On October 16, CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong joined the Community Alliance with Family Farmers California CRUNCH event at Charles Mack Elementary School in Sacramento. The “CRUNCH!” heard across the state is an annual event where California students all at once take a bite of locally grown fruits and vegetables to celebrate local farms and healthy eating!
Learn more about CDFA’s Farm to School healthy eating programs!
Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog.
Highlights of the Fall 2025 Quarterly Feed Update include:
Click here to view and and subscribe to the newsletter!
The CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry laboratory recently hosted a tour for participants of the CDFA Upward Mobility Program (UMP), including mentees and mentors. During the tour, UMP participants learned about a day in the work life of laboratory environmental scientists supporting the abundance and safety of California’s food system, farm workers and environment.
UMP is designed to support CDFA employees by offering practical guidance for career advancement with the State Civil Service. It also is aligns with CDFA Strategic Plan Goal 3: Robust and Innovative CDFA Workforce. CDFA is committed to fostering a workplace free of barriers that promotes equal opportunity, access and growth across all areas of employment. The Center for Analytical Chemistry is proud to have multiple staff who have served in both the UMP mentor and mentee roles.
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, and farm to school-focused career technical education programs.
Thank you to SAUSD’s Farm to School Coordinator Moises Placencia, Food Service Director Joshua Goddard, and all of the SAUSD staff for the incredible farm to school work you do every single day modeling this important program for California and the nation!
If you would like to learn more about our Farm to School Program and our 250+ grantees, please visit the Farm to School Incubator Grant webpage well as the California Farm to School Program webpage.
This year’s National Farm-to-School Month theme, Growing for the Future, emphasizes the role of farm to school in creating thriving communities now and in the future. Farm to school helps young children and students eat healthy, fresh and locally grown meals in schools, and helps provide local farmers with a reliable source of income by feeding their communities.
Click here to view this original CDFDA Planting Seeds blog.
Benefits of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program are best seen and heard! Following are quotes from grantees who already are putting their new equipment to use, expanding access to fresh, healthy food in their communities:
Showers of Blessings Faith-City Worship Center, San Bernadino County:
“The most rewarding aspect of participating in the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program has been witnessing the direct impact on our community. With the improved refrigeration, we can offer a consistent supply of fresh, healthy food to those who need it most. It has been incredibly fulfilling to see the smiles on the faces of families who now have access to high-quality food and to know that we are contributing to food security and health in our community.”
Carpinteria Children’s Project, Santa Barabara County:
“Before receiving this grant, our food pantry relied on an aging refrigerator that frequently malfunctioned, leading to food spoilage and limiting our ability to provide fresh food to the community. With the new energy-efficient refrigerator, we have significantly improved our food storage capacity and reliability. The larger size allows us to store and distribute more fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and other perishable items, ensuring that our clients have consistent access to nutritious food.”
Temalpakh Farm / Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, Riverside County:
“The new refrigeration display equipment has correlated with a 40-percent increase in fresh produce sales compared to the same period last year. The usable shelf life of our product is now extended for our customers, our waste has been reduced and the professionalism of the refrigeration display is likely to increase customer confidence and repeat foot traffic to the store.”
Rancho Market, Alameda County:
“The new units provide better temperature control, ensuring that our produce, dairy and meat stay fresher for longer. This has enhanced the shopping experience for our customers and allowed us to expand our selection of fresh food, making healthier options more accessible to our community.”
Visit the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program webpage to learn more and view a map of where equipment grantees are located across California.
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 how we’re celebrating this October!
$20m for the CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program!
Research shows – CA Farm to School Program is working!
Join the 10th annual California Crunch with Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)!
Visit us at the California School Nutrition Association Conference!
Join a local farm to school event!
Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and CDFA Inspection Services Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg partnered with Salinas Valley agriculture leaders earlier this week to host a team of federal food safety officials, led by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas.
It was an opportunity to spotlight National Food Safety Education Month with a focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, which establishes science-based federal minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fresh produce for human consumption. CDFA enforces the rule in California via its Produce Safety Program.
