal fruit or vegetable is featured in a scratch-made recipe. Each event includes educational materials such as posters, informational flyers and recipe cards for students to take home and share with their families.

Additional hands-on educational events included on-campus farmers’ markets and International Passport Week, for which BUSD created recipes to feature countries and their cultures. Menu items included Filipino chicken adobo, Estonian potato salad, Fijian chicken curry and Rwandan Igisafuliya chicken stew.

BUSD gathers student feedback through surveys, conversations and involving student leadership in nutrition education events. This has been extremely helpful in guiding menu development and the adoption of new foods.

“We have found that students are more receptive to trying new foods when they know their opinions are valued and incorporated into future menus,” Prado said. “Their feedback has played an important role in improving the overall school meal experience while encouraging greater participation in our farm to school initiatives.”

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 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Live Oak School District brings farm to school to culinary classes, cafeteria, school farm

Posted on October 27, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs
Live Oak School District farm to school activities include (clockwise from top) a Field of Dreams farm built on an unused softball field, Child Nutrition Director Kelsey Perusse thanking culinary students and a plant-based lemon strawberry tartlet created by students.

Live Oak School District (LOSD) in Santa Cruz County is utilizing $200,000 in CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program funding to support hands-on culinary and garden education utilizing sustainably grown, locally sourced farm produce. This includes a Food Lab class increasing scratch-cooked meals in the cafeteria and working collaboratively with Life Lab Garden classrooms and the district farm.

For example, Cypress High School Food Lab students collaborated with fulltime school farmer Geoff Palla and district-based Brigaid Chef Scott Felgner to offer zucchini muffins, pasta with kale pesto, and scratch-made marinara and salsa including school farm-grown tomatoes. At the annual farm dinner in May, students made a plant-based lemon strawberry tartlet with strawberries from the district’s “Field of Dreams” farm, an unused softball field turned into an interactive outdoor classroom.

During the past school year, LOSD grew 17 varieties of vegetables and herbs that produced 4,800 pounds of produce. Food that’s grown by the district but not used is donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Student meals include produce purchased at Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market and local farms.

“Students gave feedback that one of their favorite parts was the taste tests,” LOSD Child Nutrition Director Kelsey Perusse said. “Through this grant we are now offering taste tests during lunch, in school gardens and on farm fields.”

“Taste tests can make a significant difference in students’ willingness to try new foods,” LOSD Child Nutrition Operations Manager Yumery Salazar Rivas added. “We have had instances where students come through the lunch line and share that they are choosing a particular entrée because they tried it for the first time during a taste test and discovered they liked it! Some students may initially be hesitant to try something unfamiliar, but seeing their peers participate often encourages them to step outside their comfort zones and give new foods a chance.” 

LOSD recently planted an apple orchard and more than 1,500 students visited the school farm during the past year. LOSD’s mental health clinician and speech therapist also bring students to the school farm to enjoy a calm environment.

The development and implementation of new School Garden Lessons Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards is affectionately called the district’s “CDFA Curriculum.” District officials appreciate that what teachers and students learn on the farm continues in the classroom.

“We received incredible teacher feedback from our CDFA lessons,” Child Nutrition Director Perusse said. “One of the favorite comments was that after the garden lesson, the teacher went back into the classroom to continue it.”

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, Community-based Food System, Farm to School, Food Access | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CDFA is Dedicated to Building Agricultural and Climate Resilience

Posted on October 23, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

The Resilient California Summit took place in Sacramento, CA from October 20-22, 2026. The Summit aimed to convene people to not just talk about the challenges facing our State but also create policy, partnerships, and practice-based solutions and act on them to accelerate resilience building in California.

Over the three days, attendees focused on first exploring the challenges and potential solutions, imagining a successful future, and catalyzing people and actions to take action to realize these success.  

As part of the imagine plenary presentations on day two, keynote speakers focused were asked to describe what the future could look like if our state is successful in creating resilient communities, economies, and environments.

Austin Stevenot, the Director of Tribal Engagement for River Partners, imagined a future where agriculture and our natural environment are not at odds, but instead all part of a functioning and thriving ecosystem and economy.

“Markets had to change. Incentives had to change. And our understanding of productive land had to change. We didn’t stop farming. We began thinking differently about what to grow, where to grow it, and how to support the people doing the growing.”

Deborah Bloome, a Senior Policy Director from Accelerate Resilience L.A., imagined a focus on the state of our soils, where healthy soils are the foundation of our society. And Alvaro Sanchez, Blueprints for Belonging Senior Fellow from Just Solutions Collective, highlighted how bioeconomy investments are not just the future but happening now, in our agricultural communities in San Joaquin Valley through Jobs First Initiative Funded work with Beam Circular.

Across the Summit, sessions touched on worker training, our fiber systems, and sustainable agricultural-based economies highlighting the connected nature of California agriculture with our economy, community, and the environment.

Earlier this year, CDFA released the first ever Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture. The Strategy builds upon California’s Ag Vision 2030, which prioritizes “fostering climate-smart, resilient, and regenerative food systems” which can help mitigate climate change, improve soil health, restore biodiversity, enhance ecosystems, and contribute to human health. The document provides a comprehensive overview of state actions designed to help the agricultural community prepare for, respond to, and thrive under the many conditions imposed by climate change, from uncertainty about water supply and drought to extreme weather events, wildfires, flooding and more.

