California accounts for 36 percent of organic sales in the United States, and newly released figures show our state’s organic sales are continuing to grow.
According to the California Agricultural Organics Report 2021-2022, California organic sales increased 16.4 percent from $11,991,337,954 in 2020 to $13,957,173,072 in 2021. This growth occurred during the same period when California organic production site acreage decreased by 2.58 percent and organic harvested acreage decreased by 13.1 percent.
The reported top 10 counties with the most organic harvested acreage, including pasture and rangeland:
Modoc County (198,026.69 acres)
Lassen County (173,894.58 acres)
Humboldt County (152,243.95 acres)
Tehama County (143,099.86 acres)
Kern County (124,427.52 acres)
San Luis Obispo County (104,989.04 acres)
Siskiyou County (98,777.06 acres)
Inyo County (91,454.50 acres)
San Benito County (82,475.55 acres)
Fresno County (81,700.42 acres)
The California State Organic Program, which assumes the USDA’s National Organic Program oversight and enforcement authority in California, helped create this report.
Over an aerial photo of Denali’s Imperial Western Products facility in Coachella that shows part of a new solar energy system, the inset is of officials at the solar energy system’s activation ceremony, including (L-R) Denali Vice President of Advocacy David Isen, California Energy Commission Energy Analyst Claire Sweeny, Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez, Denali Vice President of Operations Jason Cabanyog, CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program Manager Jenna Leal, CDFA Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands Virginia Jameson and CDFA Inspection Services Division Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg.
CDFA leadership attended a ribbon cutting this month to mark the activation of a large solar energy system at the Denali Imperial Western Products (IWP) facility in Coachella. Partly funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission, this new system will provide enough power to cover one-third of the electricity used at the facility. It is estimated to reduce energy usage by 35% and reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to taking 140,000 cars off the road each year.
Denali is a nationwide organic waste management company, and the Coachella facility models its processes after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Hierarchy. Each year, Denali IWP handles hundreds of thousands of tons of bakery waste, salvaged and distressed pet food, recalled and off-spec human grade food, and used cooking oil. This landfill diversion avoids landfill emissions of 672,840 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, based on the CalRecycle Waste Diversion Greenhouse Gas Calculator.
The facility transforms agricultural organic waste into cattle feed and the used cooking oil (UCO) is refined into biodiesel. In 2022, Denali IWP converted UCO into more than 10 million gallons of biodiesel and produced more than 33,000 tons of bakery and cottonseed animal feeds, mostly supplied to California dairy farms.
Denali IWP’s work contributes to fulfilling the mandates of California Assembly Bill (AB) 32 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as legislation requiring businesses to recycle organic waste and reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfills.
“CDFA is proud to celebrate our partners in animal food production reducing energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy projects like these,” said Virginia Jameson, CDFA Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands, who attended the ceremony. “We congratulate Denali’s Imperial Western Products for their innovative thinking and encourage other partners to do the same.”
This produce case was funded through the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) announces that the request for applications (RFA) is open for the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program. Applications must be submitted via CDFA’s new grant management system, AmpliFund, no later than 5 p.m. (PT), June 6, 2023.
The purpose of the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program is to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities while promoting California-grown agriculture by funding energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigeration and freezer equipment in corner stores, small businesses, and food donation programs in low-income or low-food access areas throughout the state. The equipment is funded to stock California-grown fresh produce, nuts, eggs, meat, and dairy products, as well as minimally processed and culturally appropriate foods.
The Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program is funded through the 2021 and 2022 state budgets. Up to $9 million in funding is available for equipment grants during the current RFA. This is a competitive process.
Eligible entities for this program include corner stores, small businesses, food donation programs, and nonprofits working with eligible sites and/or selling or donating food in low-income or low-access areas. Cities, counties, nonprofits or Tribal governments may also apply for equipment on behalf of eligible sites and may apply for up to 20% of total grant awards to provide technical assistance.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces one vacancy on the Feed Inspection Advisory Board (FIAB). This board makes regulatory and enforcement recommendations to CDFA to help ensure that commercial feed inspections contribute to a clean and wholesome supply of milk, meat and eggs.
There is one board position available. The term of office for board members is up to three years. This vacancy will fill an unfinished board term of service until April 30, 2025. Board members do not receive compensation, but they are entitled to necessary travel expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources. Board member applicants must hold a current California Commercial Feed License.
