This week, CDFA is leading a delegation of Mexico produce buyers for visits with growers and packers in Fresno and Salinas before attending the Organic Produce Summit in Monterey. The visit is showcasing a variety of operations from stone fruit, grapes, leafy greens and melons – providing the opportunity for the buyers to see production and packaging operations while also having one-on-one business meetings.

Mexico is California’s fifth largest agricultural export destination, valued at more than $1.5 billion. On average, California’s farmers and ranchers export an estimated 28 percent of production ($23.6 billion), supporting more than 145,774 jobs and generating more than $49 billion in domestic economic activity (USDA/ERS).

The delegation’s visit is supported through federal funding in partnership with the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) and is a follow-up to a recent Mexico organic trade mission with CCOF.

California is proud of its agricultural bounty as the Fourth of July approaches! Our state plays a significant role in providing delicious food for all to enjoy during the holiday weekend!

• In 2023, California sweet corn growers produced 364 million pounds, valued at $172 million.

• In 2023, California Watermelon growers produced 645 million pounds of watermelons, with a value of $155 million.

• In 2023, California led the nation in ice cream production with 76 million gallons of regular ice cream and 34 million gallons of low fat ice cream.

• In 2023, California growers led the nation in tomato production with 26.4 billion pounds, with a value of $2.3 billion.

More Ag stats may be viewed here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Statistics/

From a USDA News Release

On July Fourth, the aroma of barbecue will fill the air as family and friends come together to celebrate with quintessential American cooking pastimes: grilling and smoking.

Food is the biggest staple when it comes to celebrating Independence Day, aside from the fireworks. Whether you’re sizzling burgers on the grill or slow-cooking ribs in the smoker, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service is urging everyone to take food safety precautions during food preparations.

“Fourth of July is a great time to use the grill and smoker to cook delicious meats and poultry,” said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban. “Whichever method you use, reduce your risk of foodborne illness by using a food thermometer to measure the safe minimum internal temperature, and reduce cross-contamination by using separate utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry.”

Here are grilling and smoking food safety tips to keep in mind during your celebratory cookout:

Thaw meat or poultry first. Smoking uses low temperatures to cook food, and frozen food would take too long to reach a safe internal temperature before bacteria can start to multiply. Frozen foods can be grilled safely, but they will take longer and may cook unevenly.

Marinate in the refrigerator. Marinating tenderizes and flavors meat and poultry before grilling and smoking. Always marinate in the refrigerator and NOT on the counter. If basting meat and poultry during grilling or smoking, and you want to use some of the marinade as a sauce, you should put aside a portion of the marinade that has not been in contact with the raw meat or poultry. If using a marinade that has already been used on raw meat or poultry, boil first to destroy harmful bacteria.

Keep raw meat and poultry separate. Use different cutting boards and utensils for raw meats and poultry and food that is fully cooked or is ready to eat, to avoid cross-contamination with bacteria.

Keep the smoker and grill at a safe temperature. If you are using a smoker or grill to smoke meats, you will need two types of thermometers: one for the food to determine safe internal temperature and an oven-safe thermometer to monitor that the air temperature in the smoker or grill stays between 225 and 300 F throughout the cooking process.

Cook meats to a safe internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer.

• Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145 F before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.
• Cook all raw ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal to an internal temperature of 160 F.
• Cook all poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 F.

If you have food safety questions, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), email MPHotline@usda.gov or chat live at www.ask.usda.gov 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the 2024-25 state budget, which closes a General Fund shortfall of $46.8 billion through a balanced package of solutions, including spending reductions of $16 billion that maintain investments in core programs

As outlined in the agreement announced by the Governor and legislative leaders, the legislation signed by Governor Newsom balances the budget in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, and it preserves budget resilience by maintaining $22.2 billion in total reserves at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year. 

Budget Year Funding

The budget includes $690 million for California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) programs between baseline funding for core programs and new funding for the following projects:

Blythe Border Protection Station Construction Project: The budget includes $99.5 million for the construction phase of the Blythe Border Protection Station project. This project will replace the existing station that was constructed in 1958, which is inadequate for current traffic flow. The new facility will allow CDFA to inspect additional commercial and private vehicles to better protect California from invasive species.

