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Category Archives: Agricultural Education

From Orchard to Classroom: Clendenen’s Cider Works Cultivates Community Through Local Food

June 19, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

For more than a century, Clendenen’s Cider Works has been rooted in Humboldt County agriculture. Today, Clif Clendenen carries on his family’s legacy by growing fresh apples, producing local cider, and embracing sustainable farming practices on his five-acre orchard. Through a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Farm to School grant, Clif is also helping bring locally grown, nutritious …

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Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Conservation, Drought, Environment, Farm Labor, Farm to School, Food Access, Growing California, Healthy soils, Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Farm to School benefits small farms like Old Grove Orange in Redlands

June 2, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

Farm to school programming provides the consistent demand needed to sustain local small farmers who take pride in benefitting student health and the local economy.  “Small farmers need to adapt to survive!” said fifth-generation farmer Anna Knight of Old Grove Orange. “We’ve done everything from farmers’ markets to community supported agriculture, but for the last 20-plus years, 100% of the …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, CDFA Inspection Services, Community-based Food System, Environment, Farm to School, Food Access | Tagged | Leave a comment

Fort Bragg’s Farm to School Model of Success Offers Healthy Nutrition from Local Produce

April 28, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

Fort Bragg Unified School District (FBUSD) in Mendocino County offers a farm to school model of success by connecting local food procurement, scratch-cooked meals and hands-on food education to foster lifelong habits of good nutrition to its students. Fort Bragg’s farm to school culture is built around school gardens, a school district farm, and middle and high school agriculture programs …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Farm to School, Food Access, Nutrition | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Ranch-to-Tray” tours help school nutrition professionals and California ranchers build connections

April 10, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

From the California Beef Council Tours aim to show how cattle are raised and how beef is processed ROCKLIN, CA – As schools across California work to incorporate more locally sourced foods into their meal programs, many districts are increasingly exploring opportunities to source proteins directly from producers. California’s Ranch-to-Tray tours help bridge that connection by bringing school nutrition professionals …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Community-based Food System, Nutrition | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Farmer Isabel Rosas Garcia: growing produce and community in the Salinas Valley

March 23, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

Whether you’re celebrating March as Women’s History Month, National Celery Month, or International Year of the Woman Farmer — produce grower Isabel Rosas Garcia has an impact that reaches far beyond the field. In fact, her work as a farmer, community partner, and advocate for fresh food access reflects the commitment to sustainable farming and nutrition that many farmers like …

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Save the Date! Ag Day is April 21 on the west steps of the California Capitol

March 20, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

California Agriculture Day returns to the west steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Are you ready to celebrate our agricultural community? Ag Day is presented by CDFA in partnership with the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, California Women for Agriculture, and California Grown. Our theme this year is “California Leads,” a nod to all …

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World Ag Expo February 10-12: It’s Show Time!

February 10, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross joined industry and community leaders for the official opening of the 2026 World Ag Expo in Tulare today, followed by an on-site meeting of the State Board of Food and Agriculture on Ag Tech and workforce issues and opportunities. She previewed the event yesterday on local TV station ABC 30, speaking about the generational challenges …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, State Board of Food and Agriculture | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

New Report: “CDFA’s Contributions to California’s Agricultural Excellence”

February 9, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

By Karen Ross, SecretaryCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture We work hard to make California a better place to live because of what we grow and how we grow it. At the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), we work to build and safeguard resilient food systems – including programs that improve nutrition for students and extend additional benefits …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Alternative Fuels, Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture, Food Access, Food Safety, Invasive Species, Nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CDFA Farm to School grant fosters lifelong connections to healthy food for Orange County students

January 20, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

The Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC) is putting its CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant funding to good use, expanding access to fresh, locally grown food for Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) students. “This partnership has allowed our Nutrition Services Department to offer healthier meals while strengthening students’ connections to whole foods, agriculture and gardening,” …

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Posted in Agricultural Education, Nutrition, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

CDFA’s Inspection Services Division welcomes summer intern and congratulates her for California Women for Agriculture scholarship

July 10, 2024   Office of Public Affairs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Inspection Services Division (ISD) welcomes summer intern Tonantzin Ortiz and congratulates her for recently earning a Salinas Valley Chapter of California Women in Agriculture (CWA) Agricultural Studies Scholarship. “As part of CDFA’s Ag Vision to support workforce development aimed at attracting, supporting and providing high-quality jobs and leadership opportunities, we welcome Tonantzin …

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Posted in Agricultural Education | Leave a comment