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

It takes a lot of hands to bring a crop to harvest, starting with farmers, farm workers and ranchers. They’re responsible for California’s ongoing status as the leading agricultural state in the country and one of the leading Ag economies … Continue reading →

I was honored to have an opportunity this week to visit the world-class Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and learn about some of the cutting-edge research underway that has value to agriculture. The Berkeley lab is an example of our lengthy and … Continue reading →

A great meeting late Friday with Vietnam Vice Minister Tran Thanh Nam and his delegation. They were in California for farm visits, time with UC Davis and to continue discussions on climate smart agriculture that began during my visit to … Continue reading →

  On August 13 we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Davis Farmers’ Market. It is everything a Farmers’ market should be: a place to show the incredible diversity, quality and bounty of what our farmers produce. Where eaters can … Continue reading →

As Californians, we are lucky to live in one of the most agriculturally productive places in the world, producing the variety we need for a well-balanced diet. We are constantly reminded of this as we travel through the diverse microclimates … Continue reading →

My former boss at the USDA, Tom Vilsack, recently signed a proclamation designating August 7-13, 2016 as “National Farmers Market Week.” This is the 17th annual event showcasing the important role that farmers markets play in local economies. We appreciate … Continue reading →

Secretary Ross traveled through Israel this week with a California delegation interested in adaptation strategies for climate change and drought Yesterday, as our travels through Israel neared their conclusion, our delegation participated in the Financial Innovations Lab of the California-Israel … Continue reading →

Secretary Ross is traveling through Israel this week with a California delegation interested in adaptation strategies for climate change and drought Yesterday took us north to the Sea of Galilee. The sense of history here leaves me in a state … Continue reading →

Secretary Ross is traveling through Israel this week with a California delegation interested in adaptation strategies for climate change and drought Yesterday we visited the Ben Gurion University Desert Research Institute. Ben Gurion was Israel’s first prime minister. He believed … Continue reading →