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Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training newsletter offers helpful reminders and resources

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Joshua Bingham

Click here to view a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Research and Education Program Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Training newsletter.

Did you complete the CDFA Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Program (INMP) self-certification training between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2022? Check out this newsletter to learn how to renew your eligibility to self-certify INMP Worksheets.

Other newsletter topics include:

  • Frequently asked questions about self-certifying INMP worksheets
  • What is a free Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative (NII) On-Farm Consultation and how does it work?
  • A new video about nitrogen management in citrus offers continuing education credits

Click here to view the newsletter!

CDFA’s Fertilizer and Research Education Program (FREP) is part of the Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch of the Division of Inspection Services.

Posted in CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

2025 State of the Science Summit: Discussing regulatory approval process for innovations intended to reduce methane emissions from animal agriculture

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Joshua Bingham
(Inset, R-L) CDFA Safe Animal Feed Education Program Environmental Scientist KC Gutenberger and Commercial Feed Regulatory Program Manager Rachelle Kennedy give a Regulatory Approval Process presentation during the State of the Science Summit: Reducing Methane from Animal Agriculture at UC Davis.

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Commercial Feed Regulatory Program (CFRP) officials recently presented at the State of the Science Summit: Reducing Methane from Animal Agriculture at UC Davis.

CFRP Manager Rachelle Kennedy and Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE) Program Senior Environmental Scientist KC Gutenberger’s presentation focused on the regulatory process for gaining state and federal approval for the use of feed additives or drugs intended to reduce enteric methane emissions in animal agriculture.

Visit the SAFE Feed and Feed Ingredients webpage for more information about the laws and processes in place to help maintain a safe food supply while incorporating innovative products intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Click here to learn more about the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Clear Center’s 2025 State of the Science Summit.

CDFA’s Commercial Feed Regulatory Program and Safe Animal Feed Education Program are part of the Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch of the Inspection Services Division.

Posted in CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE) | Tagged , | Leave a comment

ISD Staff Spotlight: Christina Harrington supports food hub operators and producers with grant applications and more

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Joshua Bingham

NAME: Christina Harrington ( you can call me Chris 🙂 )
TIME AT CDFA: 1 year and 3 months
PROGRAM: Farm to Community Food Hubs Program
POSITION TITLE: Grant Administration and Outreach Specialist

USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB? When I’m not creating grant program materials, I’m supporting grant applicants navigate the application process, providing one-on-one application assistance, and sharing resources about food hubs to producers, food hub operators and other food system partners. I strategize how to engage stakeholders, develop outreach materials, design training for grant technical reviewers and collaborate with my Farm to School colleagues to ensure we’re providing the best support for food hubs and producers in California.

HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY? I’m administering a $13.75 million program that will invest in food hubs that uplift California producers, increase producers’ access to new or larger market channels and increase the amount of local, sustainable food sold to California’s public institutions and nonprofit organizations.

THOUGHTS OF WORKING AT INSPECTION SERVICES? This is one of the most supportive work environments I’ve ever been in. My colleagues and supervisors are genuinely kind, fun, respectful and entrust me to do the work.

MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE JOB? Going on a ride along with a food hub operator. It was special to see him interact with small-scale farmers and local food bank staff and witness the kind of labor and relational work that goes into supporting the local food system. Plus, it was great to be out in the field again lifting produce boxes!

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE? All that I do should further kindness and love – to others, the earth and myself.

FAVORITE PASTIME? Kayaking and cuddling with my kittens.

Posted in CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork, Farm to Community Food Hubs Program, ISD Staff Spotlight | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nutrition Incentive Grants help CalFresh recipients purchase more California-grown fruits and vegetables

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Joshua Bingham

CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork is pleased to announce that 12 projects across the state and the people they serve are now benefiting from more than $30 million in California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) Grant funding.

The projects will endeavor to increase the purchase of California-grown fresh fruit and vegetables by CalFresh shoppers at 303 Certified Farmers’ Markets, Community Supported Agriculture programs, mobile markets, and small retailers statewide.

2025 CNIP Grant funding is being distributed in two phases over 2.5 years. Phase I this year is comprised solely of state funding. Phase II next year is state funding that may be augmented by federal funding. Grantees are eligible to receive funding in both phases.  

CNIP has been shown to support CalFresh shoppers by empowering them to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. For every benefit dollar they spend, shoppers receive an additional dollar that can be spent on fruits and vegetables at the market or retail outlet, within set parameters.

“I’m eating better because I can afford to get fresh food, fresh vegetables and fruit that I wouldn’t get otherwise,” a CalFresh shopper said about the program in a study by the Nutrition Policy Institute (UC Agriculture and Natural Resources). “It gives me a chance to taste and to eat foods that I might not otherwise be exposed to.”

CNIP supports local farmers by increasing demand for their California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. CNIP has been shown to have a positive effect on the local economy, with every $1 in CNIP incentives generating $3 in local economic activity.

A detailed list of grantees and project descriptions is available on the CNIP webpage. 

CNIP is administered by CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork, which leads CDFA’s food access work.

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

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

CDFA’s Progress for Californians — the vast reach of Farm to School

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Joshua Bingham

CDFA’s report “Progress for California” highlights a variety of ways that agency programs benefit the state. The Farm to School initiative is a great example — a vital approach to improve the health and well-being of California schoolchildren through food-based education and healthy food access. California schools serve hundreds of millions of meals each year, and expanding opportunities for local food procurement tied to education is essential for establishing healthy eating habits that children can carry into adulthood.

The Farm to School Incubator Grant Program has invested $86 million in 375 projects, reaching 49 percent of all California students – that’s 2,850,196 students served by 269 California school districts!

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

CDFA’s Farm to School Program is part of the Office of Farm to Fork in the Inspection Services Division.

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

CDFA congratulates staff for completing coaching program — an important step in developing leadership skills

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Joshua Bingham
CDFA coaching program graduates receiving their certificates last week in person and via Zoom, along with instructor Barzin Moradi (far left), Inspection Services Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg (third from left), Deputy Secretary Arima Kozina (fourth from left), and Inspections Services Assistant Director Carla Sanchez (fifth from right).

Ten CDFA staff members graduated last week from the agency’s Coaching for Personal and Professional Effectiveness Program, a course that provides improved communication skills for work and life and prepares employees to take on leadership positions.

With 24 percent of agency employees at retirement age, and another 12 percent within five years of retirement eligibility, CDFA is prioritizing succession planning programs like this.

The course curriculum included group and individual learning, various personality and behavioral assessment tools, and customized one-on-one professional coaching sessions. Graduates commented the course provided practical skills for talking through difficult conversations, learning the power of saying less through thinking before responding, public speaking, and setting up the framework for leading staff.

Congratulations to this year’s graduates!

Deborah Ayala, Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division

Andrea Cano, State Organic Program

Sarah Cardoni, Inspections Services Division

Carmen Carrasco, Farm Equity Office

Lizzy Elliott, Farm to School Program

Leslie Fernandez, State Organic Program

Jennifer Harmon, Fertilizer Research and Education Program

David Ko, Division of Marketing Services

Pamela Lee, Farm to School Program

Samantha Moran-Defty, Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch

Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog.

Posted in CDFA California State Organic Program, CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Earth Week spotlight — CDFA Food Recovery webpage offers resources for reducing food waste

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Joshua Bingham

In recognition of Earth Week, CDFA is spotlighting its Food Recovery webpage, dedicated to reducing food waste.

The USDA reports that 30-40 percent of the U.S. food supply turns to food waste. CalRecycle reports that Californians discards 5-6 million tons of food every year.

The Food Recovery Hierarchy (right) and CDFA programs help consumers as well as farmers and ranchers reduce food waste through recycling and reuse, resulting in more food for people, feed for animals, and a series of additional uses beneficial to the environment.

There are several examples of agency programs that reflect the values of the hierarchy.

The Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS), through its Healthy Soils Program, offers grants for activities like the mulching of almond shells to help reduce the evaporation of surface water while building highly-coveted organic matter in soil.

CDFA’s Rendering Program oversees the re-use of inedible kitchen grease for an array of products, including biofuel, soaps, cosmetics, shampoos, and feed for the livestock, poultry and pets.

And the agency’s Commercial Feed Regulatory Program offers an incentivized tax rate for commercial feed producers that upcycle human food byproducts to animal feed within California’s livestock feed industry.

The reduction of food waste is a serious worldwide concern, and CDFA is committed to contributing to the effort.

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 Food Recovery, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Produce Safety Program offers tips for FSMA Produce Safety Rule pre-harvest agricultural water requirements

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Joshua Bingham

Are you prepared for the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements?

The compliance date for the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) has begun for Large Farms starting on April 7, 2025. Compliance dates for Small Farms and Very Small Farms will follow in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Click here to view a CDFA Produce Safety Program blog for resources, including educational materials, Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Trainings, On-Farm Readiness Reviews and the CDFA Technical Assistance Program available to assist with preparing for the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements.

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

Check out Fertilizer Research and Education Program newsletter

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Joshua Bingham

Click here to view and subscribe to our Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) newsletter.

Posted in CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), CDFA Inspection Services Division, Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CDFA IT department honored for work on Produce Safety Program webpage

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Joshua Bingham
(Top) CDFA Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) Technology Governance Section Chief Sherri Winfree holds an award received for proactive leadership. (Middle) Members of CDFA ITSD staff (standing, L-R) Amar Hariharan, Trey White, Fredrick Gomez, Rudy Martinez and Peter Betschart and (sitting, L-R) Celeste Payne, Becky Moore and Sherri Winfree show all awards given to CDFA from the California Public Sector Chief Information Officer Academy. (Bottom) PSP team members (L-R) Geetika Joshi, Ben Reische, Briana Russell, Angela Terrazas and Peiman Amin Abadi hold the award for implementation of CDFA’s Produce Safety Program (PSP) Portal, which they initiated and helped developed.

CDFA’s Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) – working with the Inspection Services Division’s Produce Safety Program (PSP) – was recognized with five awards from the California Public Sector Chief Information Officer Academy for stellar work in government technology.

Three ITSD staff members received individual awards. Senior Project Manager Ed Lee was awarded for outstanding leadership and project management expertise as well as the ability to motivate and inspire those around him. Senior Project Manager Robin Root was awarded for exceptional leadership and organization acumen while fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Technology Governance Section Chief Sherri Winfree was awarded for a proactive leadership style that sets a high standard and inspires her colleagues to excel.

A Project Implementation Team Award was given for CDFA’s launch of the PSP Portal, a groundbreaking farm and inspections data repository launched in August 2024. Completed on time, in scope and within budget, this transformational project positions California as a leader in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety, ensuring safer food production through technology-driven oversight. ITSD team members named in the photo, as well as Daniel Godinez and former CDFA employees Cyndi Reimer and Marc Grijalva, helped the project launch. Produce Safety Program members named in the photo, as well as Sarah Standiford and Benjamin Taylor, helped develop the project before ITSD made it live.

A Contracts and Procurement Team Award was given to CDFA’s Technology Governance Section (TGS) for playing a critical role in financial management, strategic planning, and project execution. Through strategic leadership and dedication, the TGS team has strengthened CDFA’s ability to implement innovative solutions, ensuring that technology, fiscal responsibility and sustainability align with California’s long-term conservation and development goals.

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

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