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Author Archives: Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Climate Bond Grants: accepting concept proposals for Healthy Soils Program and State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s  Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS) is pleased to announce that Concept Proposal applications are now open for both the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) and the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) Block Grants, funded by the Climate Bond.  This milestone reflects the continued momentum … Continue reading →

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CDFA’s Information Technology Team Celebrates Major Wins at the 2026 California Public Sector CIO Academy Awards

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

Congratulations to all of our California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Information Technology (IT) Services Division award recipients and teams recognized at the 2026 CIO Academy Awards! Your dedication, expertise, and leadership continue to drive progress across the agency. … Continue reading →

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Common Threads: Reflections on Women, Agriculture, and the Power of Showing Up 

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

By Sureena Johl, CDFA Earlier this month, Secretary Karen Ross attended the 2026 Common Threads North event in Chico, an evening dedicated to recognizing women whose contributions have strengthened agriculture and the communities it sustains.  Common Threads North brought together a diverse group … Continue reading →

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Ag Day at the State Capitol is coming up: April 21

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

California Agriculture Day returns to the west steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Come on out and help us celebrate our agricultural community! Ag Day is presented by CDFA in partnership with the California Foundation for Agriculture in the … Continue reading →

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“Ranch-to-Tray” tours help school nutrition professionals and California ranchers build connections

Posted on April 10, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

From the California Beef Council Tours aim to show how cattle are raised and how beef is processed ROCKLIN, CA – As schools across California work to incorporate more locally sourced foods into their meal programs, many districts are increasingly … Continue reading →

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CDFA Continues Celebrating Healthy Soils Week in California (April 6 – 10)

Posted on April 8, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

Earlier this week, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability kicked off California’s Healthy Soils Week. We started the week with a farm tour alongside the Almond Board of California, where we heard directly … Continue reading →

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CDFA Farm to School Grant “Sparks” support of women in agriculture – expanding local citrus into school meals

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program supports small to midsize farms while increasing healthy food choices for school meals. And in California, where women outpace the nation by making up 38% of producers, that includes supporting women in … Continue reading →

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Celebrating Women Leaders in Agriculture: A Conversation with Secretary Ross and California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we’re excited to share a special conversation between CDFA Secretary Ross and Shannon Douglass, president of the California Farm Bureau. This video offers an insightful and engaging look into leadership, career trajectories, … Continue reading →

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CDFA Secretary Karen Ross inspires future leaders at 98th California FFA State Leadership Conference in Ontario

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

This week, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross traveled to Ontario to join 7,600 students from across the state who gathered for the 98th California FFA State Leadership Conference. Serving as the opening speaker for the Monday program, Secretary Ross helped kick … Continue reading →

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Strengthening Partnerships with Punjabi American growers at the 2026 Kisan Mela in Madera

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Division and Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability participated in the Punjabi American Growers Group’s 2026 Kisan Mela in Madera, connecting directly with growers to share resources on citrus health, sustainable farming, and climate‑resilience programs. Through initiatives such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, and methane reduction efforts, CDFA continues to support producers in improving water efficiency, strengthening soil health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while building trusted relationships within California’s diverse agricultural communities. Continue reading →

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