If you’re a farmer, rancher or food manufacturer interested in expanding market and trade opportunities, there are several upcoming seminars that could help. CDFA and the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) will discuss international programs and services that support domestic and international trade development.
The seminars will focus on funding opportunities and trade events, and they will provide one-on-one export counseling for businesses that are interested.
Join CDFA at these upcoming events:
10:30am to Noon (With optional one-on-one consultations following)
Sept 23 – Oakland (Oakland City Center Conference Center – 500 12th Street, Suite 105)
Sept 24 – Salinas (Monterey County Farm Bureau – 1140 Abbott St., Ste. C)
Also, don’t miss your chance to join CDFA at the WUSATA State Pavilion at Winter FancyFaire – a leading national value-added specialty foods exhibition in San Diego this January!
This September there’s more than one reason to raise a glass. September 1 kicked off California Wine Month, officially designated by the California State Legislature as a statewide recognition of one of the world’s most iconic winegrowing regions. And on September 9, the Golden State marks its 175th birthday.
“California Wine Month is a celebration of the people, places and traditions that make our wines truly unique,” said Robert P. Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute. “California wine brings people together across cultures and generations, and behind every bottle is a community that supports more than 1.1 million U.S. jobs and contributes $170 billion to the economy. This month is a reminder of how deeply rooted wine is in our state’s identity and how vital it is to our future.”
Throughout September, wineries across the Golden State are hosting California Wine Month events and activities, from behind-the-scenes harvest tours and grape stomps to wine and food festivals.
“California Wine Month shines a light on the hard work and heritage of our state’s winegrowers, many of them multigenerational farmers who care deeply about their land, their communities and the future,” said Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “Wine connects people to California in a way that’s uniquely personal. Whether you’re walking a vineyard at harvest or enjoying a bottle at your table, you’re experiencing something truly rooted in our state’s culture and values.”
From vineyard to table, California wine brings out the best in local flavors, from Sonoma oysters to Santa Maria tri-tip. Back by popular demand, the “Iconic California Dishes to Celebrate California Wine Month” e-book offers delicious inspiration for pairing local wines with California’s seasonal bounty.
“California wine country is not one singular destination or experience,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “It’s the perfect blend of world-class wines, stunning landscapes and unforgettable hospitality. California welcomes visitors from around the world to explore our wine regions, where every tasting is a chance to connect, reflect and raise a glass to what makes the state special.”
10 Great Moments in California Wine History
California’s wine community has come a long way during the last 175 years — and it’s just getting started. Here are some of the most memorable and impactful moments in the state’s wine history.
1850: California gains statehood. This sets the stage for the wine industry’s growth as Gold Rush migration to Northern California spurs demand and vineyard plantings.
1933: Prohibition is repealed, allowing wine sales to resume.
1934: Wine Institute is founded to support the California wine industry’s rebirth.
1960s–1970s: A new wave of wineries across California usher in a modern era, pairing innovation in winemaking with welcoming visitor experiences that set the stage for global recognition.
1967: Table wines outsell dessert wines by volume in the U.S. for the first time since Prohibition.
1976: At the Judgment of Paris, California wines beat France in a blind tasting, gaining worldwide recognition.
1993: Sales of wines labeled by grape name surpass generic wine sales in the U.S.
2002: Industry leaders introduce the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing.
2004: California Wine Month is established to celebrate the wine community’s cultural and economic contributions.
2005: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that states can’t favor local wineries over out-of-state ones when it comes to shipping wine directly to consumers. This gives wine lovers across the country better access to California wines.
California Grown was formed in 2001 to increase awareness and consumption of high-quality California agricultural products. The organization is represented today by more than two dozen commodity organizations and dozens of agricultural entities licensed to use the popular California Grown brand.
Photos – Top, the Denmark delegation; (L) Undersecretary Birdsong with Ditte Juul Jorgensen, Director-General for Energy at the European Commission; (R) with Jacob Jensen, Denmark’s Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
This week, CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong joined a California delegation in Denmark to focus on building academic and business collaborations on the bioeconomy. California and Denmark share a commitment to fostering a bio-based economy, using agriculture and other industry sectors to reduce carbon emissions to meet carbon neutrality goals.
Joining representatives from University of California campuses, state government agencies, and other industry partners, Undersecretary Birdsong met with key businesses and government organizations interested in partnering on next steps. These steps include not only academic collaboration, but also potential partnerships with ongoing state-sponsored initiatives related to agricultural technology, workforce development, and a circular economy.
In working to further a bio-based economy for California’s agriculture sector, there is need to further ecosystems of innovation, accelerate the delivery process to farmers and ranchers, and bring more partners to the table. Denmark is a valuable partner and colleague for California in this space.
Earlier this year, Produce Safety Program staff engaged with multiple partners, stakeholders and conferences across California to discuss food safety topics, including the new Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Final Rule.
Additional opportunities to engage with CDFA’s Produce Safety Program include:
What you need to know: As part of California Jobs First, the state is awarding $80 million through the Regional Investment Initiative to fund ready-to-go projects that will support more than 23,000 jobs and drive sustainable economic growth across the state.
SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Newsom and the California Jobs First Council announced $80 million in funding to support eleven projects across California. Projects are aligned with the state’s strategic sectors and located in seven economic regions and 18 counties. The funding continues the Governor’s work to create more family-supporting jobs and prioritize industry sectors for future growth.
“We’re not just talking about creating jobs and growing our economy – we’re putting real dollars to work right now in communities across California. These investments will build momentum and deliver measurable progress in the months and ears ahead, providing regions in every corner of the state with new tools to create good-paying jobs and strengthen local industries from the ground up.” Governor Gavin Newsom
Today’s awards are part of a two-phased approach to distribute a total of $125 million in implementation funding to projects that advance the “Accelerate” or “Bet” sectors, as outlined in the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint.
“Today marks a major milestone for California Jobs First – the moment when years of planning and collaboration turn into real projects, real jobs, and real impact. These awards reflect our shared commitment to a bottom-up, community-driven approach that builds on local strengths, drives innovation, and ensures every region across California has the opportunity to thrive.” — Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of GO-Biz, and Stewart Knox, Secretary of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency
Round one of this funding is being awarded to four project clusters as part of the Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative, each focused on a different sector. In total, these projects are expected to support more than 23,000 jobs across California.
Aerospace & Defense: $16,951,467 was awarded to two projects designed to provide ecosystem support and uplift the aerospace & defense sector’s infrastructure and workforce in the Central Coast.
Agtech & Farm Equipment: $28,632,344 was awarded to four projects intended to strengthen the agtech & farm equipment sector, targeting workforce development, ecosystem support, and infrastructure for the North State, Redwood Coast, North San Joaquin Valley, Central San Joaquin Valley and Southern Border Regions. (More information below)
Bioeconomy: $10,367,000 was awarded to provide ecosystem support and bolster the bioeconomy sector’s infrastructure in the North San Joaquin Valley Region. (More information below)
Life Sciences: $23,920,000 was awarded to four life sciences projects in Los Angeles County, aimed at providing infrastructure and ecosystem support.
California Jobs First: A bold plan, realized locally
In February, Governor Newsom released the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint – a new economic vision for California’s future. The Blueprint, which is being implemented by the nine state agencies on the California Jobs First Council, outlines key initiatives to support regional growth, invest in 21st century job training, create an attractive environment for job creators and strengthen California’s innovation economy – all to help increase access to good-paying jobs for Californians.
Today’s implementation investments build on the $182 million already distributed to the 13 Jobs First regions in recent years to design and pilot projects tailored to the unique needs of their local communities. This grassroots funding approach has proven to be a powerful tool in driving economic growth and fostering innovation at the community level by empowering regions to prioritize what impacts them most.
What comes next
Given the momentum gained by many regions and industry-focused coalitions across the state, the California Jobs First Council is expediting the timeline for the second round of implementation funding, which will kick off in October 2025 rather than January 2026.
