Monthly Archives: February 2021

By John Cox U.S. shoppers expect them and so grocery stores do, too — but how do you deliver a summer fruit like grapes all 52 weeks of the year? It’s not as easy as shipping them from as far away as Brazil, though that’s part of it. Only the heartiest grape would survive the trip still looking fresh and …

U.S. food waste is estimated to be 30-40 percent of the food supply and Californians throw away approximately 6 million tons of food waste annually. To help reduce food waste and increase food recovery, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing a Food Recovery webpage. “California’s agricultural industries already are doing so much for food recovery for …

From Morning Ag Clips Farmers and ranchers still have time to respond to their 2020 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). NASS will continue to accept responses through April to ensure an accurate picture of U.S. local and regional food systems. “The Local Food Marketing Practices Survey is …

The 33rd annual California Small Farm Conference will feature CDFA secretary Karen Ross and agency staff during its series of educational webinars, videos and online forums February 22-28. Hosted by the Community Alliance for Family Farmers (CAFF), this year’s virtual conference features farmers, ranchers, industry professionals, students, and local food advocates digging into topics of soil health, appropriate-scaled technology, small …

From UC Davis via Morning Ag Clips A new book shows why California has led the nation in farm sales since 1948 and explores future challenges. California Agriculture: Dimensions and Issues , by the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics, details the past, present, and future of many of California’s major agricultural commodities, including grapes, tree fruits and nuts, vegetable crops, dairy, …

By Mindy Robinson Prior to the pandemic, SunTerra Produce enjoyed an excellent reputation as a grower, packer, and shipper of fresh fruits and vegetables. The Newport Beach, CA-based operation partners with more than 14 farms in the U.S. and Mexico, adhering to food safety standards throughout the harvest, storage, and distribution of a diverse range of produce. Their typical customers include a …

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) co-sponsored, attended and presented at the sixth annual Latino Farmer Conference on February 11. The virtual conference presented in Spanish was held to facilitate the creation of networks and provide pertinent information and resources to the Latino farming community. It was hosted by the National Center for Appropriate Technology in partnership with …

A news release from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service SACRAMENTO, CA – February 10, 2021 – The 2020 crush totaled 3,542,038 tons, down 13.9% from the 2019 crush of 4,115,413 tons. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 1,813,964 tons, down 15.9% from 2019. White wine varieties crushed totaled 1,590,335 tons, down 9.8% …

By John Holland Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked for $88.6 million to build a livestock health lab in Turlock much better than the one already there. Backers say the project would help assure safe food for humans while containing diseases in poultry, cattle, swine, horses and other livestock. The lab would cover about 41,000 square feet on land already owned …

Tulare’s annual World Ag Expo will go on after all — online, that is — with expectations for participants and exhibitors from around the world. Scheduled to kick off Tuesday and run through Thursday, the event now in its 54th year has grown to become the world’s largest trade show for farmers. An average of 100,000 people from 65 countries attend yearly. …