Monthly Archives: January 2013

Two recent announcements by the USDA remind us all of the agency’s value as a federal partner in food and agricultural production.  The USDA assists Californians in a variety of ways, from producer insurance programs to school nutrition and food security for needy families. One announcement was a reminder that February 4 is the deadline to respond to the 2012 …

The second annual Bacon Fest Sacramento is scheduled for January 20-27, 2013.  The events will include a chef’s competition, bacon specials at a number of Sacramento restaurants, a Kevin Bacon tribute night, and a coloring contest – the prizes are bacon donuts. Proceeds will go to the American River College culinary program and the Center For Land Based Learning in Winters. The founder of the Center …

Enrollment in US college and university agriculture programs is up 21 percent since 2006, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Education Information System, a partnership between the USDA, Virginia Tech University and over 200 colleges and departments of agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. The data show more than 146,000 undergraduates in Ag programs. This growing interest is …

CDFA joins Californians in remembering longtime public television personality Huell Howser, who has reportedly died in Southern California at age 67. Mr. Howser’s programs frequently highlighted California’s bucolic and rural characteristics, including agriculture, and reached millions of viewers. Over the years, he partnered with CDFA on two different projects. One, California’s Golden Fairs, featured a number of local fairs around …