Updates on timing and the RFP can be found here, and you can follow California Jobs First here to stay updated on the latest developments.
Creating jobs statewide
Through the Master Plan for Career Education, Governor Newsom aims to create additional pathways to good paying jobs by serving 500,000 apprentices by 2029. To reach this goal, the Department of Industrial Relations and its Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) is awarding over $94 million this year to boost access to apprenticeships, and this funding aims to serve 52,000 apprentices and pre-apprentices.
In August, DAS awarded $26 million in Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship grants to 25 construction apprenticeship programs to increase access to construction careers for women and disadvantaged communities. The first rounds of the ERiCA Grant served 1,087 apprentices and 222 pre-apprentices.
In June, DAS awarded $15.4 million in California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) grants to 29 youth apprenticeship programs. The funds will align youth who are often out of school or unemployed with pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that can lead to employment in high-demand fields, such as healthcare and education, setting them on a path to upward mobility and higher earning power.
NOTE — Funding Details for Agriculture and Bioeconomy
Agriculture
Coalition Lead: UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)
Sector Focus: Agtech & Farm Equipment
Regional Focus: North State, Redwood Coast, North San Joaquin Valley, Central San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, Southern Border
Award Amount: $28,632,344.18 • Leveraged Funds: $25M
Projects: UC Agriculture and Natural Resources – $15,125,793 (Ecosystem Support) — Develop the CA AgTech Alliance to serve as a statewide network to convene regional actors, promote workforce development, launch an accelerator fund, and support business attraction.
Chico State – $1,272,700 (Infrastructure) — Support the utilization of ag tech among small farmers, including more sustainable irrigation equipment and fenceless cattle grazing.
Community Foundation of Merced County – $9,233,851.18 (Infrastructure) — Develop and expand three smart farms (farms that promote the use of technology in agriculture), including at UC Merced focused on R&D, and at Merced College focused on workforce development and support for early-stage startups.
Foundation for California Community Colleges – $3,000,000 (Workforce Development) — Expand the ag tech certificate program (utilizing credit for prior learning and competency-based education, which was launched in the Central Valley, to 3 additional community colleges across the state.
Bioeconomy
Coalition Lead: BEAM Circular
Sector Focus: Bioeconomy
Regional Focus: North San Joaquin Valley
Award Amount: $10,367,000 • Leveraged Funds: $22M
Project: BEAM Circular – $10,367,000 (Ecosystem Support) — Develop the California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus to house the accelerator program and expand on the existing work including business support with an investment fund (opening 2026).
CDFA’s Information Technology department received three awards last night at the annual “Best of California” awards at the California Government Innovation Summit in Sacramento. The award series recognizes state and local government as well as educational organizations for innovative technology projects that improve public services and government operations in California.
CDFA’s awards were in the following areas:
Wi-Fi Improvements — The Infrastructure Operations Section of IT worked to improve Wi-fi capabilities at a number of CDFA locations, including Border Inspection Stations in the northern part of the state. As a result, the work of the stations to ensure that certain items entering California comply with laws and regulations occurs more efficiently than ever before, and that benefits the environment and commerce, as well as consumers depending on those items.
CDFA Web Team — IT specialist Jarrett Heather and the Web Team received an Excellence in Customer Experience award for their expertise in creating stunning, accessible websites that meet ADA standards and support agency participation at fairs and trade shows. Jarrett and the Web Team’s in-house design solutions have resulted in visually striking, high-resolution banners that have saved costs and inspired creativity.
Changes to Support a Mobile/Hybrid Workforce — CDFA’s Intune Migration Team placed 1,400 mobile devices and 150 different applications onto a centralized cloud-based platform that has simplified application management while reducing IT workload, improving security, and increasing efficiency for the agency’s mobile/hybrid workforce.
Congratulations to these award recipients, Agency Chief Information Officer Fred Gomez, and the entire IT team at CDFA!
Today, August 26, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) proudly recognizes California Farmworker Day—established in 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom to honor California’s farmworkers. At the height of harvest, this day shines a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions of farmworkers, whose hard work sustains our families, communities, and economy.
