Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Category Archives: AG Vision


Secretary Ross Among “Health Happens Hero” Award Recipients

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is among eight individuals recognized by the California Endowment as a “Health Happens Hero” for her work in promoting the use of California Grown products in school meals.  Connecting farms-to-schools, improving the nutritional health of school … Continue reading

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California leads the way as organic agriculture spreads its wings from coast-to-coast

  The USDA has released its first-ever survey of organic farmers to determine that organic sales across the country in 2011 totaled more than $3.5 billion, with nearly 40 percent of that –almost $1.4 billion–coming from California.  The development is discussed further … Continue reading

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Baby Boomers passing baton to Millennials, with changes expected for food industry.

Findings from a joint study announced recently by Jeffries, a global investment bank, and AlixPartners, a global business advisory firm, suggest that demographic shifts between now and 2020 will drive significant changes in the food industry. The study, called Trouble in Aisle … Continue reading

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California agriculture leads the nation in funding for specialty crops

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-035 The United States Department of Agriculture announced funding today for the 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received more than $18 million out of the total $55 million awarded nationwide. The SCBGP provides grants to states to … Continue reading

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Fresno Bee – State Ag Board Tours Valley Water Bank

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/11/2988334/valley-water-bank-showcased.html Fresno County farmer Marvin Meyers is proud of the work he has done to develop a 3,000-acre water bank and wildlife project. And on Tuesday, he was able to show it off to members of the California State Board … Continue reading

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Farm to School Programs Teach, Nourish

I love visiting schools. When I see all those young faces I see the future – bright-eyed children who will be leading us in 20, 30 or 40 years. Those of us in positions of responsibility have an obligation to … Continue reading

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State Board of Food and Ag to focus on water at Sept. 11 meeting in Mendota

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-032 The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss a variety of water issues at its upcoming meeting on September 11, 2012. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Spreckels Sugar Company … Continue reading

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The Award-Winning European Grapevine Moth Eradication Program

Several years ago, CDFA detected a new pest in California – the European grapevine moth, an invasive species that targets a number of plants, notably grapes. Because California is the leading grape producer in the country and one of the … Continue reading

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Fairs and Farmers are Key Partners with Local Food Banks

The success of food banks is based on relationships in local communities with individuals, faith-based organizations, retailers and food service businesses -just to name a few.  Additional partnerships with food producers and processors assist with sourcing local, fresh foods that can be … Continue reading

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Steam shown to kill sudden oak death pathogen- From SF Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Steam-shown-to-kill-Calif-plant-disease-3788696.php Scientists say they have discovered a new way to kill California’s most virulent forest- and plant-depleting disease, and it turns out the technique is as old as steam cleaning. Steam, in fact, is what researchers at Dominican University in … Continue reading

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