Author Archives: Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Earlier this week I had the honor and pleasure to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Center for Land-Based Learning, a non-profit organization in Winters started by California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Craig McNamara and his wife, Julie, to help connect young people with nature and agriculture. In the last two decades, the Center has become …

This is Food Day, which is described by organizers as a nationwide celebration and movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. That’s something we can all get behind, and I’d like to talk a little about how it helps position us for the future. We are part of a system that will be asked to produce roughly twice as much …

We share the concerns over the recent reports of salmonella illness connected to poultry and wish to convey our empathy for the people who have contracted illness and their families. Food safety is a primary concern of California food producers and for California government as it works with food producers to provide a wholesome, nutritious and safe food supply for …

As we work together to embrace a future that will require a substantial increase in food production while using fewer natural resources, it is critical that we look for new ways to emphasize the importance of sustainability, which we define as an agricultural production system that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to …

In returning to California after three days in Vietnam, I’m greatly impressed by the potential the market has for California as well as the commitment of the Vietnamese government to farmers; trade; and climate change, mitigation and adaptation. During my short visit, I had the opportunity to visit the nation’s largest dairy processor – Vinamilk – whose state-of-the-art facility in …

I am pleased to have the opportunity to return to Asia this week on a trade mission along with ten California companies looking to establish stronger relationships in the region. One of our first stops was the California-China Office of Trade and Investment in Shanghai, which was opened in April of this year by Governor Brown. It is a valuable …

As the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park has captured international attention, one of the many problems it has caused is the displacement of a number of Sierra Nevada residents. With emergency shelter options at a premium, the Mother Lode Fair in Sonora served as an evacuation facility for residents and their pets, in partnership with the American Red Cross.  …