In a special message, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross shares her gratitude and appreciation for the men and women who work in fields, orchards, dairies, and beyond to provide healthy, delicious California-grown food for 40 million Californians as well as the nation and the world.
Farmworkers are at the heart of California agriculture—contributing to an industry valued at nearly $60 billion and to rural communities. Their dedication, often in tough conditions, reflects resilience, skill, and pride. As Secretary Ross emphasizes, investing in the well-being of farmworkers and their families is essential to ensuring a bright future for agriculture and for California.
We invite you to watch Secretary Ross’s message honoring California’s farmworkers.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined CDFA Farm to School Regional Lead Jennifer Rogge at the California Cattle Council’s “Fueling Students Success through School Meals” event at the California Secretary of State’s office on Aug. 18. The open house-style event featured a locally sourced school lunch provided by the Lodi Unified School District — held in the top right photo by CDFA Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs Rachael O’Brien. It also allowed attendees to speak to members of the California Farm to School Network, including (bottom right) Vacaville Unified School District Director Juan Cardon, and discover how CDFA regional advisors across California are available to assist all school districts offer locally grown food as part of school meals.
CDFA is on the front lines of a silent battle, one that impacts California’s horses and the equine industry every single day. While outbreaks like bird flu may get more headlines, the battle to safeguard California’s equine community against diseases is waged daily through thoughtful, consistent effort.
CDFA’s Animal Health Branch works to protect horses from these threats — diseases like Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) and Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). In fact, nearly every day since the start of 2025, California has had at least one, if not multiple, equine disease quarantines actively in place.
EIA: An Invisible Threat
Equine Infectious Anemia is a bloodborne disease with no cure or vaccine, often leading to a heartbreaking decision for owners: euthanasia. It can be spread by biting insects, but more often is spread by needles used on more than one horse. A significant hotspot for EIA exposure is the clandestine world of unsanctioned quarterhorse racing. Because sanctioned racing is highly regulated to ensure fairness and protect the horses, unsanctioned tracks have become a rapidly rising “workaround” for those who want to race without rules. Over the last five years, 68 EIA cases have been identified, with all but two directly linked to this high-risk community.
As of June 2025, there have already been 5 EIA cases, leading to quarantines for 51 horses across 4 premises.
Annual CDFA EIA tests performed on California horses
Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy, or EHM, is caused by EHV-1, a herpesvirus that can lurk quietly in an infected horse–showing no signs of disease–and activate at any time. When a horse is sick with EHV-1, it is contagious to other horses by direct contact or contaminated equipment. Unfortunately, some EHV-1 infections can have catastrophic impacts on a horse’s nervous system. While many horses recover with supportive care, others must be euthanized. In 2022, an EHV-1 outbreak led to approximately 1,400 horses being quarantined across California.
Fortunately, recent research is refining our understanding of EHV-1.
One of the most critical discoveries shows that many horses initially test negative for EHV-1 when they first show a fever, only to test positive a few days later. This was strikingly evident during California’s 2022 EHV-1 outbreak, when nearly 40 percent of confirmed cases initially tested negative at the first sign of fever, only to turn positive upon re-test two to three days later. This finding directly led to a change in nationwide protocols, now recommending repeat testing for febrile horses if their initial test is negative.
CDFA case numbers for EHV-1 over the past five years illustrate how consistently the agency deals with this challenge
California’s large equine community means that CDFA’s robust disease response often sets the standard for other states. Actions like quarantine duration are quickly adopted nationwide. CDFA is committed to science-based improvements and flexible solutions, understanding that every facility presents its own unique challenges for isolation and containment.
Staying ahead of disease threats while also responding swiftly to outbreaks means the system is working well. It also means the equine industry is improving its biosecurity, and that horse owners are collaborating closely with CDFA, veterinarians and other professional organizations on preventative measures. It’s a testament to effective management and a shared commitment to keeping California’s horses healthy.
For more details on each of these equine diseases, please visit:
