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Category Archives: Farm to School

Governor Newsom signs legislation securing permanent funding for nation-leading Farm to School Program championed by First Partner

July 13, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

From the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom What you need to know: Governor Newsom signed SB 172, which permanently funds California’s nation-leading Farm to School Program, ensuring schools can continue serving students healthy meals made with California-grown ingredients. Championed by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the program supports local farmers, strengthens regional food systems, and expands nutrition education in classrooms. SACRAMENTO …

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

California celebrates nearly 3.5 billion universal school meals served

June 26, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

From the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom California’s Farm to School program, championed by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, works in tandem with universal school meals to ensure more California students have access to two free school meals that are locally-sourced, delicious, and nutritious. – Excerpt from announcement below What you need to know: Five years ago, Governor Newsom signed into …

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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

CDFA Farm to School Grant “Sparks” support of women in agriculture – expanding local citrus into school meals

April 7, 2026   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA’s California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program supports small to midsize farms while increasing healthy food choices for school meals. And in California, where women outpace the nation by making up 38% of producers, that includes supporting women in agriculture. For example, Karina Sparks, owner and operator of citrus farm Sparks Ranch in Yolo County, received funding in the …

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Posted in Farm to School, International Year of the Woman Farmer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment