Monthly Archives: October 2012

Almonds now number two commodity in California – from the Merced Sun-Star

October 30, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/10/30/2621159/almonds-now-no-2-california-commodity.html Almonds were the second-most valuable commodity in California in 2011, surpassing grapes for the first time ever, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In 2011, almonds generated $3.87 billion of economic activity, according to agriculture department data, and grapes were valued at $3.86 billion. That’s a switch from 2010 when California grapes were in second place …

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From the LA Times – Profile of California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara.

October 29, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-1028-himi-craig-mcnamara-20121028,0,1752156.story The gig: Craig McNamara is a sustainable farming expert, organic walnut farmer in the Sacramento Valley town of Winters, founder of the nonprofit Center for Land-Based Learning and the California Farm Academy, and president of the state Board of Food and Agriculture, which advises state officials on farming policies. Organic food basket: At his Sierra Orchards, Craig McNamara makes …

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CDFA Information Technology Projects Recognized for Excellence

October 27, 2012   Robert Schmidt, CDFA Director of Information Technology

Leveraging information technology through partnerships with agency programs is a key to success at California Department of Food and Agriculture, which recently received a 2012 Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology in State Government from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO).  The award recipient was the Video Interact Project (VIP). It’s basically a portable cart, …

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Food Safety Workshops for California’s Artisan Cheese Makers

October 25, 2012   Dr. Annette Jones, California State Veterinarian

Consumers in general and Californians in particular are showing new and enthusiastic interest in their food – where it comes from, who makes it, and how it is made. Farmers have responded with a renewed devotion to agricultural products that fill not just supermarket produce aisles, but also a growing number of niche demands – while maintaining a food supply …

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Food Day a time to look forward

October 24, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

The return of Food Day, with its second annual observance scheduled for today, is a timely reminder of the important road ahead for our food supply. The world’s population is growing at such a rapid clip – from the current seven billion to an estimated nine billion by 2050 – that its projected food production needs to double using less …

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Secretary Ross Among “Health Happens Hero” Award Recipients

October 22, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

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 children, and reconnecting communities with their local farmers are opportunities the Secretary continues to explore. http://tcenews.calendow.org/releases/the-california-endowment-issues-eight-health-happens-hero-awards-to-california-school-nutrition-innovators The California Endowment Issues …

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

October 17, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

  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 in the latest installment of the USDA blog’s Science Tuesday feature. ———————————————————————————————– Posted by Hubert Hamer, Agricultural Statistics Board Chairman …

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The Snail Wrangler – From the New York Times

October 17, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/dining/raising-sought-after-snails-in-california.html EVEN if you love eating snails, it is possible that you have never given much thought to the way they live. Maybe you assume that they are weak and slow, enduring lives of quiet desperation, as Thoreau once described the bulk of humanity. If so, Mary Stewart, a snail rancher whose mollusks are sought after by top chefs all …

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Providing Export Opportunities for California Small Business

October 15, 2012   Candy Hansen-Gage, Fresno Center for International Trade Development

This November, foreign buyers from across Asia will travel to Oakland to participate in the ‘Taste of California’,  a mini-trade show and conference  that will highlight the best food products California has to offer. This two-day event will combine business meetings with a conference format that focuses on the trends and innovations within California’s food sector. Trade is all about creating connections …

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CDFA’s Director of Measurement Standards recognized for contributions to weights and measures

October 12, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

Kristin Macey, CDFA’s Director of Measurement Standards, was recently honored by the Western Weights and Measures Association with the Ray Rebuffo Award, which is presented to individuals for demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing weights and measures principles. Macey, who was appointed Director of Measurement Standards in 2010, is known for her commitment to developing standards for alternative fuels, such as …

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