Author Archives: Office of Public Affairs

Did you know the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) State Organic Program (SOP) collaborates with CDFA’s Border Protection Stations to inspect organic products coming into California? SOP and border station staff recently inspected organic blueberries and organic seeds entering California at the Needles Border Inspection Station. The organic inspection included verifying proper paperwork and checking that packages follow …

By Miriam Jordan The sun-baked desert valley tucked behind the San Jacinto Mountains is best known for an annual music festival that draws 100,000 fans a day and a series of lush, oasis resort towns where well-heeled snowbirds go to golf, sunbathe and party. But just beyond the turquoise swimming pools of Palm Springs, more than 10,000 farmworkers harvest some …

In 2019 California’s farms and ranches received more than $50 billion in cash receipts for their output. This represents a slight increase over reported cash receipts compared to the previous year. California agricultural exports totaled $21.7 billion, an increase of 3 percent from 2018.  Top commodities for export included almonds, pistachios, dairy and dairy products, wine and walnuts. California’s agricultural …

By Kristin Macey. CDFA Director of Measurement Standards The year 2020 began on a hopeful note – as all new years do. Very soon, however, it transformed into the year that introduced a “new normal” to the world as we know it. That’s why this year’s theme for the U.S. National Weights and Measures Week (March 1 – 7, 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 …