Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: Agricultural Education


Baby Boomers passing baton to Millennials, with changes expected for food industry.

Findings from a joint study announced recently by Jeffries, a global investment bank, and AlixPartners, a global business advisory firm, suggest that demographic shifts between now and 2020 will drive significant changes in the food industry. The study, called Trouble in Aisle … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Community-based Food System, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

California agriculture leads the nation in funding for specialty crops

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-035 The United States Department of Agriculture announced funding today for the 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received more than $18 million out of the total $55 million awarded nationwide. The SCBGP provides grants to states to … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Specialty Crops | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Farm to School Programs Teach, Nourish

I love visiting schools. When I see all those young faces I see the future – bright-eyed children who will be leading us in 20, 30 or 40 years. Those of us in positions of responsibility have an obligation to … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Award-Winning European Grapevine Moth Eradication Program

Several years ago, CDFA detected a new pest in California – the European grapevine moth, an invasive species that targets a number of plants, notably grapes. Because California is the leading grape producer in the country and one of the … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Invasive Species | Tagged , | Leave a comment

News Release – Medfly Infestation Triggers Quarantine in Rancho Cucamonga Area

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-031 A quarantine has been declared due to a Mediterranean fruit fly infestation detected in the Rancho Cucamonga area of San Bernardino County. Three adult males and one unmated female were detected in two traps on August 16, 2012. The … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural Education, Invasive Species, Specialty Crops | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Hollywood is Buzzing with Food … But Where are the Farmers? From the Food Dialogues

http://www.fooddialogues.com/posts/2012/08/06/hollywood-is-buzzing-with-food-but-where-are-the-farmers By George Motz Unlike stars in Hollywood, “food” may not have an agent, but it has definitely reached celebrity status across America. From documentary films to reality culinary challenges to stand-‘n-stir TV shows, the entertainment industry has created a … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What happens to school gardens in summer?

http://grist.org/food/no-more-trowels-no-more-roots-what-happens-to-school-gardens-in-summer/ The biggest irony of the school garden is that it often goes untended during summer, the peak season. This is no coincidence; what we now call “summer vacation” used to be the time when most parents needed their children … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Access, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

News Release – CDFA to establish climate change consortium to help specialty crop growers plan for future impacts

California’s specialty crops account for more than half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts as well as nearly $7 billion dollars of exports worldwide. California’s production of diverse specialty crops is threatened by potential climate-related phenomena, including reduced water … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Climate Change, Environment, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

California State Fair brings together farming, heritage and communities

I had a chance to visit the California State Fair this week and, as the fair nears the end of another successful run at Cal Expo, I thought I would take a moment to share my thoughts about its meaning … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural Education, Fairs, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Antelope Valley Fair leads the way with commitment to help develop future farmers and ranchers

One of the most serious challenges facing farming is a world food demand that is expected to double by 2050. And while it’s true that there are opportunities within any challenge, this particular one is made more complex by the … Continue reading

Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Succession Planning | Tagged , | 1 Comment