Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: October 2026

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

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 … Continue reading →

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

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 … Continue reading →

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CDFA is Dedicated to Building Agricultural and Climate Resilience

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 … Continue reading →

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

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 NennaCitrus Grower, Grower Relations … Continue reading →

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UC ANR Field Days: Connecting Farmers with Emerging Technologies

Article by Hilary Rance and photography by James Collier for CA GROWN 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. … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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