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USDA grant to help with nutrition incentives at farmers’ markets, small retailers

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced that a USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grant of $12.9 million will fund nutrition incentives at Certified Farmers’ Markets and small retailers throughout California. The grant will help CDFA’s California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) offer nutrition incentives to CalFresh Shoppers at participating Certified Farmers’ Markets, mobile market sites, farm stands and neighborhood retail markets throughout California. Click here to read the USDA award announcement.

“This grant is a triple win for California,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “It supports the health of our low-income shoppers, our farmers and the local economy.”

For every CalFresh benefit dollar spent at participating locations, CalFresh shoppers will receive an additional dollar that can be spent on fruits and vegetables at the market, within set parameters. The CNIP incentive is intended to empower CalFresh shoppers to increase their consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables while expanding markets for California farmers. CNIP is administered by CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork, which leads CDFA’s food access work.

Funding from the 2021 state budget provided matching funds that enabled CDFA to apply for the GusNIP grant. CDFA will work with the following seven partner organizations, chosen through a competitive process, to implement grants: the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League –ALL IN Eats Nutrition Incentives; Aspire Health’s Double Up Food Bucks in Monterey County; the Chico Natural Foods Co-op’s Matching On Regional Eats: MORE; the Ecology Center’s 2022-24 Market Match: Meeting California’s Growing Food Security Needs; the Los Angeles Food Policy Council’s Farm Fresh LA; Mandela Partners’ Celebrating and Resourcing Food Sovereignty in East Bay Neighborhoods; and The Food Trust’s San Jose Healthy Corner Store Program – Food Bucks.

Please visit the California Nutrition Incentive Program webpage for more information.

Click here to view this original CDFA press release.

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

CDFA bids a fond farewell to Steve Patton, retiring after 45 years with Inspection Services Division

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Joshua Bingham
Steve Patton with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (right) and CDFA Inspection Services Division Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg.

Friends and colleagues at CDFA and throughout the state’s agricultural community are joining in congratulating Inspection and Compliance Branch Chief Steve Patton on his retirement last month. He put in 45 years of dedicated and loyal service at CDFA.

Steve began his career in 1977 as a seasonal cling peach inspector with the department’s Processed Products Branch, which covered peaches, pears, garlic and onions, tomatoes, olives and wine grapes. From there, he steadily gained experience, respect and promotions on the way to his culminating post as branch chief.

Steve’s career path at CDFA involved a great deal of field work and thousands of hours spent on farms, in fields, and at processing plants, as well as his time in the office. He also logged a lot of miles getting to and from all of the state’s far-flung agricultural regions.

“Working for CDFA has given me the opportunity to see hundreds of farmers’ markets, thousands of farms and dozens of processing facilities,” Patton said. “And almost all of that was driving; at six-foot-five, flying was never really my favorite way to travel.”

Congratulations, Steve, and thank you on behalf of a grateful department, industry and state.

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

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USDA presents certificate of appreciation to Tiffany Tu, retiring Center for Analytical Chemistry manager

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Joshua Bingham

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has presented a certificate of appreciation to retiring CDFA Analytical Chemistry (CAC) Food Safety Program Environmental Program Manager Tiffany Tu. The award reads, in part, “This certificate of appreciation is presented to you with gratitude and admiration for your many years of public service and your dedication to the Pesticide Data Program. We thank you for your leadership and expertise you have shared with the program.”

Tu is retiring after 33 years of public service, all with Center for Analytical Chemistry. Through her work, Tu partnered with the USDA Pesticide Data Program (USDA-PDP), a national pesticide residue monitoring program comprised of seven state laboratories that sample, test and report pesticide residues on agricultural commodities in the U.S. food supply.

USDA-PDP data is primarily used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the essential dietary exposure component of risk assessment that is part of the pesticide registration review and tolerance reassessment process mandated by the Food Quality Protection Act. The data also is used for worldwide marketing of U.S-grown produce.  

“Being a part of the USDA-PDP team gave me the opportunity to connect to policymakers, enforcement agencies, and national and international lab partners,” Tu said. “The knowledge and experience helped shape the CAC Food Safety Program’s quality system framework – one that generates the highest quality data for food surveillance and monitoring – and created a culture of innovation and creativity.”

“A total of 126 commodities, fresh and processed, have been tested by PDP lab participants since USDA-PDP began,” Tu said. “PDP data are well regarded as the gold standard and used by many food safety organizations worldwide.”

“The USDA certificate of appreciation is an affirmation of the entire CAC Food Safety team’s important contribution toward the USDA-PDP over the years,” she added. “It’s always been the workforce behind the program that truly made it a transformative success. This significant award recognizes our valuable input to the USDA-PDP and it encourages the team to maintain a culture with an innovative mindset that enables our team to grow. I am so proud of the team and our achievement. It has been such a privilege to work alongside a smart and talented group of people.”

The Center for Analytical Chemistry is a branch of CDFA’s Division of Inspection Services.

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

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

CDFA accepting proposals for nutrition incentives to be distributed for WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs

Posted on December 20, 2022 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) is announcing that proposals are now being accepted for the 2023 California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) Expansion for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs. CNIP facilitates the purchase and consumption of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables by nutrition benefit clients.
 
