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Category Archives: Specialty Crops

Climate Smart Agriculture Online Webinar: Netherlands & California Discuss Saline Agriculture

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Office of Public Affairs

Last month CDFA hosted a climate smart agriculture webinar in partnership with the Netherlands and the University of California’s World Food Center addressing salinity in specialty crops within California’s Central Valley and along coastal areas. The webinar is now available … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Drought, Specialty Crops | 1 Comment

Farm-to-Food Bank Month a time for sharing and caring

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

More than four-million people in California are food-insecure and need a little help. It just doesn’t seem right to have that many people lacking nourishment in a state that produces such a bounty of healthy food. In recognition of that need, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community-based Food System, Food Access, Nutrition, Specialty Crops, State Board of Food and Agriculture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From the Growing California video series – Drought Landscaping

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Office of Public Affairs

The latest segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Drought Landscaping.”

Posted in Climate Change, Drought, Specialty Crops | 1 Comment

Export Training Course Comes to CDFA

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Office of Public Affairs

This April, CDFA will be jointly hosting CALAGX 2015 – the only comprehensive export training program available to California’s specialty crop growers.  The program provides intensive training to help companies move their products into foreign markets, led by instructors who … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Marketing, Specialty Crops, Trade | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

USDA Reopens Chinese Market Access for California Citrus

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Office of Public Affairs

USDA News Release Washington, D.C. – Aug. 22, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that California citrus farmers will be able to resume exports to China this season. California citrus exports are valued at $30 million annually. “Resuming … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Marketing, Specialty Crops, Trade | Tagged | Leave a comment

Want to be happier? Eat your vegetables! – from the Silver Lining Psychology blog

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Office of Public Affairs

By Patricia Thompson When you were a kid, did your mother urge you to eat your vegetables?  If your home-life was anything like mine, you were presented with a constant array of veggies at dinner time.   Some, like corn … Continue reading →

Posted in Farmers' Markets, Nutrition, Specialty Crops | Tagged , | 1 Comment

CDFA Press Release – Leading the Way on Specialty Crops: California Garners More Than $19 Million from Federal Block Grant Program

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Office of Public Affairs

SACRAMENTO, April 17, 2014 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that California has been allocated $19.76 million in funding for the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The agency awarded approximately $66 million nationwide for … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Environment, Food Safety, Specialty Crops, Trade | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

An American Grown State Dinner – Featuring America’s Cut Flower Industry

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Office of Public Affairs

From the USDA Blog – Last week, President and Mrs. Obama hosted France’s President, Francois Hollande for a State Dinner on the South Lawn of the White House. State Dinners are a way to celebrate U.S. relations with international friends … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Marketing, Specialty Crops | Tagged , | 1 Comment

State Fair Farm a valued partner in ag education, food bank support

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

I was pleased this week to make a return visit to the California State Fair, which is now 160 years old and still going strong as a vibrant destination and showplace for the best that California has to offer. From the very beginning, … Continue reading →

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

Robots to Revolutionize Farming, Ease Labor Woes – From the Associated Press via SF Gate

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Office of Public Affairs

  http://www.sfgate.com/business/technology/article/Robots-to-revolutionize-farming-ease-labor-woes-4665421.php#photo-4914491 By GOSIA WOZNIACKA and TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press SALINAS, Calif. (AP) — On a windy morning in California’s Salinas Valley, a tractor pulled a wheeled, metal contraption over rows of budding iceberg lettuce plants. Engineers from Silicon Valley … Continue reading →

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Farm Labor, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment