Monthly Archives: March 2025

CDFA proudly celebrated Women’s History Month with a dynamic panel discussion on Wednesday, March 26, moderated by Undersecretary Christine Birdsong. As part of the month-long celebration, CDFA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, along with the CDFA Office of Civil Rights, organized the discussion. The theme this year is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations.” The panel featured CDFA …

By Dr. Tawny Mata, Director of CDFA’s Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability I am excited to announce that our office has a new name: The Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS).  Along with the name change, we have introduced a new, unified logo that symbolizes our shared mission across all of our programs. Over the next few months, …

California’s annual celebration of agriculture returned to the west steps of the State Capitol today, bringing together farmers, ranchers, agricultural enthusiasts and leaders around this year’s theme: “Ag At Work: Cultivating Careers & Communities.” California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom addressed the sunny gathering with optimism, connecting the work of agriculture to the health of students and all Californians. CDFA Secretary …

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross spoke about the benefits of urban agriculture at an event hosted today by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) at the International Garden of Many Colors in Sacramento. “By continuing to invest in urban agriculture and support the growth of farms and farmers across the state, California will strengthen the farmer-consumer connection while creating a …

International trade plays and important role for California’s agricultural industry.  Exports of the state’s agricultural bounty supports jobs both on and off the farm, including harvesting, farm labor, marketing, transportation, and port work. It is estimated that California’s agricultural exports from farms, ranches and food processors support approximately 141,971 jobs and generate approximately $24.4 billion in additional domestic economic activity. California …

Mark your calendars for March 19, and join us in celebrating California ag! This year’s theme is “Ag At Work: Cultivating Careers and Communities.” Did you know there are over 300 unique careers in agriculture? From farmers and farmworkers to drone pilots, irrigation techs, robotics experts, veterinary services, and researchers – the opportunities are endless! Ag Day is presented by …

March 8 is International Women’s Day, and CDFA would like to commemorate the occasion by celebrating the dedication and leadership of California women in agriculture. There are 45,244 women producers across the state, and they manage 11.5 million acres on farms and ranches that contribute $22.2 billion in agricultural sales. California’s farming and ranching women are vital to the success …

Gov. Newsom announces a blueprint that is driven by local input from 13 regions across the state Gov. Gavin Newsom announced  the launch of the California Jobs First Economic Blueprint. This equity-focused, climate-forward initiative is the first economic development strategy of its kind in California and the nation. California Jobs First invests in key sectors, including agriculture, to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation, …

Climate-smart, energy efficient refrigeration units funded by CDFA’s Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program are expected to provide emissions savings equivalent to the electricity use of 605 homes per year, or 2,815 tons of carbon dioxide. This impact is outlined in a new Emissions Impact Study by Effecterra, one of program’s technical assistance providers. Program Impact The main goal of Healthy Refrigeration Grants …