CDFA-F2F is seeking project proposals from qualified entities to distribute CNIP nutrition incentives at Certified Farmers’ Markets, Community Supported Agriculture practitioners, and farm stands throughout California. These incentives will be available to shoppers using WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program benefits to purchase California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Participants should be able to receive the incentive at the time of purchase. Projects that reach underserved populations will be prioritized. This is a competitive process.
 
Visit the CNIP webpage to view request for proposals (RFP) for the 2023 CNIP Expansion for WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs. The RFP includes further information on the grant program, its implementation timeline and application criteria. Applications must be submitted by email to cafarmtofork@cdfa.ca.gov no later than 5 p.m. PT January 20, 2023.  

Click here to view this original CDFA news release.

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

Farm to School Network newsletter wraps up 2022, offers resources, events, funding for the new year

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Joshua Bingham

Click here to view the California Farm to School Network December newsletter.

The California Farm to School Network includes farm to school practitioners and enthusiasts statewide. Visit the CDFA Farm to School Program webpage to subscribe to these monthly updates that include information about grants, resources, research, webinars, events and news from the National Farm to School Network. The California Farm to School Program is part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) in the Division of Inspection Services.

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 Undersecretary Christine Birdsong discusses Farm to School Program at Culinary Institute of America

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Joshua Bingham
(Top left) CDFA Undersecretary Christine Birdsong speaks this week to the Culinary Institute of America’s Healthy Kids Collaborative annual meeting in Napa, discussing CDFA’s Farm to School Program and its creation of thriving environments for school nutrition teams, students, educators, school communities and farm communities. (Bottom) Program Manager Nick Anicich further describes how 16 regional Farm to School staff members and the California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program help establish healthy eating habits that children carry into adulthood through integrated food-based education and facilitating local food procurement. (Top right) Undersecretary Birdsong and Anicich speak with Mark Linder of the Culinary Institute of America.

Click here to view this original post on the CDFA 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

CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry renews and expands laboratory accreditation

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC) announces it successfully received continued accreditation for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. This laboratory accreditation of four technology platforms across the food safety and environmental safety labs is valid in good standing until August 2024.

During this round of accreditation, CAC expanded its scope to include inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technology, sulfur analysis by combustion and volatile organic compounds (VOC) analysis in air samples collected in summa canisters.

As CAC continues transitioning toward a technolo­gy-based flexible scope of ac­creditation, the laboratories gain authority to cover a wide range of measurements, add new parameters and matrices to the testing scope, as well as expand the scope of contaminants.

CDFA’s Center for Analytical Chemistry is a branch of the Inspection Services Division.

Posted in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Environmental Safety Laboratory, CDFA Food Safety Laboratory, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Quality Assurance Program, CDFA Regulatory Analysis Laboratory | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CA Farm to School Network newsletter offers resources, events, workshops, funding and more

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Joshua Bingham
Click here to view the California Farm to School Network November newsletter.

The California Farm to School Network includes farm to school practitioners and enthusiasts statewide. Visit the CDFA Farm to School Program webpage to subscribe to these monthly updates that include information about grants, resources, research, webinars, events and news from the National Farm to School Network. The California Farm to School Program is part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) in the Division of Inspection Services.

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: Kimber Collins-Florian enjoys ensuring fertilizing materials are suitable for organic crop and food production

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Joshua Bingham

NAME: Kimber Collins-Florian

YEARS AT CDFA: Almost 9 years

PROGRAM: Fertilizing Materials Inspection Organic Input Material Program

TITLE: Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist

USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB? Our program registers Organic Input Material (OIM) labels. OIMs are fertilizing materials suitable for organic crop and food production. During the review process, I confirm that a label is compliant with California fertilizing laws and regulations and that the product meets U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (NOP) standards. I look in detail at the manufacturing processes for each ingredient in the product and the final product. I am also the point person for questions regarding registering biochar as a fertilizing material.

HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY? Organic crop and food production is a very important industry in California, and OIMs are essential components of this. When organic growers or organic certifiers use a fertilizing material registered as an OIM with our program, they can trust that it meets NOP standards and is suitable for organic crop and food production.

THOUGHTS OF WORKING AT INSPECTION SERVICES? Working at Inspection Services is both interesting and rewarding. Each year our program reviews thousands of OIM applications from California and around the world. This requires me to constantly learn about new products, processes and crop production, including the challenges and tools available to assist growers in the production of all the important crops grown in California.

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE? Change your perspective to change your life, and practice gratitude daily.

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOU? I am someone who is happiest experiencing life in nature. I hike, backpack, bike on the American River Bike trail and play on my paddle board whenever I can. If I’m indoors, I enjoy yoga. I also love traveling with my husband and spending time with my fur-kids (currently two senior cats), but I really miss my backyard chickens.

Posted in CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Organic Input Material Program, ISD Staff Spotlight | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

CDFA accepting public comments on request for applications for Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) is seeking public comment on a Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program request for applications (RFA), anticipated to be released in mid-December. Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. PT, December 12, 2022.

Two webinars will be held to provide information about the RFA and hear public comments. An English-language webinar will be 3-4:30 p.m. November 30 and a Spanish-language webinar will be 3-4:30 p.m. December 1. Click here to register for either webinar.

The purpose of the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program is to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities while promoting California-grown agriculture — through 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.

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 RFA and registration for the informational webinars can be viewed on the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program webpage. Stakeholders may submit comments by email to cafarmtofork@cdfa.ca.gov.

Click here to view this original CDFA news release.

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