The group took a tour that included farms and processing facilities, including Grimmway Farms, D’Arrigo California, Naturipe Farms, and Taylor Farms; as well as a roundtable discussion at the Monterey County Farm Bureau. CDFA offers a special thank you to the tour’s partners and sponsors, including Western Growers, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and the Monterey County Farm Bureau.
Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog.
CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) is accepting proposals for the 2026 California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) Expansion. This opportunity provides monetary incentives to match three initiatives – the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP), and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). Applications must be submitted by email to cafarmtofork@cdfa.ca.gov no later than 5 p.m. PT November 4, 2025.
CNIP provides monetary incentives to shoppers spending nutrition benefits on healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. For every benefit dollar spent, CNIP provides shoppers an additional dollar that may be spent on fruits and vegetables up to a set limit.
CDFA is seeking project proposals from qualified entities to distribute CNIP incentives at Certified Farmers’ Markets, and/or provide support, outreach and technical assistance for benefit shoppers and market vendors utilizing electronic Farmers’ Market Cards. Projects that reach low-access areas and low-income populations, particularly communities where a large proportion of the population is eligible for nutrition benefits, will be prioritized. This is a competitive process.
Please visit the CNIP webpage to view the 2026 CNIP Expansion request for proposals (RFP) and to register for an informational webinar at 11 a.m. PT October 9. The RFP includes further information on the grant program and its implementation. The webinar is an opportunity for grant applicants to receive additional information and ask questions.
Funding for this grant cycle came from the California State Budget General Fund, passed by the California State Legislature and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Click here to view this original CDFA news release.
NAME: Sarah Cardoni
TIME AT CDFA: 13 Years
PROGRAM: Inspection & Compliance Branch
POSITION TITLE: Branch Operations Analyst (Associate Governmental Program Analyst)
USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB: I coordinate the legislative and regulatory activities for the branch’s compliance unit programs, such as the California State Organic Program, Direct Marketing Program and Standardization Program. My daily tasks involve drafting rulemakings, preparing bill analyses and writing legislative proposals.
HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY? By providing legislative and regulatory support to California’s fresh fruit, vegetable and nut industries. For example, when the citrus industry experimented with a new container and packing method for oranges, I reviewed their petition and supporting evidence and conducted economic and fiscal analyses to ensure the container’s use is beneficial and equitable for the citrus industry. I also ensured compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act, maintaining transparency and accountability in the regulatory process, which is crucial for public trust and the integrity of the food supply system.
THOUGHTS OF WORKING AT INSPECTION SERVICES? Inspection Services has been like a second home since I started my state service career at 21. Working alongside talented colleagues, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing their growth and celebrating their milestones. Our work is incredibly rewarding, as we develop innovative strategies to tackle complex challenges that impact California farmers and protect consumers.
FAVORITE PASTIME? I love hiking the old-growth forests of the Klamath region, practicing ashtanga yoga and spending quality time with my loved ones over a good, home-cooked meal.
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOU? I have a 10-year-old senior bearded dragon named Sweet Pea.
CDFA joins the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recognizing September as National Food Safety Education Month, with a continued commitment to supporting produce safety and education across California.
Produce safety is a high priority in California. The Golden State’s hardworking farmers produce nearly half of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts.
In 2018, the CDFA Produce Safety Program was created in response to the groundbreaking Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, which established science-based federal minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fresh produce for human consumption.
The Produce Safety Program has grown from four initial inspectors in 2018 to 12 inspectors and specialists today, resulting in the inspection of 3,045 farms or ranches and more than 300 produce commodities to date.
The Produce Safety Program also provides free food safety education, ranging from Produce Safety Alliance Grower Trainings to On-Farm Readiness Reviews to help producers with compliance. Much-needed technical support offered in multiple languages through the CDFA Technical Assistance Program.
To learn more about CDFA’s Produce Safety Program, please visit the program webpage or contact producesafety@cdfa.ca.gov.
Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.
