Author Archives: Joshua Bingham

Congratulations to graduates of CDFA’s Coaching for Personal and Professional Effectiveness Program

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

CDFA congratulates this year’s graduates of CDFA’s Coaching for Personal and Professional Effectiveness Program. The coaching program is customized to each participant to help them lead and succeed in leadership positions. The curriculum includes group and individual learnings, various personality … Continue reading

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Fort Bragg’s Farm to School Model of Success Offers Healthy Nutrition from Local Produce

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

Fort Bragg Unified School District (FBUSD) in Mendocino County offers a farm to school model of success by connecting local food procurement, scratch-cooked meals and hands-on food education to foster lifelong habits of good nutrition to its students. Fort Bragg’s farm to school culture … Continue reading

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

ISD Staff Spotlight: Nighat Sami Ahmed examines environmental samples in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

NAME: Nighat Sami AhmedTIME AT CDFA: 16 YearsPROGRAM: Environmental Anal­ysis, Center for Analytical ChemistryPOSITION TITLE: Environmental Scientist USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB? I perform chemical analyses of environmental samples in the laboratory, such as air, surface water and groundwater. … Continue reading

Posted in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Environmental Safety Laboratory, CDFA Inspection Services Division, ISD Staff Spotlight | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Inspection Services 2025 Annual Report spotlights top accomplishments, major metrics

Posted on April 8, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

CDFA’s Inspection Services Division announces publication of its 2025 Annual Report. “Agriculture has always been built on resilience, stewardship and the people who show up every day to feed our communities,” ISD Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg states in the report’s Overview. … Continue reading

Posted in California Nutrition Incentive Program, CDFA Avocado Inspection Program, CDFA California Citrus Program, CDFA California State Organic Program, CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Direct Marketing Program, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), CDFA Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA OCal Cannabis Certification Program, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork, CDFA Organic Input Material Program, CDFA Produce Safety Program, CDFA Shipping Point Inspection Program, CDFA Standardization Program, CDFA Technical Assistance Program, Certified Farmers Market, Farm to Community Food Hubs Program, Food Safety | Leave a comment

CDFA Farm to School Grant “Sparks” support of women in agriculture – expanding local citrus into school meals

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

CDFA’s California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program supports small to midsize farms while increasing healthy food choices for school meals. And in California, where women outpace the nation by making up 38% of producers, that includes supporting women in agriculture. For … Continue reading

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

CDFA announces vacancies on Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting applications to fill four vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee. The subcommittee serves as an expert scientific panel on matters concerning efficient use of fertilizing materials … Continue reading

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

CDFA accepting pre-proposals for 2026 Fertilizer Research and Education Program grant cycle

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is now accepting pre-proposals for the 2026 grant cycle. FREP’s competitive grant program funds proposals that advance efficient nutrient and irrigation management practices that minimize environmental impacts … Continue reading

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

Governor Newsom announces more than $23 million to increase access to farm-fresh food for CalFresh, WIC, and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program recipients

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

Office of Governor Newsom News Release What you need to know: California is investing $23 million to help connect California grown fresh food to Californians who qualify for CalFresh, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. Governor Newsom today announced that … Continue reading

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

8 CA projects awarded $2.1M through USDA Local Agriculture Marketing Program

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced eight California projects will receive $2.1 million in grant funding through its Local Agriculture Marketing Program (LAMP). Programs comprising LAMP include the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program, Local Food Promotion Program and Regional … Continue reading

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Food Safety: FDA releases initial findings of 5-year CA Central Coast environmental study, highlighting benefits of government and industry collaboration

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Joshua Bingham

The California agriculture industry continues to demonstrate that science and partnerships are the cornerstones of advancing food safety. In April 2021, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross called for industry participation to help solve recurring food safety incidents. This action followed a number of … Continue reading

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