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Author Archives: Office of Public Affairs

California State Board of Food and Agriculture Sends Letter to California Congressional Delegation Urging Passage of a New Farm Bill

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/State_Board/pdfs/CongressionalDelegationFarmBill_Nov2012.pdf Dear Members of the California Congressional Delegation: On behalf of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, we strongly encourage congressional action on the 2012 Farm Bill prior to January 1, 2013. The farm bill is of critical … Continue reading →

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State employees support annual Turkey Drop for holidays

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

The annual California State Employees Food Drive is underway and, today, the traditional Turkey Drop occurred at CDFA headquarters. Each year, state employees team with California Emergency Foodlink to sponsor the event, with donors providing frozen turkeys that are immediately loaded on a … Continue reading →

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Complete 2011 California Ag statistics now on line

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

From California Agricultural Statistics, 2011 Crop Year: California agriculture experienced a 15 percent increase in the sales value of its products in 2011. The state’s 81,500 farms and ranches received a record $43.5 billion for their output last year, up … Continue reading →

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Almonds now number two commodity in California – from the Merced Sun-Star

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/10/30/2621159/almonds-now-no-2-california-commodity.html Almonds were the second-most valuable commodity in California in 2011, surpassing grapes for the first time ever, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In 2011, almonds generated $3.87 billion of economic activity, according to agriculture department … Continue reading →

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From the LA Times – Profile of California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara.

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-1028-himi-craig-mcnamara-20121028,0,1752156.story The gig: Craig McNamara is a sustainable farming expert, organic walnut farmer in the Sacramento Valley town of Winters, founder of the nonprofit Center for Land-Based Learning and the California Farm Academy, and president of the state Board of … Continue reading →

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Secretary Ross Among “Health Happens Hero” Award Recipients

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is among eight individuals recognized by the California Endowment as a “Health Happens Hero” for her work in promoting the use of California Grown products in school meals.  Connecting farms-to-schools, improving the nutritional health of school … Continue reading →

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California leads the way as organic agriculture spreads its wings from coast-to-coast

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

  The USDA has released its first-ever survey of organic farmers to determine that organic sales across the country in 2011 totaled more than $3.5 billion, with nearly 40 percent of that –almost $1.4 billion–coming from California.  The development is discussed further … Continue reading →

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The Snail Wrangler – From the New York Times

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/dining/raising-sought-after-snails-in-california.html EVEN if you love eating snails, it is possible that you have never given much thought to the way they live. Maybe you assume that they are weak and slow, enduring lives of quiet desperation, as Thoreau once described … Continue reading →

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CDFA’s Director of Measurement Standards recognized for contributions to weights and measures

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

Kristin Macey, CDFA’s Director of Measurement Standards, was recently honored by the Western Weights and Measures Association with the Ray Rebuffo Award, which is presented to individuals for demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing weights and measures principles. Macey, who was … Continue reading →

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Hearings underway on egg regulations with food safety focus

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Office of Public Affairs

Food safety is of paramount importance to California farmers and to us at the Calfiornia Department of Food and Agricutlure (CDFA). We are constantly striving to work with farmers, consumers, scientists and others to make sure outbreaks are mitigated through … Continue reading →

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