Emergency Invasive Fruit Fly Response: The budget includes $25 million for CDFA’s response to a historic outbreak of invasive fruit flies. There are typically 75 detections per year in seven counties. In calendar year 2023 there were 948 detections in 15 counties, which led to 68 delimitation projects and seven active quarantines.  In the calendar year 2024, there have been 30 new detections in 4 counties, which led to 8 delimitation projects. Without CDFA’s continued response to new finds, multiple species of invasive fruit flies have a high likelihood of becoming established in California, which would significantly impact the state’s natural and working landscape and impact California agriculture’s ability to export products.

Protected One-Time Funding

The budget protects $183.1 million of one-time general fund appropriations for CDFA. These include:

Relief for Small Farmers:  The budget preserves $17.9 million for this program, which provides socially disadvantaged, small-scale and medium-scale producers with financial relief from severe weather-related damages.

Farm to School (F2S) Grant Program:  The budget preserves $60 million for this program providing grants that support innovative local and regional F2S projects.  Funded projects promote innovation in nutrition education, sustainable production and procurement, and a high-quality student experience.  

State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Grant Program: The budget preserves $20.6 through a shift of funding to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) in FY 2026-27.  This program provides financial assistance in the form of grants to implement irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gases and save water in California agricultural operations.  

Farm to Community Food Hubs Grant Program:  The budget includes $15 million in funding for Food Hubs.  These incentivize public-serving entities that serve as supply chain intermediaries for local and regional farms.

California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP):  The budget preserves $35 million for this program encouraging the purchase and consumption of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts by nutrition benefit clients.  

Livestock Methane Reduction: The budget preserves $24 million for this program by fund shifting from the general fund to the greenhouse gas reduction fund. The budget includes $17 million GGRF in 2024-25 and $7 million in FY 2025-26.  These funds are used for CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program and its Alternative Manure Management Program.

Reductions

The budget includes $29.4 million in one-time reductions for CDFA including:

Technical Assistance Program for Underserved Farmers: This program funds non-profit organizations, resource conservation districts, Tribal Governments, and County Agricultural Commissioners to assist farmers and ranchers with applications for various drought and emergency relief programs.  The budget includes a reduction of $200,000, which is the remaining balance from the original $2.7 million appropriation.

Fairground and Community Resilience Centers Grant Program:  This program focuses on improving both local fairground and other community facilities to enhance the state’s preparedness capabilities, particularly in response to climate change.  The Budget Act includes a reduction of $2.1 million from this program, which is the entire remaining grant award balance from an original appropriation of $150 million.

Pollinator Habitat Grant Program:  This program provides grant funding for the establishment of pollinator habitat on agricultural land throughout California.  The budget includes a reduction of $445,000 from this program.

Water Efficiency Technical Assistance:  This program facilitates technical assistance to agricultural operations for on-farm water use efficiency and nutrition management.  The budget includes a reduction of $6.9 million from this program, which is the remaining balance from the original $15 million appropriation.

Enteric Methane Emission Reduction Program:  The budget includes a reduction of $23 million to the Enteric Methane Emission Reduction Program.  This program incentivizes the voluntary use of products or strategies that are scientifically proven and safe for enteric emission reductions in the state’s livestock sectors.

Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program:  The budget includes a reduction of $8.5 million to the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, which funds energy efficient refrigeration units in corner stores, small businesses, and food donation programs in low-income or low-access areas throughout the state.

As Pride Month nears an end, CDFA presents Q&A with Siobhan Reid, a five-year employee with the agency’s IT service desk. Siobhan discusses some of the dynamics of gender transition in the workplace as well as personally. 

How long has your journey been? Where are you in your transition?

I am four years into the rest of my life! Like a lot of trans people, I realized that I was trans during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic – though in my case, I didn’t have an extended period of isolation from work and peers, since the Service Desk Office here at CDFA did not start teleworking until late 2021. In terms of where I am with my transition, that depends on how you mark progress in a life-long state of change! There are, I think, three different kinds of transition happening all at once. The first is an internal, mental one where a trans person realizes they can just be what feels right. I’ve completed that, and it led to the other two: social and physical. Social transition is probably the most difficult and vulnerable form of it, since it involves telling other people to use a different set of pronouns for you, a different name, dressing differently, learning new and different body language and mechanics, and so on. There are a lot of moving parts. Physical transition is probably the one that most cisgender people think of when they talk about transition, and while there are some one-time parts of it – surgeries, mostly – the reality is that it’s an ongoing process. Bodies change as we age, and change differently based on their hormonal balance, genetics, and the environment they’re in.

