CA Dept. of Food & Agriculture Inspection Services Division

08/21/2026

08/18/2026

📣 Registration is OPEN for the 34th Annual Nutrient Management Conference!

The event is hosted by CDFA’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) and Western Plant Health (WPH)

October 28–29, 2026, Stockton, CA

Details:
https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/69559611

07/04/2026

From CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

Happy 250th birthday America! As we celebrate our Nation’s founding, the California Department of Food and Agriculture offers a message of gratitude for the farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and all who work so hard to produce the bounty of America’s food and steward our land.

It is especially fitting to hold up all who have a role in agriculture because it has always been foundational to our Nation’s economy and well-being.

George Washington was a soldier, our Nation’s first President and a farmer – one who experimented with new crops, crop rotations and new fertilizers. Thomas Jefferson was also an innovative farmer who wrote: “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” In the midst of the Civil War (May 1862) , President Abraham Lincoln, who also had agrarian roots, established the United States Department of Agriculture to support farmers and rural communities with research farms on what is now the National Mall. Throughout his presidency he pushed for legislation to advance agricultural research and education with the enactment of the Homestead Act for westward development; the Pacific Railway Act (to improve transportation of crops); the Morrill Act that established the land grant university system; and, the National Academy of Sciences.

In 1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the Soil Conservation Act that established the Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) as the cornerstone of his New Deal. It was created to pay farmers for conservation practices to protect our soils in response to the Dust Bowl. To stress its importance, the President sent a letter to every Governor to encourage individual states to pass laws allowing local landowners to form and manage their own conservation districts. This framework ensured that soil erosion control was led locally rather than strictly federally. In it he said, “The nation that destroys its soils, destroys itself.”

Today I am grateful to be an American celebrating our beautiful land, our rich diversity, and the power of people coming together for the common good just as they did in July 1776.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Happy birthday America and Happy 4th of July!!

https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/index.php/2026/07/03/celebrating-americas-250th-birthday-and-agricultures-foundational-place-in-it-this-independence-day/

06/08/2026

Grapevines from a Fresno nursery shipped to California Costco stores in April and May were found to be carrying the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), an insect capable of spreading a potentially lethal vine disease.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is urging anyone who purchased grapevines from Costco stores in Northern California between April 21 and May 21 to contact their local agricultural commissioner after an invasive pest was discovered among the 13,000 vines shipped during that period.

Read more:
https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/68859812

06/04/2026

Register for the California Farm to School Network call 2-3 p.m. June 25 🧑‍🌾2⃣🏫😃👏

https://zoomgov.com/meeting/register/FFH6mQqZQLaFRvSlzItlLw?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery #/registration

Join the F2S movement, share best practices, identify funding opportunities!!!

06/02/2026

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

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 produce we grow has gone directly to local K-12 public school districts. We wouldn’t be here without the visionary nutrition services programs of Greater L.A., and these partnerships are how we keep farming forever!”

Old Grove Orange is a family farm stewarding 81 acres in Redlands, California. Over the last 21 years, Old Grove Orange and the 30 farm families contributing to its food hub have worked with 50+ school districts in the Greater Los Angeles area. Their thoughtful approach to farm to school provides students with experiential education programs that connect them to the land, the farmers and the products served in their school meals.

As a three-time grant recipient of the CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program, Old Grove Orange has increased its production of minimally processed seasonal vegetable products designed specifically for the school market. School districts can often find it challenging to cook whole vegetables due to staff or equipment capacity; therefore, Old Grove Orange’s pre-cut, portioned and packaged produce allows for an easier adoption of local products into school meals.

Click here to learn more about Old Grove Orange: https://oldgroveorange.com/

Photo Caption: (L-R) Farm to school programs help sustain small farmers like the hardworking, passionate team pictured with Anna Knight, a fifth-generation farmer at Old Grove Orange in Redlands. For local school districts, Old Grove Orange grows a variety of seasonal produce, including those offered by farmer Jackie to students while hosting an Old Grove Orange Mini Farmers’ Market in the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/index.php/2026/06/02/farm-to-school-benefits-small-farms-like-old-grove-orange-in-redlands/

06/01/2026

🫒💚 Happy National Olive Day – June 1! 💚🫒

Today, we celebrate one of California’s most iconic crops and the people who make it possible. California leads the nation in olive production, thanks to our amazing weather, fertile growing regions, and the hard work of dedicated growers and farmworkers. 🌞🌿

A shoutout to olive growers, farmworkers, processors, olive oil producers, packers, distributors, retailers, and everyone throughout the olive supply chain who help bring high-quality California-grown olives to tables across the country. 🫒❤️

Whether enjoyed as a snack, added to your favorite recipes, or transformed into world-class olive oil, California olives are a testament to the skill, dedication, and passion of the people behind them. 🌿🫒✨

Thank you for helping California continue to produce some of the finest olives and olive oil in the world. 💚🤍

Jerry James Stone
🫒❤️🌞🌿💚

05/28/2026

Did you buy a grapevine at a Northern California Costco between April 21 & May 19?

