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Category Archives: Food Access

Social responsibility grows into a tradition at Fowler Packing Company

December 22, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Established in 1950, Fowler Packing has been a staple in the Fresno community, operating two packing, cooling, and storage facilities covering more than 650,000 square feet at the company’s Fresno location. The company’s day-to-day achievements, like providing jobs and getting a lot of produce ready for the rest of us, are worthy of recognition – but what brought CDFA Secretary …

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Posted in Farm Labor, Food Access, Nutrition | Tagged , | 1 Comment

“Can Creations,” Charitable Donations, and Holiday Celebrations at CDFA

December 17, 2015   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross When I began several years ago as California’s agriculture secretary, I had an inkling that there would be some travel involved. Nothing like Santa’s annual trip, mind you, but certainly a busy schedule. Meetings, hearings and events, a ribbon or two to cut, and even the occasional farm animal to pat on the head. It’s all …

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“Can Creations” deck the halls at CDFA this holiday season

December 17, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is taking a page out of Santa’s book today, riding her sleigh (Prius) around town to visit her elves (employees) at their various toy factories (labs and offices) and share a warm cup of holiday cheer. She’ll be viewing the staff’s “can creations” as part of the annual food drive as she makes the rounds, too …

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Community Food Bank embodies the spirit of giving

November 25, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

By Andy Souza, CEO, Community Food Bank This is a time when so many of us are thankful for good food, great friends, and our families as we celebrate the holiday season.  But for families having a difficult time making ends meet, it’s hard to share this joy when you’re not sure where your family’s next meal will come from.  …

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Food brings us together all year – but Thanksgiving is special

November 24, 2015   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Thanksgiving is built around a most basic blessing: food. What stands out as the highlight of this day for me, though isn’t the food itself so much as the sharing of it. The people around our tables – friends and family members – are special to us, and more than a few are people whom we don’t see as often …

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Posted in Food Access | Tagged | 3 Comments

Farm-to-Food Bank Month a time for sharing and caring

November 16, 2015   Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

More than four-million people in California are food-insecure and need a little help. It just doesn’t seem right to have that many people lacking nourishment in a state that produces such a bounty of healthy food. In recognition of that need, five years ago, the State Board of Food and Agriculture launched an annual program with the California Association of Food …

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Posted in Community-based Food System, Food Access, Nutrition, Specialty Crops, State Board of Food and Agriculture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

USDA Awards $34.3 Million to Support Communities’ Local Foods Infrastructure, Increase Access to Fruits and Vegetables

October 6, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

Funding Supports Local Food Systems, Farmers Markets and Healthier Eating for SNAP Participants Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack helped to kick off the nation’s harvest season this week by announcing nearly $35 million in new funding through four grant programs to support local and regional food systems, including farmers markets. Secretary Vilsack has named strengthening local food systems as one of …

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Video: Why does half of America’s food go to waste? from NPR and PBS

June 30, 2015   Office of Public Affairs
Posted in Food Access, Food Safety, Nutrition | Leave a comment

Southern California remains robust food producer, maintains strong commitment to feed the hungry

June 22, 2015   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

You have to go back more than 70 years to get a view of a very different Southern California. Long before urban and suburban post-war development blossomed around Los Angeles, the region was a major agricultural producer. Citrus was the leading crop, and that heritage is all too apparent in the place names that remain today. An example of that …

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Posted in Drought, Food Access | Leave a comment

Davis think-tank event invites solutions to world hunger – from the Sacramento Bee

June 1, 2015   Office of Public Affairs

By Sammy Caiola How do you feed 9 billion people by 2050? That question was posed Friday to a room of UC Davis students, community activists, farmers and Monsanto executives at a think tank-style event on campus. About 70 attendees were given Post-its, pencils, giant notepads and one challenge: Devise innovations that would produce more nutritious food with less waste …

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Posted in Food Access, Nutrition, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment