Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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From NY Times – Thieves Seek Restaurants’ Used Fryer Oil

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/us/restaurants-used-fryer-oil-attracting-thieves.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=steven%20yaccino&st=cse Thieves Seek Restaurants’ Used Fryer Oil By STEVEN YACCINO Companies that collect used cooking grease from restaurants across the country have turned to all forms of sleuthing in recent years. Private investigators. Surveillance cameras. Rigged alarms. And still, containers … Continue reading

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From the California Report – Fighting Citrus Pests with a Natural Predator

http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201201050850/b Scientists from the University of California are releasting minute, stingerless wasps in Los Angeles to counter the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid, a pest that carries a disease that threatens California’s citrus farmers. UC Riverside entomologist and researcher Mark Hoddle was a … Continue reading

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SF Chronicle – California’s young farmers break traditional mold

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/25/MNK81MDGNQ.DTL Stacy Finz, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, December 25, 2011 The average age of a farmer in California is creeping toward 60, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture is trying to attract newcomers to work the land. The … Continue reading

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California Grown at the Rose Parade

The Rose Parade in Pasadena is a unique California experience. I was thrilled to be part of pre-parade festivities on Sunday, January 1st, when I made presentations to the first two floats to be certified California Grown for using all … Continue reading

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The Grower – Report backs California farmers’ efficient use of water

http://www.thegrower.com/issues/the-grower/Report-backs-California-farmers-efficient-use-of-water-135867553.html?ref=553 Over the years, growers—particularly those who farm in the arid West—have gotten a bad rap as water-wasters. Nowhere are the voices louder than in California, which has faced droughts over the past three decades as well as escalating competition … Continue reading

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Vacancy on Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-001 The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing a vacancy on the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board. The board includes representatives from each of the major grape growing regions in the state; the current vacancy must be filled … Continue reading

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Governor Brown appoints new members to California State Board of Food and Agriculture and fair boards

http://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17366 Governor Brown Announces Appointments 12-29-2011 SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. Angel Barajas, 29, of Woodland, has been appointed to the 40th District Agricultural Association, Yolo County Fair Board. Barajas has served as … Continue reading

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Research is the Key: Pierce’s Disease Research Symposium

I had the pleasure this week of welcoming a gathering of research scientists, grape growers, winemakers and officials to Sacramento for the 2011 Pierce’s Disease Research Symposium.  This event gives researchers from California universities and their colleagues from across the … Continue reading

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Fresno Bee – Farmers boost donations to valley’s hungry

http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/13/2648491/farmers-give-to-valleys-hungry.html When Andy Souza, president of the Community Food Bank in Fresno, asked valley farmers for help to feed the needy, they donated by the truckload. The result, Souza said Tuesday, was 40% more produce than last year for a … Continue reading

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News Release – CDFA annoucnes vacancies on invasive species advisory committee

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, on behalf of the Invasive Species Council of California (ISCC), seeks to appoint seven (7) members to the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee (CISAC). The role of CISAC is to advise the ISCC … Continue reading

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