New counties have been added to the list of affected areas. The invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter has been found on grapevines sold at these locations. This pest is a serious threat to vineyards, backyard gardens & other plants.

Check the updated list of counties and learn what to do right now: https://bit.ly/GWSS-Costco

California Department of Food and Agriculture

05/21/2026

CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC) Food Safety Laboratories provide analytical services to the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) through analyzing various samples DPR staff take from the field.

To observe firsthand the sampling techniques utilized by DPR, Food Safety Laboratory team members recently rode along with the DPR Enforcement Branch while they collected samples for DPR’s Food Residue Monitoring program. Together, they visited various sites including distribution centers, terminal mar­kets and grocery stores.

These ride-along events provide a great opportunity for CAC chemists to connect field sampling to the analysis performed in the laborato­ry and further strengthen the collaborative relation­ship between CAC and DPR.

“My ride-along experience was a perfect comple­ment to the laboratory training that I’ve received since starting at CAC,” said new Environmental Scientist Sam Hartanto. “I walked away with a new understanding of how samples arrive at the lab and a strong appreciation for the work that the DPR samplers do.”

https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/index.php/2026/05/21/center-for-analytical-chemistry-staff-gain-better-appreciation-of-lab-work-through-sampling-ride-along/

05/18/2026

NAME: Jenn Rogge
TIME AT CDFA: 3 Years
PROGRAM: California Farm to School Program
POSITION TITLE: Farm to School Network Regional Lead

USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB: I support farm to school food and educational systems in the Superior (Far Northern) Region of California. I provide resources and network connections to help producers and school food authorities (SFAs) work together. I also provide resources and con­nections to educators teaching farm to school related subjects like agriculture, ecology and nu­trition. Lastly, I am thrilled to support our Farm to School Incubator Grant Program grantees whose groundbreaking work continually improves school food and educational opportunities in our CA Farm to School Network. From day to day, you will find me sending curriculum, how to’s and guides, or connecting partners through Zoom meetings, farm tours or regional events. I can be found at my desk in rural Northern California, on ranches or farms, or at workshops and conferences with varying partners and stakeholders.

HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY? Food systems are complex and produc­ers and food service authorities speak their own diverse professional languages. I help the begin­ning of the food chain, the producer, speak to the end of the food chain, the school food market, and vice versa. For example, if a food service director wants local apples, I help them define local, find producers within that geographic preference, define fruit type, fruit size, pack size, delivery requirements and more. On the other end, I help the producer understand what they will need to provide to work with the school to sell those apples. And no two farms or SFAs operate the same way; it is a diverse and exciting market. I once heard Secretary Ross say, “If you’ve seen one farm, you’ve seen one farm,” and I whole­heartedly agree.

THOUGHTS OF WORKING AT INSPECTION SERVICES? The most incredible people care about food systems, and I’m thrilled that Inspection Services hosts our Farm to School Program. I have seen unmatched dedication to California’s agriculture, producers and farmworkers from the entire Inspection Services team. I’m honored to be a part of it and to serve the people who nourish us with incredible food.

MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE JOB? Getting to know the people who care about food systems and farm to school programs has been an hon­or. Farm tours that connect these people to one another in the literal field have led to incredible moments. A rancher once introduced his herd of Bonsmara cattle to food service directors. He laid down in the field so that the cows would get curious and come visit our group and show us how gentle the cattle were. We all sat in the lush green pasture with his gentle bovine giants for a long time, a beautiful moment.

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE? Oscar Wilde penned my favorite quote, “A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” I believe we must have a vision of our fu­ture to take steps to get to that future. I can see a food system that connects entire communities in health and prosperity. It’s wonderful to be a part of the team making that dream a reality.

FAVORITE PASTIME? I alternate being a complete homebody and an outdoorsy nature enthusiast. I can either be found gardening, cooking, reading and knitting or out in the wilderness hiking, back­packing or mountain biking.

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOU? I started my career as an ecologist and quickly discovered that our food systems are intricately connected with nature. There is a special place in my heart for people who grow food in community with the natural world and appreciate the bugs, bees and frogs as much as the produce they grow.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY? I truly believe farm to school can save the world. Ask me any­time about my unofficial Ted Talk on the subject.

https://blogs.cdfa.ca.gov/CDFAInspectionServicesBlog/index.php/2026/05/18/isd-staff-spotlight-jenn-rogge-fosters-connections-between-local-producers-and-school-food-authorities/