Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: CDFA Inspection Services


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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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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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 →

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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

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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PUSD helps environment, supports small farmers through incorporating locally grown produce into school meals

California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program funds are hard at work in Tulare County helping Porterville Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Services strengthen farm to school connections across the district and expand its commitment to purchasing locally grown food. … Continue reading →

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