At CDFA, our climate-smart agriculture programs are committed using the best available science and knowledge from the agricultural community to design and implement practical solutions to California’s natural resource challenges that improve the environmental and economic sustainability of producing nutritious food, fiber, and energy. CDFA has awarded more than 4000 projects and 700 million dollars to farmers, ranchers, and block grant organizations to implement climate-smart agriculture.

CDFA is excited to catalyze the ideas from the Resilient CA Summit to keep working towards a resilient future for California agriculture.

Posted in AG Vision, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Natural and Working Lands | Leave a comment

CA Citrus Advisory Committee member Maribel Nenna is passionate about agriculture

Posted on October 23, 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 California Citrus Advisory Committee.

Maribel Nenna
Citrus Grower, Grower Relations & Field Division Manager, Tulare County

What inspired you to pursue a career in agriculture?
Agriculture has been my passion for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by a family who introduced me to agriculture and instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance and stewardship of the land. Watching the dedication required to grow a crop and care for the land inspired a deep appreciation for the people who make agriculture possible.

As my career developed, that passion grew into a purpose. While working closely with growers, I realized that truly representing them required more than industry knowledge; it required firsthand experience. That realization inspired my husband and me to invest in citrus acreage so I could better understand the challenges, risks and costs growers face every day.

What continues to inspire me is the resilience of farming families and the opportunity to contribute to an industry that feeds communities, supports livelihoods and sustains future generations. Agriculture is more than a career to me. It is a way of life, a responsibility and a passion that continues to shape who I am.

Could you please describe your farming operation?
I’m a citrus grower, as well as grower relations and field division manager based in Tulare County. With my husband and brother, we farm navels, Cara Caras, lemons and mandarins. I currently work with Jireh Packing Company, proudly marketed by Kings River Marketing Group, where I support grower relations, field operations and industry initiatives.

What does being a woman in agriculture mean to you?
Being a woman in agriculture means having the courage to step into spaces where few women have gone before and allowing your work, character and dedication to speak louder than expectations. Early in my career, I became the first female field representative in the San Joaquin Valley. There were times when I had to work harder to earn credibility and prove that I belonged in the field. Rather than viewing those moments as obstacles, I embraced them as opportunities to learn, grow and demonstrate that knowledge, integrity and commitment are not defined by gender. To me, being a woman in agriculture means serving as a bridge between growers, packer and the communities we support. It means advocating for farming families, understanding their challenges firsthand and helping ensure their voices are heard. Most importantly, it means helping create a path for the women who follow. If my journey shows another young woman that she belongs in agriculture, then I have contributed to something much larger than myself.

Why did you become a member of the California Citrus Advisory Committee and what do your duties entail?
I became a member of the California Citrus Advisory Committee because I believe the future of California citrus depends on strong industry leadership, collaboration and a commitment to representing the voices of growers. Throughout my career in grower relations and field operations, I have worked closely with citrus growers and gained firsthand insight into the challenges they face, including production costs, water management, labor, weather variability and market conditions. Serving on the committee provides an opportunity to bring those perspectives forward and help ensure growers have a voice in important industry discussions. As both a citrus grower and industry professional, I understand the importance of making informed decisions that support the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of California citrus. My responsibilities include reviewing the implementation of the California Citrus Inspection Program and evaluating crop and acreage survey activities conducted through the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Working alongside fellow committee members, I help review industry issues, provide recommendations, and support programs and policies that strengthen California citrus.

What advice would you give the next generation of women in agriculture?
My advice to the next generation of women in agriculture is simple: Never let anyone tell you what you are capable of achieving. If agriculture is your passion, pursue it with confidence, determination and an open mind. There is a place for women in every part of this industry, from the farm and field to leadership, research, business and beyond. There may be times when you are the only woman in the room or the first woman to hold a particular role. Do not let that discourage you. Let it motivate you. Your knowledge, work ethic, integrity and character will always speak louder than assumptions or expectations. Agriculture requires resilience, adaptability and a willingness to continue learning. There will be early mornings, long days and challenges that require perseverance, but there is also incredible purpose in being part of an industry that feeds families and strengthens communities. Believe in yourself. Do not place limits on your potential, and do not allow others to place limits on it, either. The seeds you plant today, through your effort, your character and your perseverance, have the power to grow into opportunities far greater than you can imagine.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
Agriculture is more than a career to me. It is a responsibility, a connection to the land and a commitment to the generations who depend on it.

I am deeply grateful for the growers, mentors and industry leaders who have supported me throughout my journey and trusted me with the responsibility of representing their voices. Every opportunity I have been given has strengthened my belief that agriculture succeeds through collaboration, dedication and a shared commitment to the future.

As we celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer, I hope more women recognize agriculture as a place where they can lead, contribute and build meaningful careers.

The future of agriculture will be shaped by those willing to learn, adapt, serve and lead. I am proud to be part of an industry built on perseverance, stewardship and generations of dedication.

CDFA’s California Citrus Advisory Committee oversees the implementation of the California Citrus Program inspection program, crop and acreage survey work performed through the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and makes recommendations to the Secretary on matters pertaining to the citrus industry. The committee comprises 12 voting members who are handlers and producers of citrus in California.

Posted in CDFA Inspection Services, Citrus, International Year of the Woman Farmer | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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.”

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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