Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Ag Day tomorrow at State Capitol!

The annual celebration of Ag Day is tomorrow! The State Capitol grounds will come alive with fresh food, farm animals, and entertainment. This year’s theme is “Next-Gen Tools, Talent, and Tech,” a look towards embracing the opportunities ahead for California agriculture

Ag Day is the agriculture community’s annual opportunity to showcase the bounty that our state’s farmers, ranchers and farmworkers produce. The event highlights the dynamic role our food system plays in every aspect of Californians’ lives.

The grounds open to the public at 11:30 am. Hope to see you there!

NOTE — CDFA will have a recruitment booth at Ag Day  The booth will have representatives available to provide information about permanent and seasonal jobs with CDFA and the the State of California. Please go to CalCareers to review available positions.

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Women’s History Month spotlight — Dr. Annette Jones

As CDFA continues to honor Women’s History Month, here is a video profile of Dr. Annette Jones — the first-ever woman in the roles of California State Veterinarian and director of the division of Animal Health and Food Safety Services. Dr. Jones has broken barriers while dedicating her career to safeguarding animal health and public safety.

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CDFA program offering grants to help farms sell healthy foods to school districts — from Ag Alert

Link to story in Ag Alert

To advance farm-to-school projects statewide, CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork announced it is accepting applications for up to $52.8 million in grant funding.

The deadline to apply for the 2023-24 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program is April 4.

Through a competitive grant process, funds are available through multiple funding tracks: Track 1, the California Farm to School TK-12 Procurement and Education Grant; Track 2, the California Farm to School Technical Assistance Grant; Track 3, the California Farm to Early Care and Education Grant; and Track 4, the California Farm to School Producer Grant.

The amount of funds awarded depends on the number of applications received.

The California Farm to School Producer Grant is for food producers and public-serving distribution enterprises to sell California-grown or produced foods to the state’s school food market. Farmers are encouraged to apply for producer grant funding for the program, which helps build economic connections between farms and schools while enhancing healthy food offerings for students.

“Our Farm to School Incubator Grant Program offers a triple bottom-line win for farmers, local economies and kids,” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said in a statement. “Farmers win in developing lasting relationships with local schools and students, local economies win in school food procurement dollars staying closer to home, and kids win through gaining the nutrition of California-grown or -produced food.”

To be eligible for program grants, applicants must show evidence of an established relationship with each California School Food Authority or childcare center operator of the Child and Adult Care Food Program to which they intend to sell food.

Grant funding prioritizes small to mid-sized food producers, military veterans and socially disadvantaged or limited-resource food producers. The program also focuses on producers using climate-smart agriculture practices and systems including certified organic or transitioning to certified organic, or other regenerative approaches.

McGrath Family Farmers Inc. in Ventura County, a past grant recipient, said in a statement that the farm “feels strongly about providing healthy, nutrient-dense organic food for our community.”

“We feel very happy the schools are highlighted for this cause and are thrilled to be a part of this program and to contribute,” the statement noted.

The CDFA Office of Farm to Fork received funding through the California Budget Acts of 2020, 2021 and 2022 to establish and continue the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program. The program awarded $8.5 million to 60 farm-to-school projects in 2021 and $25.5 million to 120 projects in 2022.

CDFA Farm to School Program staff is conducting weekly Zoom sessions about the grant program request for applications. People may register for the Zoom sessions via the links under “Grant Info Sessions & Weekly Q&A Sessions” at www.cdfa.ca.gov/caf2sgrant/.

To apply or register for informational webinars, visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/caf2sgrant/. For more information or assistance, email cafarmtoschool@cdfa.ca.gov.

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Ag Day next Tuesday at State Capitol!

Next Tuesday, March 19, The State Capitol grounds will come alive with fresh food, farm animals, and entertainment at the annual Ag Day celebration.

This year, CDFA and its partners are thrilled to highlight the “Next-Gen Tools, Talent, and Tech” that help California agriculture lead and feed the world. Participants are invited to share their stories and information with state legislators, legislative staffers, state agency representatives, the news media, and the general public.

The marquee event on the west steps of the State Capitol is the California agricultural community’s annual opportunity to showcase the bounty that our state’s farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers produce. The event also highlights the dynamic role our food system plays in every aspect of Californian’s lives – from nutrition and public health to environmental stewardship and rural economic development.

NOTE — CDFA will have a recruitment booth at Ag Day  The booth will have representatives available to provide information about permanent and seasonal jobs with CDFA and the the State of California. Please go to CalCareers to review available positions.

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Celebrating Women in Agriculture on International Women’s Day 2024

On International Women’s Day (today, March 8), CDFA Secretary Karen Ross recognizes the vital role that women play in agriculture. Women are centrally connected to farming and ranching every step of the way and have a long tradition in that role. Throughout March, join CDFA in celebrating and supporting Women’s History Month.

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National Weights and Measures Week — CDFA’s groundbreaking work to facilitate the electric vehicle charging network

This is National Weights and Measures Week (March 1-7), and CDFA is marking the occasion by highlighting recent groundbreaking work to help extend California’s electric vehicle charging network.

The work addresses a major challenge faced by EV owners — a still-developing network of commercial charging stations, including a need for them to be universally accessible through a series of plugs, adapters and software applications that will allow EV drivers to recharge more widely and pay for the service on smart devices like phones and tablets.

CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards worked with the EV industry leader, Tesla, to test and approve these advances, which are now operational on Tesla’s network and allow for the charging of other manufacturer’s vehicles on that network. Additionally, other charging station manufacturers and service providers may leverage the technology to help further in opening California’s expanding charging network to all EV drivers. These measures are adding substantial capacity to the state and national charger infrastructure, which is essential for consumer acceptance and transition to EVs.

The Division of Measurement Standards is committed to protecting fair commerce in California — the idea that consumers and other buyers of goods and services should always get what they pay for, and that sellers must receive fair payment. The recent progress on EV charging stations is another important example of the division showing national leadership by staying current with rapidly-developing technology in order to maintain equity in the marketplace.

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Celebrating Women’s History Month — Women in farming in California

March is Women’s History Month! CDFA celebrates the substantial contributions of women in agriculture, including marketing, land use, crop production, record keeping, financial management, and engagement in policy. Women are centrally connected to agriculture every step of the way.

Did you know that in California alone, 45,244 women ag producers manage 11.5 million acres, generating $22.2 billion in agriculture sales? We thank and honor their hard work, innovation, and commitment to sustainable ag practices. Join us as we celebrate and recognize women in ag throughout March.

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Black History Month Spotlight: Ujamaa Farmer Collective

As we conclude the celebration of Black History Month (Feb 1 – Mar 1), CDFA recognizes the Ujamaa Farmer Collective of Yolo County, which recently acquired 22 acres in Woodland. CDFA Secretary Karen Ross toured the property and visited with members of the collective.

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Black History Month Spotlight: African American Farmers of California

In the Fresno area lies a legacy of determination and farming rooted in the African American community. The African American Farmers of California is helping to preserve the rich tradition of Black farmers for future generations. The organization received a $100,000 grant from CDFA’s 2022 Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development (BFFTP) Grant Program.

With these resources, the organization is working to expand its support for Black farmers throughout the state with a year-round training program and a demonstration farm site.

Michael Snell, a retired US Marine now involved in farming, serves as secretary of the African American Farmers of California and joins other farmers in demonstrating and teaching the cultivation of crops as well as nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders. Mentorship plays a key role in the program

“This organization was started out of necessity some 30 years ago, and now that I’m deeply involved, I can see the importance of maintaining African American and Black farmers in California,” said Snell. “If not, farming in our community will go away—but farming is one of those things that you learn from people. My ambition is not profit, it’s an investment in learning and mentorship.”

The roots of the organization go back to 1997, in response to discrimination faced by Black farmers, as outlines in a class-action lawsuit against the USDA (Pigford v. Glickman). With the settlement of the lawsuit, Black farmers needed sustainable pathways to thrive in the agricultural sector. Therefore, the African American Farmers of California emerged to provide training, access to land, and ongoing support for Black farmers.

Rasheed Hislop, a Senior Manager of the Farm to Market Program at the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), works closely with the organization. He was motivated by a desire for racial equity, particularly after the tragic murder of George Floyd. Hislop recognizes that beyond addressing past injustices, there is a need to provide Black farmers with resources and knowledge.

“We know that Black farmers don’t need handouts, we need hand-ups,” said Hislop. “Training and access to land is necessary for Black farmers, along with knowledge, which is a barrier. While a lot of people want to get away from farming because of the stigma, many others want to come back to it, and it’s a very viable way of life, healthy, and it could be profitable.”

Through community engagement initiatives, the African American Farmers of California aims to be a source of information and inspiration for aspiring Black farmers. By demystifying the agricultural industry and providing opportunities for skill development, the organization is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable future in farming.

The journey ahead includes some challenges, from navigating lease agreements to securing access to resources like water and electricity. Nonetheless, with nearly thirty members, the organization is determined to ensure future generations of African Americans continue in the farming profession. “Our hopes are to grow and be a source of information for people,” said Snell. “Our organization is working hard to link older farmers—there’s a lot of mentorships.”

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California Joins White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities

State’s commitment to expanding healthy food access includes universal school meals for public school students and the California Farm to School program

WASHINGTON – Building on California’s innovative initiatives to combat food insecurity, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) today announced California’s commitment to the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities – a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Representatives from the Office of the First Partner and CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined a ceremony at the White House today alongside leaders working to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.

“As the first state in the U.S. to implement universal school meals, California is deeply committed to ending hunger and food insecurity, and we’re proud to join other leaders in this nationwide call to action,” said First Partner Siebel Newsom. “Through our nation-leading Farm to School Program and other efforts to expand access to high-quality, healthy foods, our state is continuing this important work to cultivate a healthier, more equitable California for all.”

“It was an honor to be at the White House celebrating our burgeoning California Farm to School program made possible by the leadership of California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom,” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said. “With the partnership of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Bacerra and senior administration officials, we’re excited for the momentum of our California program to offer a model to the nation of Farm to School building healthy communities.” 

The state is reaffirming its commitment to using California Farm to School to realize a California where every student receives nutritious school meals made with California-grown produce and has access to quality food education resources. California Farm to School programming currently reaches over 1.5 million students. CDFA and the Office of the First Partner are aggressively pursuing additional opportunities by working together with school administrators, producers, and growers to broaden California Farm to School’s reach to up to 80% of all California students by 2030.

The White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities called public and private sector organizations and communities to make bold and impactful commitments to one or more of the five pillars in the National Strategy. 

California Farm to School Incubator Program applications are being accepted now through April 4, 2024, and will award up to $52.8 million in competitive grants to support projects that cultivate equity, nurture students’ physical and mental health, build climate resilience, and create scalable and sustainable change.

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