Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month – California Farmer Mel Resendiz

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is proud to partner with California Grown during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) and California Farmer and Farmworker Month—to highlight the stories of Latino and Hispanic farmers who help feed our state and nation. Through this collaboration, we’re celebrating the resilience, innovation, and deep agricultural traditions that shape California’s farming communities. Meet first-generation California farmer, Mel …

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Secretary Ross on Water, Workforce, and the Future of California Agriculture — from AgNet West

A Visit to Reedley: California’s Ag Secretary Engages with the Valley California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross joined The Ag Meter host Nick Papagni at Reedley College to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping California agriculture. The conversation, held on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley, covered everything from workforce development and ag tech innovation to water storage and the future of food production in …

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Agritourism – the Central Valley’s Best Pumpkin Patches

This October, we’re celebrating California’s fall harvest season by exploring the people, places, and flavors that make our state’s agriculture special. In partnership with CA GROWN’s new digital hub — Experience California Agriculture — we’re highlighting farm adventures across the Golden State. From hands-on u-pick orchards and vineyard tours to local food experiences, this new resource makes it easier to …

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Farm-to-School Month Grantee Spotlight: Santa Ana Unified

As part of CDFA’s Farm-to-School Month celebrations, we’re highlighting an awardee in our Farm-to-School Incubator Grant Program, the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) in Orange County. The school district is a two-time grantee that has procured over 430,000 pounds of local and culturally relevant produce and has worked to develop farm-to-school culinary clubs, school gardens, local farm field trips, …

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Hispanic Heritage Month — Javier Zamora’s Journey from Farmworker to Farm Owner

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is proud to partner with California Grown during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) to highlight the stories of Latino and Hispanic farmers who help feed our state and nation. Through this collaboration, we’re celebrating the resilience, innovation, and deep agricultural traditions that shape California’s farming communities. Javier Zamora, owner of JSM Organics says that agriculture is in …

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CDFA Celebrates National Farm to School Month! 

California is proud to celebrate National Farm to School Month this October! By combining local food purchasing, hands-on food education and climate-smart agriculture, CDFA’s Farm to School Program helps food system leaders transform school food for the better. Read on to see h w we’re celebrating this October!  $20m for the CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program!   Research shows …

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: CDFA Panel Discussion Reflects on Language, Identity and Community 

Pictured: (L-R) Carla Sanchez; Undersecretary Christine Birdsong; Steph Jamis; Ana Chan; top monitor, Artemio Armenta In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), CDFA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and Office of Civil Rights hosted a panel discussion on Tuesday. This year’s theme, “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” set the tone for an …

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Secretary Ross at UN FAO Global Livestock Conference in Rome

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross is in Rome, Italy this week and spoke at the United Nations FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation. In her remarks, Secretary Ross emphasized California’s leadership in agricultural climate solutions, especially methane reduction, while highlighting the state’s agricultural diversity and commitment to sustainability. California is the leading agricultural state in the United States, producing more …

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CDFA recognizes International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

CDFA joins the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in recognizing today, September 29, as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. FAO is calling for the expansion and strengthening of stakeholder efforts to reduce food loss and waste as a critical element of securing a sustainable food future across the globe, where an …

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Terra Madre Americas ready to begin — Secretary Ross featured in pre-event discussion

The all-new Terra Madre Americas food and culture festival is ready to begin its weekend-long run in Downtown Sacramento tomorrow, and the festivities are being kick-started today with an introductory session called, “Food for Thought; Nourishing Nature, Culture & Community.” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross was featured in an opening panel discussion this afternoon along with California Natural Resources Secretary Wade …

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