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CDFA Food Safety Series: Ensuring proper use of animal medicine for clean and wholesome supply of meat, milk and eggs

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

California is committed to keeping our food safe. In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, CDFA is sharing more information about the programs that help make sure food grown and processed in California is as safe as possible.

CDFA’s Livestock Drug Program is responsible for the enforcement of California state law pertaining to retailer licensing, product registration and label compliance, and the distribution of livestock drugs. These include restricted livestock drugs, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, veterinary feed directive drugs, as well as supplements for livestock, poultry and horses. This improves food safety through ensuring that animal medicines are used properly so that meat, milk and eggs remain safe for consumption.

Activities include:

  • Regulating sales of all over-the-counter livestock drugs in California
  • Reviewing and approving livestock drug product registrations
  • Issuing retailer licenses and conducting inspections to verify compliance

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog.

Posted in CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Livestock Drug Program, Food Safety | Tagged | Leave a comment

CDFA Food Safety Series: Sampling Livestock and Poultry Feed for Clean and Wholesome Supply of Meat, Milk and Eggs

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

California is committed to keeping our food safe. In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, CDFA is sharing more information about the programs that help make sure food grown and processed in California is as safe as possible.

CDFA’s Commercial Feed Regulatory Program is responsible for the enforcement of California state law and regulations pertinent to the manufacturing, distribution and labeling of commercial livestock feed while preventing adulterated feed from being consumed by livestock and poultry. This improves food safety through ensuring a clean and wholesome supply of meat, milk and eggs.

Activities include:

  • Inspectors and investigators located throughout the state conducting routine sampling and inspections, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for Animal Food inspections of feed manufacturing facilities, and responding to consumer complaints
  • Providing assurance that feed products received by California consumers are the quality and quantity purported by the manufacturer and all feed safety requirements are met

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.

Posted in CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CDFA Food Safety Series: Food Safety Auditing Unit verifies food safety in the field

Posted on September 21, 2026 by Joshua Bingham
CDFA Food Safety Auditing Unit Supervisor Nancy Jauregui verifies cleaning and sanitization practices for harvest tools during a leafy greens audit.

California is committed to keeping our food safe. In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, CDFA is sharing more information about the programs that help make sure food grown and processed in California is as safe as possible.

CDFA’s Food Safety Auditing Unit conducts a variety of food safety audits in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and commodity-specific groups. The audits include verifying food safety practices set by the requesting agency for growing, harvesting, packing and cooling activities.

These announced and unannounced audits double-check that producers and their employees are adhering to science-based protocols for food safety, such as procedures for equipment cleaning and use. These audits also provide buyers extra reassurance that they will be providing safe food for consumers to be able to purchase in California and beyond.

Food Safety Auditing Unit activities include:

  • Approximately 1,200 food safety audits per year
  • Food safety audits of leafy greens for members of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement
  • Mandatory food safety audits of California-grown cantaloupes per direction of the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board
  • USDA good agricultural practice (GAP) audits reviewing facilities, agronomic practices and documentation to help determine if GAPs and good handling practices are being maintained

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.

Posted in CDFA Food Safety Auditing Unit, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Shipping Point Inspection Program | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CDFA Food Safety Series: Produce Safety Program Inspections and Trainings Facilitate Safe Food for California and the Nation

Posted on September 18, 2026 by Joshua Bingham
A CDFA Produce Safety Program inspector (front) conducts an inspection on a California farm to ensure regulations are being followed to help ensure a safe food supply for California and the nation.

California is committed to keeping our food safe. In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, CDFA is sharing more information about the programs that help make sure food grown and processed in California is as safe as possible.

As presented in a previous CDFA Planting Seeds blog, our Produce Safety Program protects California food safety through conducting more than 2,770 on-farm inspections since 2019 and offering outreach and education. But what do these processes include?

PSP Farm Inspection Process

A CDFA Produce Safety Program (PSP) inspection, conducted under authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), starts with an inspector contacting a farm to confirm it is covered under the federal Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule (PSR). The inspector then asks questions about the timeframe of on-farm activities covered under the PSR (growing, harvesting, packing and holding of covered produce) to appropriately schedule an inspection.

A PSP inspection takes a systems-based approach, where inspectors observe as many farm activities as possible and ask numerous questions to better understand a farm’s processes and approaches to food safety at every step. Required inspection elements include: personnel qualifications and training; health and hygiene; agricultural water; biological soil amendments of animal origin; domesticated and wild animal intrusion; growing, harvesting, packing and holding activities; equipment, tools, buildings and sanitation; analytical methods used for testing; and records related to these topics.

Observing farm activities and conversations with the responsible personnel on the farm helps an inspector evaluate potential food-safety risks on the farm (including due to adjacent land use) and demonstrate the farm’s understanding of those risks, as well as measures taken to address them.

