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Category Archives: Agricultural Education

California Grown at the Rose Parade

January 3, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

The Rose Parade in Pasadena is a unique California experience. I was thrilled to be part of pre-parade festivities on Sunday, January 1st, when I made presentations to the first two floats to be certified California Grown for using all California-grown products.  Over the years, floats have featured more imported flowers. But this year the California Department of Food and …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

My Holiday Wish – Healthy Food for Everybody

December 22, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

The winter holidays are a special time. I find myself reflecting in astonishment about the abundance of food in California and the resilient and innovative nature of our farmers and ranchers who produce it.  Food is key to the celebrations many of us will enjoy over the next couple of weeks. We are fortunate to have so many choices to share …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Food Access | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Modesto Bee: Woodlake kids pick gardens over gangs

December 19, 2011   CDFA Staff

Read the original story from Modesto Bee When Manuel Jimenez first set eyes on the land below a levee, thick with brush and weeds, the one-time field worker envisioned a place where youngsters could escape the temptations of gang life and learn about the San Joaquin Valley’s most vital industry. But, like many places in California’s farming belt, this Tulare …

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Fresno Bee – Farmers boost donations to valley’s hungry

December 14, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/13/2648491/farmers-give-to-valleys-hungry.html When Andy Souza, president of the Community Food Bank in Fresno, asked valley farmers for help to feed the needy, they donated by the truckload. The result, Souza said Tuesday, was 40% more produce than last year for a total of 10 million pounds. In all, the food bank has distributed about 24 million pounds of food this year …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Food Access, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A time to give thanks; a time for giving

November 22, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Thanksgiving is a time for celebration – kicking off the holiday season with a comforting mix of family, food and sharing. As much as I look forward to and appreciate the festivities, I have long greeted the holiday with thoughts running to a literal meaning: we are thankful; we give. As California’s secretary of agriculture, there is much to be …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Food Access, State Board of Food and Agriculture | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Veterans Wanted Down on the Farm

November 10, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Tom Vilsack, the U.S. secretary of agriculture, said recently our country will need 100,000 new farmers over the next several years to maintain agriculture at its current level. Factor in the average age of existing farmers–they’re pushing 60–and a rapidly growing world population that must be fed, and it’s clear there will be many, many opportunities for young and new farmers in the years ahead. …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Food Access, Food Safety, Specialty Crops, Succession Planning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Wanted: Ag Leaders for Public Policy Duty – Many Potentially Groundbreaking Initiatives Now on Table

November 7, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

This is a potentially historic time for farm policy in our country. As discussion continues in Washington D.C. about possible seismic shifts in Farm Bill funding, there is also a major effort underway to consider genuine, substantive change to public policy affecting agriculture apart from the Farm Bill.  At last count, there were more than 30 different initiatives being discussed …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Environment, Farm Bill, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, State Board of Food and Agriculture, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

News Release – Workshops announced for 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

November 4, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will hold workshops the week of November 15, 2011 on the 2012 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). In 2012, CDFA expects to award up to $18 million in SCBGP funds for research, marketing, and nutrition projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. “These workshops are important for any organization …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Specialty Crops | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“California Grown” Debuts New Video & Recipe Series Featuring Farmers, Locally Grown Products

November 3, 2011   Office of Public Affairs

Read the press releason on PR Newswire SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 3, 2011 — “California Grown ” is delivering a new, fresh-from-the-farm video and recipe series highlighting the real people and real stories behind some of California’s favorite agricultural products. The videos are part of an ongoing effort to help connect the state’s consumers with the who, what, where, when and why …

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Support Ag Education – Reserve a Plate Today!

October 25, 2011   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

Californians have great opportunity to support agricultural education and leadership programs by reserving a California special interest license plate. This initiative creates a continuous funding stream, through annual license plate renewals, for programs dedicated to enriching the agricultural education of school children and the next generation of California farmers and ranchers – from FFA and 4-H to Ag in the …

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Posted in Agricultural Education | Tagged | 1 Comment