Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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France’s approach to reducing food waste

  Story from Upworthy.com By Morgan Shoaff What happens to the apples no one buys at the grocery store? You’ve been there: looking at apples (or other produce) and examining what’s in front of you before deciding on “the one.” … Continue reading

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Wet weather doesn’t hinder citrus harvest – from Ag Alert

By Kate Campbell Citrus harvest is progressing between storms, the state’s growers and shippers say, a challenge not seen during the past four years of drought. But weather is only one factor, producers of the state’s signature fruit say. They … Continue reading

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Want a job? Study Food and Agriculture – from Forbes

By Jeffrey Dorfman Many parents and children today worry about both what college costs and whether after spending all that money they will be able to get a good job. In general, college graduates do get jobs after graduation—the unemployment … Continue reading

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USDA awards $3 million for robotics research – more than $1 million for California

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $3 million in grants to advance the use of co-robots that benefit and assist stakeholders in America’s production agriculture field. These three grants are part … Continue reading

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Governor Brown’s budget invests in Climate Smart Agriculture

Governor Brown’s proposed budget for 2016-2017 would provide a total of $485 million to CDFA for its mission to promote and protect agriculture, including appropriations for invasive species programs, food safety and security programs, drought analysis and response, a new … Continue reading

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New Dietary Guidelines from the USDA and HHS

The U.S. Health and Human Services agency and the USDA have released updated nutritional guidelines that encourage Americans to adopt a series of science-based recommendations to improve how they eat to reduce obesity and prevent chronic diseases like Type 2 … Continue reading

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Study praises dairy manure digesters – from the Modesto Bee

By John Holland A new study praises some of the dairy cows in Stanislaus and Merced counties for doing their part to curb climate change. It deals with digesters, which use bacteria to turn manure into electricity. On the one … Continue reading

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California-grown flowers adorn award-winning floats at Rose Parade

Once again I was honored and thrilled to receive an invitation from the California Cut Flower Commission to spend time with them last week at the fabulous Rose Parade. The Commission has developed partnerships with the Buy California Marketing Agreement … Continue reading

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Count me in – farm tours and culinary tastings this January

Courtesy of Visit California Go ahead and stuff yourself this holiday season, foodies, but make sure to leave a little room for California Restaurant Month, which runs throughout the month of January. For 31 flavor-filled days, dining establishments across the state … Continue reading

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Northern California’s hunger for sea urchin – from the San Francisco Chronicle

By Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle Around sunset on a Saturday in late November, surfers were heading into the Point Arena Cove, off the Mendocino County coast, just as diver Alan Lawson of the Chilly Willy was unloading his harvest … Continue reading

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