PSP Outreach and Education

To ensure farms covered by the Produce Safety Rule know with what food safety regulations they’re required to comply, they must have an individual employed on the farm who has completed an FDA-approved Produce Safety Rule Grower Training or equivalent course. PSP provides the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course to ensure California farmers are properly trained.

CDFA’s Produce Safety Program also offers non-regulatory On-Farm Readiness Reviews for small and very small farms to gain a better understanding of what to expect during a routine inspection. Visit PSP’s Educate webpage for more information.

For an extra level of outreach and education in helping farmers be compliant with the Produce Safety Rule, CDFA’s Technical Assistance Program offers outreach in multiple languages. Through an agreement with the University of California Cooperative Extension, advisors and community educators fluent in multiple languages further promote the success of small-scale farmers in following safe farming practices.

Through inspections, outreach, education and inspections, CDFA’s Produce Safety Program is proud to partner with California’s vibrant agriculture industry in providing safe food to California and the nation. 

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog.

Posted in CDFA Avocado Inspection Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Produce Safety Program | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee member Jaclyn Allen works to fight hunger and cultivate community

Posted on September 18, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

This International Year of the Woman Farmer, CDFA celebrates and thanks CDFA advisory committee members for contributions to their industries and communities. Following is a spotlight of a member of the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee.

Jaclyn Allen
The Hen’s Roost, Apple Core Project, Bakersfield

What inspired you to pursue a career in agriculture?
I grew up FFA (Future Farmers of America) and 4-H my whole life. I loved selling at the local fairs and competing and learning all things Ag in school. I think my career in Ag came from the long list of survival skills taught to us crazy country kids. 

Could you please describe your farming operation?
My farming operation comes from years of work in managing farmers’ markets and providing access to food to people all over Bakersfield. I started an urban farm for my nonprofit Apple Core Project Inc. That’s where the real work came in. We started feeding people in a neighborhood that struggles to have access and education around healthy, farm-fresh food. We are truly a farm to fork destination fighting hunger and cultivating community.

What does being a woman in agriculture mean to you?
Being a woman in agriculture is a huge part of my identity and a huge portion of my life; it’s hard to imagine doing anything else. I think the beauty of being a woman in Ag is holding that stewardess part close to my heart and truly battling the hunger epidemic smack dab in the breadbasket of the world. 

Why did you become a member of the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee, and what do your duties entail?
I became a part of the advisory committee to help protect and learn the intricacies of the system in charge of farmers’ markets. I am obsessed with our market community and I hope to do as much as humanly possible to protect them for as many generations to come. Learning about legislation and policies and also making sure my own community has those protections in place is critical to our longevity and survival.

What advice would you give the next generation of women in agriculture?
Dig in! Never stop or give up! We need you and we want to protect our agriculture and farms to continue to produce the best food in the world. 

Anything else you’d like to say?
Another amazing program I have had the pleasure to be involved in is the California Farm2Food Program. It has been the biggest asset to my value-added product line. I have made so many lasting connections and education on being a small CPG (consumer packaged goods) brand. The best part of being in Ag is the added programs available to the small producers. I appreciate the opportunities that still are available from our agriculture programs and the California Department of Food and Agriculture and National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.  

CDFA’s Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee advises the Secretary on all matters pertaining to direct marketing of agricultural products at Certified Farmers’ Markets, with the primary goal of ensuring the integrity of Certified Farmers’ Markets. The committee comprises 14 members and their alternates who are producers or representatives of agricultural organizations that represent producers, Certified Farmers’ Market operators or representatives of the operator, one public member and one county agricultural commissioner.

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.

Posted in CDFA Direct Marketing Program, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, Certified Farmers Market, Certified Farmers Market Advisory Committee | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CDFA announces three vacancies on Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board – Apply by Oct. 16!

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces three vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board. The board advises the CDFA Secretary on CDFA’s Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program (FMIP), which ensures fertilizing materials are safe, effective and meet quality guarantees.

As part of the program, FMIP inspectors and scientists located throughout the state conduct routine sampling and inspections, respond to consumer complaints, and enforce laws and regulations that govern the manufacturing and distribution of fertilizing materials. FMIP is funded by fertilizing materials license and product registration fees and mill assessments.

There are three board member positions available. The term of office for board members is up to three years. Board members receive no compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of necessary travel expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources. Board member applicants must hold a current fertilizing materials license or be a representative of a licensed firm.

Individuals interested in a board appointment must submit a resume and a completed Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire (PMAQ). The PMAQ is available on the CDFA website at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/pdfs/PMAQ_Fertilizer_IAB.pdf. Both the resume and PMAQ are due by October 16, 2026.

Send resume and PMAQ via email to Brittnie.Williams@cdfa.ca.gov or by mail to:

CDFA
Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch
Attn:  Brittnie Williams
1220 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

For more information, contact Brittnie Williams at (916) 900-5022 Brittnie.Williams@cdfa.ca.gov.

