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Monthly Archives: July 2026

CDFA intern inspired by agriculture’s potential to be part of solution to climate crisis 

Posted on July 20, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

By Alanna Laverty, CDFA Intern As I prepare for my final year of undergraduate education, I am spending the summer interning for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). I am a Global Studies major at UC Santa Barbara … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Education, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Conservation, Environment | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Celebrating National Ice Cream Day: A Sweet Salute to California Dairy

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

National Ice Cream Day – July 19 California is the nation’s leading ice cream producer, producing approximately 75 million gallons of regular ice cream and 31 million gallons of low-fat ice cream each year. Behind every scoop is the hard … Continue reading →

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California Maintains Vigilant Food Safety Monitoring as Federal Investigation Continues Focus on States with Outbreaks

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

State officials report no cyclosporiasis outbreak in California, with cases remaining below last year’s levels while CDPH and CDFA continue coordinating with federal partners. California continues to maintain one of the safest food supplies in the world, with no cyclosporiasis … Continue reading →

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Celebrating National Cherry Day: Honoring California’s Cherry Growers

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

National Cherry Day – July 16 Sweet, vibrant and a favorite summertime treat, cherries are a delicious reminder of the dedication and hard work behind California’s diverse agricultural landscape. This National Cherry Day, we’re celebrating the growers, farmers, farmworkers and … Continue reading →

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Secretary Ross lauds innovations in agriculture via new AI Supercomputing Center at Fresno State

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

A new F3i Supercomputing Center at Fresno State is now offering Central Valley stakeholders access to advanced computing and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to accelerate innovation across California’s food and agriculture supply chain. A partnership between Fresno State, the UC … Continue reading →

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Governor Newsom signs legislation securing permanent funding for nation-leading Farm to School Program championed by First Partner

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

From the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed SB 172, which permanently funds California’s nation-leading Farm to School Program, ensuring schools can continue serving students healthy meals made with California-grown ingredients. Championed by First … Continue reading →

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

California Celebrates National Blueberry Day with a Sweet 2025 Harvest

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

July 8 is National Blueberry Day, and California has a lot to celebrate. In 2025, the Golden State harvested 81.47 million pounds of blueberries, which is a remarkable milestone that reflects the hard work, care, and dedication of growers, harvesters, … Continue reading →

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CDFA invites stakeholders to give input for next round of Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Posted on July 7, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) invites you to participate in listening sessions for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). These sessions are designed for specialty crop stakeholders to provide feedback to the SCBGP team ahead of … Continue reading →

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Celebrating America’s 250th birthday and agriculture’s foundational place in it this Independence Day

Posted on July 3, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

From CDFA Secretary Karen Ross Happy 250th birthday America! As we celebrate our Nation’s founding, the California Department of Food and Agriculture offers a message of gratitude for the farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and all who work so hard to produce … Continue reading →

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Secretary Ross recognizes Jay Van Rein for 25 years of service to CDFA

Posted on July 3, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross celebrated Jay Van Rein’s 30 years of state service during a recent ceremony for his retirement as acting director of the CDFA Office of Public Affairs. He worked 25 years for CDFA. “Jay’s thoughtful and artistic … Continue reading →

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