Monthly Archives: December 2015

Snowpack’s Water Content Far Greater than One Year Ago, But It’s Still Too Soon to Know Whether Drought Will Be Broken

December 30, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

From the California Department of Water Resources The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the winter’s first media-oriented manual snow survey today, and despite the higher-than-average water content for the statewide snowpack, officials said snowfall during the remainder of the winter will largely determine whether California’s drought will be entrenched for a fifth year. Full Department of Water Resources New …

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Count me in – farm tours and culinary tastings this January

December 29, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

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 will feature gourmet prix-fixe menus, wine-pairing specials, chef-led events, and all of the seasonal ingredients you’d expect from the state …

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

December 28, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

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 of quivering red sea urchins. The swell was coming up, and conditions were no longer conducive to diving. “You’re working …

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Reindeer name games: Is it Donder or Donner? from the LA Times

December 24, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

By Geoffrey Mohan, The Los Angeles Times Farm agencies are not about to be outdone by U.S. air defense officials when it comes to altering policies to aid Santa and his reindeer. Both the state and federal bureaucracies that control cross-border movement of livestock issued their annual waivers Wednesday so that Santa can visit U.S. and California households without assistance from …

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Rose Parade gives Cal Poly students a head start in promoting California agriculture

December 23, 2015   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

One of my favorite traditions as secretary is the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Each year I have an opportunity to join our colleagues from California Grown as they certify that a select number of floats are comprised of at least 85 percent flowers and plants grown in California. This year, for the fifth year in a row, we …

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“Say Cheese!” the latest video from the Growing California series

December 22, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

“Say Cheese!” is a profile of the Fiscalini Cheese Company of Modesto, California. This is the latest segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown.

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Social responsibility grows into a tradition at Fowler Packing Company

December 22, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Established in 1950, Fowler Packing has been a staple in the Fresno community, operating two packing, cooling, and storage facilities covering more than 650,000 square feet at the company’s Fresno location. The company’s day-to-day achievements, like providing jobs and getting a lot of produce ready for the rest of us, are worthy of recognition – but what brought CDFA Secretary …

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Posted in Farm Labor, Food Access, Nutrition | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Will El Niño end California’s drought? from the Association of California Water Agencies

December 21, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

The stage is set for a strong El Niño event this winter, but experts are cautioning that heavy rain and even flooding in some parts of the state will not necessarily end California’s four-year drought. While there is no single factor that will determine when the drought ends, water managers and other experts will be watching several factors for signs …

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Eat ugly – from the New York Times

December 18, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

By Caroline Chauvet PARIS — “Let’s eat ugly!” Of the various calls to action at the United Nations climate conference (last) week, that one by Nicolas Chabanne might be among the catchiest catchphrases. Mr. Chabanne, an entrepreneur with ties to French fruit and vegetable farmers, has been working the sidelines of the conference to promote an effort that he says …

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“Can Creations,” Charitable Donations, and Holiday Celebrations at CDFA

December 17, 2015   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross When I began several years ago as California’s agriculture secretary, I had an inkling that there would be some travel involved. Nothing like Santa’s annual trip, mind you, but certainly a busy schedule. Meetings, hearings and events, a ribbon or two to cut, and even the occasional farm animal to pat on the head. It’s all …

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