Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: Community-based Food System


Farmers’ Markets Credited in Fitness Survey – California Cities Place High

Four California communities have placed in the Top-15 fittest cities in the country, according to the 2013 American Fitness Index. The Bay Area, defined as San Francisco, Oakland and Fremont, placed fourth; the Sacramento area was seventh; the greater San … Continue reading →

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Growing California video series – Farm Academy

The next segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Farm Academy,” a story about a training program for new farmers at the Center for Land Based Learning in Winters.

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Growing California video series – Salad Bar Superstar

The next segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Salad Bar Superstar,” a profile of Riverside Unified School District food service executive Rodney Taylor and the work he, the school district and local farmers … Continue reading →

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Perishable Pundit special edition on school salad bars

As the nation and California prepare to celebrate their annual Ag days (March 19 and 20), the produce blog The Perishable Pundit has issued a special edition with a series of reports on school salad bars. It highlights the United … Continue reading →

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News Release – State Board of Food and Ag to Focus on Food Waste at Upcoming Meeting

http://cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=13-006 The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss the issue of food waste at its upcoming meeting on March 5th in Sacramento. The meeting is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Department of … Continue reading →

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Op-ed Featuring Secretary Ross – Food Donation Always in Season – From the Fresno Bee

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/19/3107834/karen-ross-and-sue-sigler-food.html By Karen Ross and Sue Sigler The holiday season reminds us to be grateful for the blessings we have received and to share our good fortune with family, friends and those of who are less fortunate. While many will … Continue reading →

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Farm to Food Bank Program featured in San Diego TV report

On December 5, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross appeared with food bank officials in San Diego to emphasize a greater need for food assistance during the holidays, and to discuss the Farm-to-Food Bank Program, a joint effort with the California State Board of … Continue reading →

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“Improving Food Access in California” report delivered to State Legislature

California agriculture is incredibly productive and diverse. While food from the state’s farmers and ranchers is generally available to many, there are still too many Californians lacking sufficient access to healthy foods. To remedy this situation, in 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown, … Continue reading →

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

  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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Baby Boomers passing baton to Millennials, with changes expected for food industry.

Findings from a joint study announced recently by Jeffries, a global investment bank, and AlixPartners, a global business advisory firm, suggest that demographic shifts between now and 2020 will drive significant changes in the food industry. The study, called Trouble in Aisle … Continue reading →

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