Category Archives: Uncategorized

By Somini Sengupta In America’s fruit and nut basket, water is now the most precious crop of all. It explains why, amid a historic drought parching much of the American West, a grower of premium sushi rice has concluded that … Continue reading →

Last week, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rt. Hon. George Eustice, hosted California agricultural stakeholders for roundtable discussion on trade and climate. California and the United Kingdom share many … Continue reading →

USDA News Release The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced new resources to inform consumers on how to reduce food waste during the July Fourth holiday and beyond.   According to USDA research, the average family of four wastes … Continue reading →

USDA News Release In the middle of California’s drought, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is meeting with landowners, Tribal representatives, and agencies to assess resource concerns and offer assistance to farmers and ranchers, as well as, forest and Tribal … Continue reading →

BY CDFA Secretary Karen Ross With July 1 and the new fiscal year comes the consolidation of the state’s cannabis programs into the Department of Cannabis Control — part of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.  That means the … Continue reading →

By Savannah Sicurella Drugs, artwork, luxury watches. If there’s a high value good, there’s a black market for it. But nuts? Organized agricultural crime rings have long targeted California’s pistachio and almond growers, and theft is becoming more of a serious concern … Continue reading →

By Dusty Baker A deadly citrus tree disease is resulting in the release of beneficial wasps in San Luis Obispo County. Citrus trees have been under attack from the tree disease Huanglongbing (HLB). To combat HLB, a series of wasp … Continue reading →

Farm Credit news release Over the past seven years, former farmworker Aldo Gonzalez has expanded his farm business from five to 44 acres, helped by annual operating loans from California FarmLink, an Aptos-based nonprofit that since 2013 has also operated … Continue reading →

The California Agricultural Neighbors (CAN) group invites all interested stakeholders to read its interim report, “California Agricultural Neighbors: Neighbor-to-neighbor best practices to help enhance localized food safety efforts,” as well as attend a three-part webinar series to learn about CAN … Continue reading →

BY CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and California Department of Conservation Director David Shabazian While California is known for its world-famous entertainment industry and ever-transforming tech sector, agriculture is the often-overlooked backbone of our diverse state and one of its earliest economic engines.  … Continue reading →