Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Author Archives: Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Secretary Ross in Mexico: Climate, Trade and Collaboration

It’s an honor to join Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis on California’s Trade Mission to Mexico. As the state’s largest trading partner and fifth largest agricultural export destination, Mexico is a key international partner for California. Over the last two days, … Continue reading

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Earth Day on the Farm: Celebrating Soils, Science and Solutions

By Karen Ross, SecretaryCalifornia Department of Food & Agriculture When we celebrate Earth Day, we come together to recognize our earth as a giant, complex ecosystem that we – humans – have pushed out of balance. Why is it a … Continue reading

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Every meal is a celebration: An appreciation of the work CDFA does in support of agriculture

I had a nice breakfast today. Covered all of my food groups. It was fresh and tasty – which is pretty easy to do in California, even when we’re just emerging from winter. And I thought, as I often do … Continue reading

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Secretary Ross meets with Algerian Minister of Agriculture and business delegation

Secretary Ross: “It was a very good visit about opportunities to cooperate and also to learn from one another. The discussion included the possibilities of future partnerships that would allow California to be a supporting team member on Algeria’s exciting … Continue reading

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Dutch agricultural counsel visits CDFA

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Marianne Vaes, Agricultural Counselor for the embassy of the Netherlands in Washington DC. Counselor Vaes was here with her advisor Caroline Feitel to build upon our close relationship with the Netherlands. After … Continue reading

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Happy National Farmers Day From CDFA!

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross Here in California, harvest is practically a rolling, year-round occurrence. It’s just one of the many blessings of this wonderful place if you’re a farmer. It’s fitting, though, that National Farmers Day comes at the … Continue reading

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Science and can-do spirit intersect impressively in Southern California pest programs

A trip to Southern California this week was a welcome reminder of the remarkable work our employees do to protect us from threats posed by invasive species. My first stop was the joint CDFA/USDA Medfly Preventative Release Program in Los … Continue reading

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Public-Private Partnership Creates @the Grounds in Placer County

The invitation for the ‘Grand Reveal’ this morning in Roseville promised: “See what happens when you take 60 acres, stir in $10 million, and toss for 304 days!”  I was happy to make the drive to Placer County to learn … Continue reading

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Reflections on Earth Day and the role of farmers and ranchers

As Earth Day was celebrated this weekend, I couldn’t help but think about how lucky I am to have grown up on a farm with a dad who inspired me with his love for the land.  His life-long curiosity led … Continue reading

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California Grown goes to Disneyland

When it comes to featuring nutritious California-grown foods, two of the best built-in ambassadors we have are in Anaheim – Disneyland and the California Adventure park. They host millions of visitors from around the world every year, providing an excellent … Continue reading

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