What has your experience been like with a network of family, friends and colleagues who have known you before and during your transition?

It’s been a lot easier and much more pleasant than I expected. Every trans person is afraid of rejection from their family, friends, or colleagues; I’m very lucky to have not experienced any of that loss, and to have all three of those groups be supportive and accepting. I’m also very aware of that luck, because I have friends and acquaintances within the trans community who have been rejected or found it necessary to cut off contact with people who become hostile.

Do you feel safe and supported in your community?

Generally, yes! Sacramento is very queer-friendly, and especially friendly to trans or other gender-expansive folks. We typically make up about 1% of the population in a broader area, and last I knew, about 10% of people the Sacramento area are trans or otherwise gender-expansive. Safety in the area is granular, though, and there are areas in the region I try to avoid.

Do you feel supported in the workplace?

Absolutely. I’m very glad to have had the support of the staff in the Office of Civil Rights, as well as management staff in the Office of Information Technology Services, from the day I decided to come out to my colleagues to today and into the future. Everyone within CDFA has been excellent to me, which I deeply appreciate, and I haven’t been deadnamed or misgendered in quite a while! I’m also proud to have led the way on how OITS handles name changes for trans people in our systems. 

What would you like others to know about your transition?

Not every transition is like mine. I’m taking it at a pace I’m comfortable with, and I’m open about it because I don’t think it’s something I need to hide. Being visible means other trans people who are fresher to their identity can see someone else just living their life. 

NOTE — Here is more information on several terms used in this post.

Transgender: denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex assigned for them at birth.

Gender-Expansive: Individuals who do not identify with traditional gender roles and otherwise not confined to one gender.

Cisgender: Denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex assigned for them at birth; not transgender.

Queer: Denoting or relating to a sexual or gender identity that does not correspond to established ideas of sexuality and gender, especially heterosexual norms.

Deadnamed: Calling a transgender person by their birth name when they have changed their name as part of their gender transition.

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, and the USDA hosted an event today in Washington DC to promote the announcement.

CDFA is excited to celebrate the announcement and highlight the pioneering roles that both Secretary Ann Veneman and Secretary Karen Ross have had in leading the agency. Both women have also served at the USDA. Secretary Veneman was the first woman appointed to lead USDA (as well as CDFA), and Secretary Ross served as chief of staff to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack before becoming the second woman to be appointed CDFA secretary. 

In this video, Secretaries Veneman and Ross discuss Veneman’s career path from a peach farm in the Modesto area to the hallways of the USDA in Washington, D.C. and beyond. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Di3dv6YWk

Notes on women in agriculture 

–Women are responsible for nearly half of the world’s food production.

–In 2019, women comprised 38 percent of all agricultural workers in crop, livestock, fisheries, and forestry primary production around the world. 

–Globally, 36 percent of working women work in agrifood systems as of 2019.

–According to the USDA’s Census of Agriculture, more than 38 percent of farmers and ranchers in California are women. 

A cohort of current and future leaders selected from CDFA’s nine divisions recently completed the agency’s Executive Leadership Academy training course.

The course, offered in partnership with UC Davis, consists of six seminars over a six-month period which support our employees’ development both personally and professionally. Topics covered include high-priority leadership competencies and include assessments to support self-awareness and growth.  

CDFA’s objectives in sponsoring the Executive Academy are to invest in employees and enable them to reach their full potential, and also to improve succession planning by preparing leaders to step forward following retirements and other turnover. 

Congratulations to the latest cohort! We look forward to seeing your growth as you continue to serve the state of California and your communities!  

This week a delegation of California organic companies traveled to Guadalajara and Mexico City to meet with foreign buyers and learn about market opportunities for organic products. California is the nation’s largest agricultural producer of organic products, and Mexico imported more than $234 million in U.S. organic products in 2023.

CDFA partnered with California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) to help facilitate the trip.

The visit included meetings with U.S. and Mexican government officials, a CCOF-hosted seminar on marketing and organic certification, and direct business meetings with importers and distributors.  The delegation also visited retail and wholesale markets to observe organic sale channels.