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_Feed_IAB.pdf. Both the resume and PMAQ are due by April 10, 2023.
USUAL ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB: My job consists of being the middle woman for all of our livestock feed samples that are taken by our field inspectors and sent to our lab for testing. I ensure that all the information provided to our lab is accurate, results we receive from the lab are entered, and issue lab reports to all the firms and purchasers associated with each sample.
HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY: I work for the California food supply by providing data to show that the livestock industry is getting safe and nutritional feed for its animals. The feed that we sample and regulate is for the livestock in California that provides us with milk, meat and eggs, so it is important that these animals get proper nutrition to be able to provide us with quality food.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? There are a few things I love about my job. One is that I get to help the agricultural industry all while learning new things about it every day. I grew up in an area that wasn’t huge on agriculture, so it is fascinating to see all the components that go into providing food for Californians. Another thing I enjoy and I think is the top one is the team that I get to work with. We are a team that works well together, gets along and communicates well.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE? My philosophy has always been you get what you give. If you are positive every day, positivity will come your way.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces the release of its Inspection Services Division Annual Report 2022.
The annual report offers an overview of Inspection Services Division’s (ISD) programs, boards and committees, fiscal year expenditures, mission, vision, goals and strategic direction. Photos, graphics and brief descriptions highlights how each ISD branch throughout the year helped to promote and protect resilient food systems, ensure environmentally sound agricultural practices and build equity for all in California.
Highlights include:
Helping Salinas Valley agricultural neighbors join resources for food safety efforts that aim to stay on the cutting edge of innovation
Working with stakeholders to develop a California farm to school roadmap that reimagines and advances nutrition opportunities
Improving efficiency and customer satisfaction by upgrading Center for Analytical Chemistry processes, technology and equipment
“We have an amazing team of thinkers and innovators whose work I encourage you to explore,” Division Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg states in the report’s opening pages. “As we reflect on the past and look ahead to the future, we make an ongoing commitment to do right by one another and to do right by the future generations to come.”
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing a vacancy on the Avocado Inspection Committee (AIC).
The AIC advises the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to the California Avocado Inspection Program. This program protects the consumer and industry by providing uniform inspections of avocados, ensuring that the product meets size requirements, contains minimal defects and has an appropriate package count. The program also ensures that avocados purchased by consumers have met standards established by the industry to provide a quality product in the marketplace.
There is one active handler of avocados vacancy. The term of office for committee members is two years. While members do not receive compensation, they are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.
Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should complete the Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire (PMAQ) available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/i_&_c/pdfs/CAIC-PMAQ.pdf, and obtain a letter of recommendation from an industry member. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Applications should be sent to Sarah Cardoni, CDFA Inspection and Compliance Branch, 1220 ‘N’ Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or via email to Sarah.Cardoni@cdfa.ca.gov.
For further information on the AIC and vacancies, please contact Sam Santander at (760) 743-4712 or Samuel.Santander@cdfa.ca.gov.
Click here to view this original CDFA news release.
COPAC advises the CDFA Secretary on matters pertaining to the California State Organic Program (SOP). The SOP is responsible for enforcement of federal and state laws governing organic production, as well as administration of the organic program in the state. There are currently more than 4,700 organic operations registered with CDFA.
The term of office for committee members is three years. While members do not receive compensation, they are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.
Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should complete the Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire (PMAQ) available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/organicprogram/pdfs/copac/COPAC-PMAQ.pdf and obtain a letter of recommendation from an industry member. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.
Applications should be sent to Sarah Cardoni, CDFA Inspection and Compliance Branch, 1220 ‘N’ Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or via email to Sarah.Cardoni@cdfa.ca.gov.
For further information on the California State Organic Program and COPAC vacancies, contact Danny Lee at Danny.Lee@cdfa.ca.gov.
Click here to view this original CDFA news release.
New FIAB TASC members include Charlotte Decock (left) and Mike Almasri.
The Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) blog welcomes two new members of the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board (FIAB) Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TASC).
TASC members advise on FREP activities and assist with the FREP Grant Program through helping set project priorities and reviewing grant applications to recommend to the FIAB which research and outreach proposals should receive funding.
This is a blog for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Inspection Services Division (ISD). Read here for the latest news about how ISD is providing Californians professional services that support and contribute to a safe, abundant and quality food supply; environmentally sound agricultural practices; and an equitable marketplace for California agriculture.