Posted in CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CDFA Food Safety Series: Produce Safety Program Protecting California Food Safety through 2,770 On-Farm Inspections since 2019

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

California is committed to keeping our food safe. In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, CDFA will be sharing more information about the programs that help make sure food grown and processed in California is as safe as possible.

California plays a major role in feeding the nation. We grow about half of the country’s vegetables and three‑quarters of its fruits and nuts. Because of this, CDFA takes food safety seriously. Our responsibility is to make sure the food produced here meets the highest standards, and we hold ourselves accountable to those expectations.

One of the key programs leading this work is CDFA’s Produce Safety Program (PSP). Created in 2017 through an ongoing partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), PSP supports California farmers in meeting the requirements of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

About the Produce Safety Rule

FSMA, passed in 2011, marked the nation’s first major produce safety law. It shifted food safety efforts from reacting to problems to preventing them. In 2015, FDA finalized the Produce Safety Rule, which established basic national standards for how fruits and vegetables should be grown, harvested, packed and stored. When the rule took effect in 2017, California created the Produce Safety Program to help farmers meet these new requirements.

About the Produce Safety Program

Under its cooperative agreement with FDA, the Produce Safety Program carries out several important responsibilities. One of the biggest responsibilities is on-farm inspections. These inspections are meant to ensure farms are compliant with all the harvesting, packaging and storing requirements from the federal Produce Safety Rule.

The Produce Safety Program also supports farmers and farmworkers through hands-on training. These sessions teach simple, practical steps, like safe irrigation and good hygiene practices, that help prevent accidental contamination.

For smaller or newer farms preparing for their first inspection, PSP offers On-Farm Readiness Reviews, giving growers a chance to ask questions and feel confident before the official visit. PSP also provides technical assistance through its partnership with the University of California Cooperative Extension, ensuring farmers have trusted experts they can turn to.

This layered system of training, guidance and support helps farmers and their communities work together to keep food safe at every stage, from growing and handling to harvesting and packaging.

Since 2019, PSP has conducted more than 2,770 farm inspections, offered 665 Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training courses and completed over 190 On-Farm Readiness Reviews for small farms that are about to be inspected. The program has become a national model in helping farms grow, harvest and pack produce safely. Through these efforts, CDFA works every day to help ensure the produce grown in California is safe for everyone.

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog.

Posted in CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Produce Safety Program | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CDFA accepting public comment for CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program Request for Applications

Posted on August 21, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has released the draft Request for Applications (RFA) for the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program for public comment through 5 p.m., September 11, 2026.

The Budget Acts of 2025 and 2026 provide up to $40 million for this grant cycle. CDFA will set aside up to 10% of awards for tribal governments and tribal-based non-profit organizations.

Since 2021, the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program has invested $86 million in 375 projects, benefitting 49% of all California public school students. To date, Title I schools make up 80% of incubator grantees and 100% of farmer grantees are small, mid-size, or socially/economically disadvantaged producers (veterans, women, indigenous, people of color, and limited-resource farm households). Additionally, 100% of funded producers utilize climate smart, organic, or regenerative agricultural practices, providing a stable market for adoption.

“This program nourishes students while fostering climate-smart, resilient food systems, benefiting local communities by directly connecting students, educators and farmers,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Whether they’re in the cafeteria, classroom, or school garden, we’ve seen this program inspire kids to eat what they grow and expand what they know about California food and farmers.”

There are three tracks in this upcoming grant cycle:

  • Track 1: California Farm to School TK-12 Procurement and Education Grant
  • Track 2: California Farm to School Technical Assistance Subaward Grant
  • Track 3: California Farm to School Producer and Food Hub Grant

CDFA will hold three Zoom information sessions in English and one in Spanish to provide an overview of the RFA and allow time for questions and public comments. The information sessions are:

  • August 21, 2026, 4 p.m.
  • August 26, 2026, 1 p.m.
  • September 2, 2026, 1 p.m., Spanish only
  • September 3, 2026, 10 a.m.

The RFA and registration for the Zoom information sessions may be viewed on CDFA’s Farm to School Incubator Grant Program webpage. Stakeholders may submit comments during the live information sessions or via the public comment submission link.

CDFA will incorporate stakeholder feedback from the public comment period into the final RFA. The grant application period will open in October 2026, with funding awards planned in 2027.

Click here to view this original CDFA news release.

Posted in CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Joshua Bingham
(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.

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.

Click here to view this original post on CDFA’s Planting Seeds blog.

Posted in CDFA Farm to School Network, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork | Tagged | Leave a comment

Center for Analytical Chemistry staff gain better appreciation of lab work through sampling ride-along

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Joshua Bingham
(L-R) CAC’s Sam Hartanto lends a hand to DPR Envi­ronmental Scientist Emily Edgerton as they sample a lot of spinach in a supermarket distribution center.

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.”

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.

Posted in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Food Safety Laboratory, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , | Leave a comment