Delegation participants included: Joshua Tamayo, Taylor Farms; Byron Albano, Cuyama Orchards; Cris Cherry, Villa Creek; Vernon Peterson, Abundant Harvest Organics; Lily Nugent, Coke Farm; Thaddeus Barsotti, Creekside Organics; Steve Koretoff; Purity Organics; Hilary Graves, Booker Vineyard; Ann Weight, Frey Vineyards; Zoubeida Zajac, Powicana Farms; Kelly Damewood, CCOF; Felipe Sandoval, CCOF,  and Phil LaRocca, LaRocca Vineyards.

“Funding for this trade mission was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 21SCBGPCA110. It’s contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.”

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and this week, CDFA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the agency’s Office of Civil Rights commemorated the month with a panel discussion featuring CDFA employees who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. Moderated by CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong, the conversation included the panelists’ personal journeys, their experiences at CDFA, and their reflections on what LGBTQ+ Pride Month means to them.

Undersecretary Birdsong opened with a summary of the beginnings of Pride Month, which has its roots in the Stonewall Riots of 1969 — patrons of a New York City bar resisted a police raid, leading to six days of protests. Subsequent marches in cities like Greenwich and San Francisco laid the groundwork for Pride Month celebrations. In 2000, President Clinton officially designated June as Pride Month, a tradition further supported by President Obama.

Justin Hopper, Chief of CDFA’s Office of Civil Rights, joined the discussion virtually and spoke about his upbringing and the fear of coming out in a religious environment. He shared a story about his father’s support and of acceptance, emphasizing the personal and societal struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. “When I was growing up as a gay kid and surrounded by religion it can be scary to think about coming out and being different,” said Justin. “I was afraid to come out to my dad and thought he would hate me, but he didn’t — my dad didn’t care.”

The conversation was emotional and revealed deep feelings about growing up in families where acceptance was often challenging or non-existent. Trey Kenyon, Senior Personnel Specialist with the Administrative Services Division, shared that she admired her sister, who provided a sense of safety and support. Trey recounted her journey of coming out and the trauma of being outed. “My sister was the last person that I told,” said Trey. “When my sister asked me why she was the last to find out, I told her that I never had to worry.” To this day, Trey trusts and confides in her sister.

Carl Baum, Administrative Manager with the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division, discussed finding comfort in school and relying on his teachers as role models. His story highlighted the importance of understanding and acceptance and helped to establish his activism for gay rights, including his efforts against Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative intended to ban same-sex marriage. “I had to grow up very early,” said Carl. “As I got older, and learned that I was gay, and the things I learned in science class – ‘I’m not confused,’ I told myself, and I used my teachers as my role models, because my teachers had answers.”

Nicholas Kimutis, a Research Scientist with the Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division, found inspiration in science fiction and public figures like George Takei. Nicholas stressed the significance of visibility and the influence of cultural icons in shaping his identity and courage. “I grew up in Southern Illinois, in a small agricultural community. I sought my mentors in science fiction,” said Nicholas. “I grew up watching Star Trek and Spock inspired me along with George Takei, about his life and internment camps as a gay person.”

Leticia Regalado, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Coordinator with the Office of Civil Rights, shared her coming-out story and the challenges she faced, especially within her family. She shared the role of her sister Maria in her journey and the importance of representation and visibility in agriculture. “I have a son and I didn’t know how I would tell him one day,” recounted Leticia. “My mom wasn’t handling it well and neither were other family members. But then things got better and when I finally told my son. He said he didn’t understand why it was anyone’s business. He said he loved me no matter what!”

The panelists also reflected on what Pride Month means to them. Carl sees it as a celebration of progress and a reminder of ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ rights all over the world. Justin sees it as recognition of the progress made and a time to honor those who fought for equality. Trey highlighted the continuous fight for rights, especially in states with hostile policies towards LGBTQ+ individuals. Nicholas emphasized the importance of visibility in breaking down barriers and fostering acceptance. Leticia focused on the significance of representation and the need for agricultural organizations to participate in Pride Month events.

As we celebrate Pride Month, CDFA honors those who have paved the way and embraces the work that still lies ahead.

Photo: (L-R) Undersecretary Christine Birdsong; Carl Baum, Administrative Manager, Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division; Trey Kenyon, Sr. Personnel Specialist, Administrative Services Division; Nicholas Kimutis, Research Scientist, Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division; Leticia Regalado, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights; (joining virtually, bottom right) Justin Hopper, Chief, Office of Civil Rights.