Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: October 2026

Farm to family childcare project receives national recognition

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, … Continue reading →

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

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 … Continue reading →

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   

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. … Continue reading →

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

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 … Continue reading →

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

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 … Continue reading →

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

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in CDFA Inspection Services, Farm to School, Food Access | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in CDFA Public Affairs, Farmers' Markets | Leave a comment

CDFA Awards $2 Million to Support Biologically Integrated Farming Systems

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Fertilizer, Sustainable Pest Management | Leave a comment

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

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 GonzalesBurkart Organics … Continue reading →

Posted in CDFA Inspection Services, Climate Smart Agriculture, Environment, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, International Year of the Woman Farmer, Organic agriculture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Healing Harvest: Growing wellness, connection, opportunity through farm to school

At San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) in San Diego County, farm to school is about more than what is served on the lunch tray. Through the district’s 2023-24 CA Farm to School Incubator Grant project called “Healing Harvest,” all … Continue reading →

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