Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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California comes to Shanghai

I am making my first-ever visit to Shanghai, China and I’m very impressed with the quality and reputation of California grown food products here. I’m joining 27 California food companies as part of a trade mission supported by the California … Continue reading

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Sacramento Bee-Chinese wine buyers visit Lodi

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/12/4554935/lodi-vintners-welcome-chinese.html LODI – With bottles ready for tasting, a group of Lodi wine producers waited anxiously Friday morning for a delegation of monied business people they hoped to impress. The vintners burst into applause when the group finally arrived, over … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross in video urging participation in Census of Agriculture

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross appears in a short video PSA reminding California farmers and ranchers to participate in the USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture. July 1 is the deadline for signing up for the census, which is intended to be … Continue reading

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CBS News/Associated Press – Bees pollinate the Big Apple

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57448205/urban-beekeeping-all-the-buzz-among-posh-hotels/ (CBS/AP) NEW YORK – An iconic hotel in the heart of midtown Manhattan is buzzing with thousands of tiny new visitors. But watch out: They’ll sting if you get too close. Honeybees have taken up residence at the Waldorf-Astoria … Continue reading

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New York Times reports on upcoming foie gras ban

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/dining/california-chefs-mount-a-repeal-of-foie-gras-ban-set-for-july-1.html?_r=2&scp=5&sq=agriculture&st=nyt Waddling Into the Sunset By JESSE McKINLEY PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. THE countdown to foie-mageddon has begun. With less than a month until California’s first-in-the nation ban on foie gras takes effect, fans of the fattened duck and goose liver … Continue reading

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Bloomberg Businessweek – The Global Obesity Bomb

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-04/the-global-obesity-bomb?r=most%20popular New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in the headlines last week for his proposal to ban soft drink servings over 16 ounces. It’s the latest front of his war against obesity, which kills 5,000 residents in the city each … Continue reading

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Sacramento Bee – Two organic certifying agencies plan merger to become nation’s largest

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/29/4521806/two-organic-certifying-agencies.html California Certified Organic Farmers and Oregon Tilth, two of the nation’s largest third-party organic certification agencies, are joining forces in hopes of raising the visibility and consolidating the clout of West Coast organic farming. A merger was approved by … Continue reading

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World Metrology Day 2012 Honors the “Weight of the World”

First things first: this blog post is about metrology, not meteorology. Meteorology is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere and weather. Metrology is the science of measurement. Both are important sciences that impact our everyday lives, but in different ways. A little … Continue reading

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Still the People’s Agency 150 Years Later – Happy Birthday, USDA!

For producers and consumers of food, this is a sesquicentennial like no other. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Morrill Act, the single piece of legislation that laid the foundation for the modern … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Alternative Fuels, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Climate Change, Community-based Food System, Dairy, Environment, Farm Bill, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, Food Safety, Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, HLB, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species, Pierce's Disease, Specialty Crops, Trade, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Save Our Citrus – CDFA Protects Against Threat of Huanglongbing

CDFA has produced a video showing efforts to protect against the fatal citrus disease huanglongbing, or citrus greening, following its detection in Los Angeles County:

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