Author Archives: Office of Public Affairs

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross I am honored to be representing California on a policy mission in Indonesia sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). I’m traveling with four other state ag secretaries/commissioners along with NASDA CEO Ted McKinney and several staff members, and I’m thrilled that our guest industry partner on the trip is Krysta …

CDFA encourages all Californians to celebrate National Farmers Market Week by visiting a local Certified Farmers’ Market! National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration that highlights the vital role farmers’ markets play in our nation’s food system. Coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, this year’s celebration recognizes that for more than 50 years, farmers’ markets have influenced the way …

Governor’s Office News Release WHAT TO KNOW: Governor Newsom signed an executive order to streamline levee repairs and debris removal to help local communities recover from flooding and prepare for the next wet season. This is the latest in a series of actions to protect communities and conserve water from record rain and snowfall. SACRAMENTO – In anticipation of another possible …

Santa Barbara County now has a mobile resource center for farmworkers known as Proyecto Campesino. It’s an office on wheels that provides support to farmworkers and their employers by bringing resources to the agricultural community. The mobile resource center is a specially-designed van painted with bright images of farmworkers from local fields. This is the first month the county is …

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (center in photo) met chefs from around the world–and an international sommelier–as they began an agritourism tour of California this week. The tour is sponsored by California Grown and program partners and is intended to introduce the delegation to producers and culinary experts to develop stronger connections to California foods, wines, and culinary destinations. The visitors …

CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation is currently accepting grant applications from commercial dairies and livestock operations for manure management projects.   Individual grant applicants can receive up to $2.85 million in awards per project. The awards would fund the installation of equipment and implementation of practices that result in long-term methane emissions reductions and maximize environmental co-benefits. The …

As Smart Irrigation Month reaches its conclusion, CDFA is profiling innovative water-saving approaches at a Central Valley almond orchard. CDFA facilitates water-efficiency improvements through its State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, or SWEEP.

Agriculture interests from around the world gathered in Rome this week for a United Nations Food Systems Summit. The topics included reducing food waste, which, as shown in this video, can be a key element in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

CDFA teamed up with the San Bernardino County Fire Department over a series of weekends in May, June and July to intercept illegal fireworks at the Mountain Pass Border Station (I-15). The effort resulted in more than three-tons (6,133 lbs) being confiscated, the great majority intended for destinations in Southern California. Drivers of the vehicles were cited. The team was …