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Category Archives: AG Vision

Central Valley Dairy Farmer Honored for Commitment to Conservation

December 10, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

I am pleased that Kings County dairy farmer Dino Giacomazzi has been named the 2012 recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award in California. The award is presented annually in eight states to land owners for achievements in land stewardship and management and is a fine representation of the great work our farmers and ranchers do as envirionmental stewards. Dino Giacomazzi is a fourth-generation dairyman from …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Conservation, Dairy, Environment, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Farm to Food Bank Program featured in San Diego TV report

December 6, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

On December 5, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross appeared with food bank officials in San Diego to emphasize a greater need for food assistance during the holidays, and to discuss the Farm-to-Food Bank Program, a joint effort with the California State Board of Food and Agriculture to double farm contributions to food banks – to 200 million pounds by 2015.   (External video – link no longer …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Improving Food Access in California” report delivered to State Legislature

December 4, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

California agriculture is incredibly productive and diverse. While food from the state’s farmers and ranchers is generally available to many, there are still too many Californians lacking sufficient access to healthy foods. To remedy this situation, in 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed AB 581, authored by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, which created the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative (CHFFI) …

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Posted in AG Vision, Community-based Food System, Food Access, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

December is Farm to Food Bank Month – Donations Make a Difference

November 16, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

As we launch our second annual Farm to Food Bank Month, I’m excited about the commitment and generosity of California’s farmers and ranchers to support our local communities and consumers with food donations. Nearly 1 in 9 individuals, or close to 4 million people, in California are food insecure. This means that over the course of one year about 10 …

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Posted in AG Vision, Food Access, State Board of Food and Agriculture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Secretary Ross Among “Health Happens Hero” Award Recipients

October 22, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is among eight individuals recognized by the California Endowment as a “Health Happens Hero” for her work in promoting the use of California Grown products in school meals.  Connecting farms-to-schools, improving the nutritional health of school children, and reconnecting communities with their local farmers are opportunities the Secretary continues to explore. http://tcenews.calendow.org/releases/the-california-endowment-issues-eight-health-happens-hero-awards-to-california-school-nutrition-innovators The California Endowment Issues …

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Posted in AG Vision, Food Access, Specialty Crops | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

California leads the way as organic agriculture spreads its wings from coast-to-coast

October 17, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

  The USDA has released its first-ever survey of organic farmers to determine that organic sales across the country in 2011 totaled more than $3.5 billion, with nearly 40 percent of that –almost $1.4 billion–coming from California.  The development is discussed further in the latest installment of the USDA blog’s Science Tuesday feature. ———————————————————————————————– Posted by Hubert Hamer, Agricultural Statistics Board Chairman …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Baby Boomers passing baton to Millennials, with changes expected for food industry.

October 3, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

Findings from a joint study announced recently by Jeffries, a global investment bank, and AlixPartners, a global business advisory firm, suggest that demographic shifts between now and 2020 will drive significant changes in the food industry. The study, called Trouble in Aisle 5, tracks the buying habits of Millennials, defined as those born between 1982 and 2001. By the start of the …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Community-based Food System, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

California agriculture leads the nation in funding for specialty crops

October 1, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=12-035 The United States Department of Agriculture announced funding today for the 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received more than $18 million out of the total $55 million awarded nationwide. The SCBGP provides grants to states to enhance the competitiveness of Specialty Crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Specialty Crops | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Fresno Bee – State Ag Board Tours Valley Water Bank

September 12, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/11/2988334/valley-water-bank-showcased.html Fresno County farmer Marvin Meyers is proud of the work he has done to develop a 3,000-acre water bank and wildlife project. And on Tuesday, he was able to show it off to members of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. The board, along with California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, met at the …

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Posted in AG Vision, Conservation, Environment | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Farm to School Programs Teach, Nourish

September 11, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

I love visiting schools. When I see all those young faces I see the future – bright-eyed children who will be leading us in 20, 30 or 40 years. Those of us in positions of responsibility have an obligation to provide our children with every opportunity to succeed in school and in life. We know a big part of that …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments