Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: Community-based Food System


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 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 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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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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Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee member Jaclyn Allen works to fight hunger and cultivate community

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. Jaclyn AllenThe Hen’s Roost, … Continue reading →

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Secretary Karen Ross on Leadership, Innovation, and the Future

Secretary Karen Ross is featured in the July edition of the ONOR Journal in a conversation about leadership, innovation and preparing the next generation for the future. In the feature, Secretary Ross shares insights drawn from her career in agriculture … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, CDFA Public Affairs, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, Climate Smart Agriculture, Community-based Food System | Leave a comment

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

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 →

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