This week, CDFA is celebrating and highlighting the importance of pollinators in our state’s agriculture. National Pollinator Week (June 17-23) promotes the valuable services provided by pollinators such as bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies.

Pollinators are critical to California’s agriculture. The overwhelming majority of food crops rely at least partially on some type of insect pollination. Without pollinators, many of California’s farmers could not grow the quantity and quality or not be able to produce at all the crops we enjoy. CDFA encourages everyone to learn about the significant role of pollinators in our ecosystem, and especially our food supply.

Of the 115 most-grown foods around the world, 87 depend on pollinators. The United States grows more than 100 crops that rely on pollinators — 90 percent of them are pollinated by honey bees. Collectively, these crops make up a third of the typical American diet. Some examples:

• Almonds
• Apples
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Cranberries
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Pears
• Pumpkins
• Raspberries
• Squash
• Strawberries
• Sunflowers
• Tomatoes

In California, it is estimated that one third of the value of California agriculture comes from pollinator- dependent crops!

Native pollinators reside in California’s natural habitats and provide over 35% of the pollination services to the state’s crops, the majority of the rest is provided by honey bees.

Pollinators face challenges and are in decline. There are different reasons for the decline of different species. Many species are facing issues due to climate change and loss of habitat. In terms of honey bees there are the four P’s: Poor nutrition, Pests, Pathogens, and Pesticides.

However, one of the biggest reasons for native pollinator decline is habitat loss.

What is California doing for pollinators?

The 2021 California State Budget (Senate Bill 170, Skinner), dedicated $15 million to CDFA for the Pollinator Habitat Program, which provides funding for the establishment of pollinator habitat on agricultural lands throughout California. CDFA was tasked to administer the Pollinator Habitat Program and to prioritize the planning of native habitats for the benefit of native biodiversity and the use of locally appropriate native plant seed mixes when feasible. This has allowed experienced organizations to work directly with farmers and ranchers to install habitats and implement management practices that support pollinators.

NOTE — Patricia Bohls, M.S., a Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist and Biodiversity Coordinator with CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation, will be speaking later this week about pollinators with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Beyond Honey Bees: Exploring the Diversity of California’s Pollinators

Presented by: Patricia Bohls, M.S. and Hillary Sardiñas, PhD

Thursday, June 20

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Pacific)

Register at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Lectures

If you would like to find out more about CDFA’s Pollinator Habitat Program, please visit the program website and sign up for email notifications.

CDFA encourages Californians to vote for their favorite farmers’ market in the 2024 America’s Farmers’ Market Celebration (AMFC)! This summer, American Farmland Trust is giving away $15,000 in prizes to the markets that receive the most votes.

This is an annual ranking of the top farmers’ markets in the United States, as voted on by the public. Since 2008, AFMC has highlighted the important role farmers’ markets play in communities across the nation while celebrating the farmers, staff and volunteers that make markets happen. While farmers’ markets have long served as pillars of local food in urban centers and town squares, since 2008 AFMC has helped them gain the national recognition they deserve as essential businesses that empower farmers and help communities thrive.

Visit https://markets.farmland.org/ for more information, and vote for your favorite farmers’ market via the interactive map by July 31!

From a USDA news release

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced awards of $50 million to 141 awardees in 40 states and Puerto Rico, through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program), reaching 177 unique agricultural operations and over 11,000 workers. California will receive $4.4 million from the program, for 10 different recipients.

The awards will help improve the resiliency of the U.S. food supply chain by addressing agriculture labor challenges and instability, by strengthening protections for farmworkers, and by expanding legal pathways for labor migration.

“These awards will largely support small and mid-sized farms to ensure they can hire and retain the workers they need to be competitive in the market, while also lifting up rural communities across the country,” said Secretary Vilsack. “Farmworkers make an incredibly important contribution to food and agriculture and ensure we have food on our tables every day. Improving working conditions and quality of life for farmworkers, both U.S. based workers and those that come to our country to work, is one key step in building a stronger, more resilient food supply chain. The Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting employers and farmworkers alike.”

The California recipients are as follows:

1. Faridhkot Farms, Fresno County — $200,000 for training modules to cover workplace safety, equipment handling, and emergency response, complemented by regular health screenings for early identification of occupational health issues.
2. Drummond Ranch, Los Angeles County — $1,200,000 to improve training, development and retention of workers by enhancing their needed skill sets and by also creating an employee housing initiative as well as working to improve compensation and worker benefits.
3. Oya Organics, San Benito County — $200,000 for hiring, onboarding, recruitment/consulting fees, direct labor costs for employees, administrative costs for compliance with program commitments, and housing, rent and maintenance costs.
4. AgriCareInc, Tulare County — $400,000 to support ongoing efforts to benefit a growing pool of employees with new opportunities for professional growth in the agricultural industry. This investment will also allow AgriCare to onboard 75 additional hires.
5. Alexandre Dairy, Del Norte County — $600,000 to help stabilize current labor shortages with a projected 107 new hires, which would help safeguard the company’s agricultural supply chain.
6. Cabrera Contracting Inc, Monterey County — $720,000 to bolster its workforce and further ongoing efforts to provide employees with training on emergency plans and procedures.
7. Healthy Acres LLC, Ventura County — $100,000 to address workforce stability, regulatory compliance, and employee welfare challenges.
8. JSM Organics Inc, Santa Cruz County — $200,000 for employee recruitment and retention.
9. JVKS Harvest Solutions LLC, Monterey County — $720,000 to to improve food options for H-2A employees; provide employees digital access to their work and training experience to support career advancement; and modernize training for frontline leaders to include skills like effective communication and conflict resolution.
10. King Bee Apiarys, Kern County — $100,000 to help address immediate labor needs.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is accepting nominations for its annual Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Achievement Awards. Nominations will be accepted through June 30, 2024. 

The DPR IPM Achievement Awards honor the innovations and achievements of individuals and organizations leading in the adoption of safe, effective, and sustainable IPM practices in agricultural, urban, and wildland settings throughout California. IPM—any approach that uses the least toxic yet effective method to solve pest problems—is a foundational element of the state’s approach to accelerate a systemwide transition to more sustainable pest management.

DPR is seeking nominations that reflect IPM and SPM practices and leadership by and for Californians of all cultural and economic backgrounds, and inclusive of all settings where pests need to be managed, including urban centers, agricultural areas, and wildlands. Examples of IPM practices used by past recipients include managing a successful regenerative farm, applying new technology to traditional IPM techniques, and facilitating pest management communication and education for urban settings.

Nominations may be submitted here.

Two special investigators in CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards (DMS), Jamie Quiroz and Dirk Rudolph, were recently honored by the US Attorney’s Office at an “Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice” awards ceremony hosted by the federal agency.

The investigative work of Quiroz and Rudolph gathered crucial evidence of suspects, locations, vehicles and equipment used in criminal activity; evidence that led to successful prosecution of several people involved in skimmer fraud (stolen credit and debit card information) conducted across multiple southern California counties.

The FBI estimates that skimmer fraud costs businesses and consumers more than $1 billion a year. The work of these special investigators demonstrate the ongoing commitment of DMS to protect both the public and private businesses from device manipulation, fraud, and identity theft.

Congratulations Jaime and Dirk!

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross recently joined colleagues in the Newsom Administration for tours of three important farmworker housing sites in Salinas and Gilroy. The tours emphasized the efforts of key agencies and partners collaborating to improve living conditions for farmworkers.

https://youtu.be/9nX_8Qn5iCk?feature=shared

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month and yesterday CDFA showed its support for the LGBTQ+ community with more than forty five employees marching in the Sacramento Pride Parade!

With CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and several members of the agency’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee leading the way, our team gathered at Southside Park and made its way to the State Capitol, celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion every step of the way. 

“Marching in the Sacramento Pride Parade is one tangible moment for our agency to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community,” said Secretary Ross. “At CDFA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. I’m honored to have joined our agency, our DEI Committee, and all who participated in this event.”

A huge thank you to everyone who marched with us and helped make the event a success

CDFA’s California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) supports shoppers using nutrition benefits such as CalFresh by empowering them to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables at participating Certified Farmers’ Markets and retail outlets.

For every benefit dollar spent, shoppers receive an additional CNIP dollar – via programs like CNIP grantee Ecology Center’s “Market Match” coupons discussed in this video – that can be spent on fruits and vegetables at the market, within set parameters.

https://youtu.be/MbVpQweCCHw?si=PPTOh0aJabPmT69x

CDFA is proud to celebrate and honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In this video, State Board of Food and Ag member Rachelle Arizmendi shares her inspiring pathway to leadership in politics and public service with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

https://youtu.be/j6ieFvcn6k4