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Category Archives: Uncategorized

Department of Justice: Former President of Organic Fertilizer Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling Synthetic Fertilizer to Organic Farms

Posted on November 9, 2012 by CDFA Staff

http://www.justice.gov/usao/can/news/2012/2012_11_08_townsley.sentenced.press.html (Released 10-8-12) SAN FRANCISCO – Peter Townsley was sentenced yesterday to serve 364 days in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $125,000 for a scheme to defraud his customers in the organic farming industry, United States Attorney … 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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Annual fertilizer conference tackles key issues, sets attendance record

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Rick Jensen, Director of Inspection Services

The California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Western Plant Health Association (WHPA) teamed up last week to present the 20th annual Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) conference in Modesto.  Based on attendance alone, it was a great success. … 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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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 →

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

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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USDA reaching out to Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers with discrimination claims

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

  I want to make sure Californians know that the USDA has opened a discrimination claims process for Hispanic and women farmers that extends through March 25, 2013.   In California, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency has announced a series of 13 meetings … Continue reading →

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