California Department of Food and Agriculture

08/10/2026

📢 The California Department of Food and Agriculture is hiring!

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is seeking a Legislative Consultant (Analyst III) to support the Department’s legislative functions and work on emerging issues related to agriculture and legislation.

📍 Sacramento
💼 Permanent, Full-Time
🏠 Hybrid
💰 $6,623–$8,290/month

The position works under the direction of the Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs and may address issues including air and water quality, energy and land use, agricultural economics, agricultural labor, animal health, federal grant programs and the budget process. The application deadline is August 21, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

🔎 Learn more and apply: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=524493

08/10/2026

Farmers who experienced quality losses to eligible crops, trees, bushes and vines now have more flexibility when it comes to documenting those losses. Additionally, we’ve extended the deadline to Sept. 30, 2026, for both stages to give producers more time to compile and submit their applications and documentation. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-events/news/08-10-2026/usda-extends-supplemental-disaster-relief-program-application-deadline

08/07/2026

National Farmers Market Week: Cameron Park’s Certified Farmers’ Market Connects California’s Foothill Communities with Local Farmers 🌱🥕🍎

National Farmers Market Week (August 2–8, 2026) is an opportunity to celebrate the farmers, farmworkers and communities that make California’s Certified Farmers’ Markets such an important part of the state’s agricultural landscape. 🌾👩‍🌾👨‍🌾

To mark the occasion, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) visited the Cameron Park Certified Farmers’ Market in El Dorado County, one of the state’s 650 certified markets, to hear directly from the people who help make these markets thrive. 🎥🍓 In this video, the market manager, local farmers, and customers share why supporting Certified Farmers’ Markets matters. Many Certified Farmers’ Markets throughout California operate year-round, providing continued access to fresh, locally grown food. 🥬🍅

As Californians celebrate National Farmers Market Week, CDFA encourages everyone to visit a Certified Farmers’ Market and experience the benefits of buying directly from local farmers. 🧺🌽 Every visit helps strengthen California agriculture. 🌱

“When you make a purchase at a Certified Farmers Market, sale proceeds go directly to the farmer, providing critical support for small farms while enhancing access to fresh, local, healthy food,” said Secretary Karen Ross.

📍 Visit the CDFA Certified Farmers’ Market webpage to find the Certified Farmers’ Markets to visit by county. 🧺

08/05/2026

‘Kids are actually eating the food’: State expands lunch program that pairs schools with farms

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to school food service,” Lawson said. “The staff is happier, the farmers are benefitting. And the kids are actually eating the food.”

California’s school lunch program pairs local farmers, ranchers and food producers with school districts to provide fresh meals to students.

08/05/2026

🪰 Three decades ago, California changed how it fights the Mediterranean fruit fly by adding proactive prevention methods to its response efforts.

As a result, Medfly infestations are down more than 90% since CDFA’s Preventive Release Program (PRP) began, protecting a $18.5 billion agricultural economy 🌱 and backyard gardens 🏡 across the state.

🔬 Read more about the 30th anniversary of the PRP and the science behind it, by visiting CDFA's Planting Seeds blog:
https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/index.php/2026/08/05/how-30-years-of-prevention-cut-california-medfly-infestations-by-over-90/

08/04/2026

🎉 CDFA Welcomes Devon Keeler as Deputy Secretary of Communications and External Affairs 🌾 Please join us in welcoming Devon to the CDFA team! Congratulations, Devon! 👏

More on CDFA's Planting Seeds blog:
https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/index.php/2026/08/04/cdfa-welcomes-devon-keeler/

08/04/2026

Secretary Ross celebrates Davis Farmers’ Market 50th anniversary 🥕🍅🍊🧑‍🌾🍎🌷🌼🌞

Happy National Farmers’ Market Week!

“When you make a purchase at a Certified Farmers Market, sale proceeds go directly to the farmer, providing critical support for small farms while enhancing access to fresh, local, healthy food. Farmers markets have also played an important role in expanding access to fruits and vegetables for food-insecure households through the California Nutrition Incentive Program, which matches funds for shoppers using nutrition benefits—such as CalFresh, WIC, and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program—to purchase California-grown fruits and vegetables,” said Secretary Ross.

⬇️ Read more on CDFA’s Planting Seeds blog

https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/index.php/2026/08/04/secretary-ross-celebrates-davis-farmers-market-50th-anniversary/

08/03/2026

California Department of Public Health urges everyone to follow these prevention steps

08/03/2026

🍉 Celebrating National Watermelon Day and California’s Watermelon Growers 🍉

Today, we celebrate National Watermelon Day 🍉 and recognize the California farmers, farmworkers 🚜, and agricultural communities 🌱 whose hard work helps bring one of summer’s most refreshing fruits to our tables.

California continues to be a major producer of watermelons, harvesting 514 million pounds in 2025. From planting 🌱 and irrigating 💧 fields to harvesting 🚜, packing 📦, and transporting 🚚 fruit, producing a watermelon takes the dedication of thousands of people working together throughout the growing season.

Watermelons are grown in communities across California 🌎, with several counties standing out for their production. According to the 2022 California County Agricultural Commissioners’ Report and the 2022 Census of Agriculture, leading California watermelon-producing counties based on acres harvested and gross production value include:

📍 San Joaquin
📍 Kern
📍 Yolo
📍 Colusa
📍 Sutter
📍 Fresno
📍 Riverside
📍 San Bernardino

These regions help supply consumers with fresh, California-grown watermelons during the peak of summer ☀️, showcasing the diversity and strength of the state’s agricultural landscape 🌾.

Whether enjoyed at a family barbecue 🍽️, sliced at a picnic 🧺, blended into a refreshing drink 🥤, or simply eaten fresh, watermelon is a summertime favorite. Naturally sweet and hydrating 💧, it’s a delicious way to enjoy California agriculture 🌱.

On this National Watermelon Day, CDFA extends its sincere appreciation to California’s watermelon growers 👩‍🌾👨‍🌾, farmworkers 🚜, processors 📦, shippers 🚚, and everyone throughout the supply chain 🔗 whose dedication helps make this iconic summer fruit available for families to enjoy.

🙏 Thank you for all you do — and happy National Watermelon Day! 🍉☀️
Thank you for the collaboration: National Agricultural Statistics Service and

07/31/2026

Happy National Avocado Day!

California is the nation’s leader in avocado production, harvesting 170,000 tons in 2025!

According to the 2023-24 California Agricultural Statistics Review, California producers represent 96% of the U.S. market, with 47,600 acres dedicated to growing these nutritional super fruits, generating $239 million. Leading counties for avocado production include Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

CDFA thanks the farmworkers, shippers, handlers and all involved in supplying the nation and beyond with nutrient-dense California avocados that provide substantial amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients with relatively few calories.

Visit https://californiaavocado.com/ to learn more about this amazing fruit, recipes and the California Avocado Commission.

https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/index.php/2026/07/31/cdfa-celebrates-a-nutritional-super-fruit-this-national-avocado-day/