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Inspection Services optimizes services for CA farmers and ranchers with innovation and next generation talent and tools

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Joshua Bingham
Snapshots from 2023 annual report display how the Inspection Services Division works to optimize services for California farmers and ranchers while maintaining a reputation for innovation and fostering next generation talent and tools.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Inspection Services Division (ISD) works to optimize services for California farmers and ranchers while maintaining a reputation for innovation and fostering next generation talent and tools.

Examples in the 2023 annual report of ISD working to connect California’s farmers and ranchers to the division’s suite of professional services to help maintain California agriculture’s reputation for innovation and adaptability include the Technical Assistance Program offering one-on-one safety technical assistance to 729 farmers and blogs being offered by the Produce Safety Program, California Farm to School Network, Fertilizer Research and Education Program and Commercial Feed Regulatory Program.

Examples in the annual report of ISD leveraging technology and novel ideas for working with stakeholders include the Direct Marketing Program launching a new database to provide industry with an updated interface that will eventually take online payments and generate reports and the Shipping Point Inspection Program inspecting fruits and vegetables with electric tablets, increasing the efficiency of each inspection.

Examples in the annual report of ISD fostering next generation talent include welcoming agriculture industry representatives to grow their careers by being part of an advisory committee and the Center for Analytical Chemistry offering 90 development opportunities for 57 staff members.

Click here to the view the Inspection Services Division 2023 Annual Report for more information.

Posted in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Direct Marketing Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Shipping Point Inspection Program | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CDFA’s Inspection Services Division fosters climate-smart food systems and maintains integrity of organic seal

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Joshua Bingham
These snapshots of the 2023 annual report showcase how CDFA’s Inspection Services Division works to elevate climate-smart food systems and maintain the organic seal’s integrity.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Inspection Services Division (ISD) fosters climate-smart, resilient and regenerative food systems while also maintaining the integrity of the organic seal.

ISD’s efforts toward climate-smart agriculture include working with industry, academia, government and stakeholders to facilitate innovation, incentivize upcycling of by-products from human food, fiber and biofuel production to livestock feed, and fund research to help farmers maintain environmental stewardship.

Examples of this highlighted in the ISD 2023 Annual Report are the Commercial Feed Regulatory Program cohosting a conference about animal agriculture reducing methane emissions and receiving report that the California feed industry diverted 747,903 tons of human food by-products to livestock feed instead of landfills. ISD’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program also awarded $653,067 in grant funding to advance California growers’ understanding and implementation of improved nitrogen and irrigation management practices.

ISD’s efforts toward maintaining the integrity of organic agriculture for farmers purchasing fertilizer and consumers buying organic produce include protecting the organic label through enforcement, education and outreach.

Examples of this highlighted in the ISD 2023 Annual Report are the California State Organic Program conducting 1,779 inspections, the Organic Certification Cost Share Program helping producers and handlers reduce the cost of organic certification, the Organic Input Material Program reviewing and registering 1,488 organic fertilizer labels, and the OCal Cannabis Certification Program overseeing the certification of 22 companies to be able to sell cannabis with an OCal seal signifying it was produced in a way comparable to organic standards of the National Organic Program.

Click here to view the Inspection Services Division 2023 Annual Report for further details.

Posted in CDFA California State Organic Program, CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA OCal Cannabis Certification Program, CDFA Organic Input Material Program | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CDFA Inspection Services Division grants and Certified Farmers’ Markets help all Californians access healthy, nutritious, California-grown food

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Joshua Bingham
Click on the photo above to view these and other ways the ISD 2023 Annual Report showcases CDFA work for food access.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is committed to helping all Californians access healthy and nutritious California-grown food.

In the CDFA Inspection Services Division (ISD), food access work includes Office of Farm to Fork grants facilitating farm to school, urban agriculture, refrigeration equipment for corner stores to store produce, and coupons to double the dollars low-income shoppers may spend on California-grown fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts. The Farm to School Program also now has employees in eight regional California Farm to School Network collaboratives facilitating relationships with partners across the school food ecosystem, supporting California Farm to School Incubator Grantees, organizing regional convenings and events, and providing value chain coordination for schools, producers and partners looking to sell food to school and institutional buyers.

The ISD Direct Marketing Program also facilitates California shoppers having direct access to purchasing produce from their local farmers at Certified Farmers’ Markets throughout the state.

Click here to view the Inspection Services Division 2023 Annual Report and learn more about ISD’s contributions to food security and food access in California.

Posted in California Nutrition Incentive Program, CDFA Direct Marketing Program, CDFA Farm to School Network, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork, CDFA Urban Agriculture Grant Program, Certified Farmers Market | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Inspection Services Division protects California food & environmental safety through reviewing fertilizing materials, partnering with stakeholders and providing laboratory analyses

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Joshua Bingham

Did you know the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Inspection Services Division (ISD) works to protect California food and environmental safety?

For example, in 2023, ISD’s Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program reviewed and registered 4,472 conventional fertilizer labels and obtained 1,423 fertilizer samples for laboratory analysis; ISD leadership joined discussions with federal, state, industry and academia to advance a strategy to enhance food safety in California; and ISD’s Center for Analytical Chemistry ran 17,958 laboratory analyses on 10,911 samples resulting in 5 million data points.

This and more information about the efforts of ISD staff may be found in the Inspection Services Division 2023 Annual Report.

Posted in CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CDFA’s Inspection Services Division inspects commodities for safety and quality standards

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Joshua Bingham
Check out the Inspection Services Division 2023 Annual Report for inspection figures from these and other programs in the Inspection and Compliance Branch.

California’s agricultural bounty provides more than one-third of the country’s vegetables and nearly three-quarters of the nation’s fruits and nuts.

CDFA’s Inspection Services Division (ISD) helps ensure this bounty, as well as imported produce, meets safety and quality standards for California consumers year-round.

From food safety to chemical safety, fertilizer safety and more, ISD works to ensure food on the plate is safe for all Californians.

Check out the Inspection Services 2023 Annual Report for details about the amount of inspections conducted by the Avocado Inspection Program, Standardization Program and California Citrus Program.

The Inspection and Compliance Branch is part of CDFA’s Division of Inspection Services.

Posted in CDFA Avocado Inspection Program, CDFA California Citrus Program, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Standardization Program | Tagged | Leave a comment

Inspection Services 2023 Annual Report highlights actions for food & environmental safety, food access and more

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces the release of its Inspection Services Division 2023 Annual Report.

“I am proud of the work performed by every hardworking member of the Inspection Services Division, some of which is showcased in this annual report,” Division Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg states in the report’s introduction. “As we look to the future, we will build upon the goals in our Strategic Direction and implement best and new practices to allow innovation to flourish.”

The annual report details Inspection Services Division’s (ISD) programs, boards and committees, 2022-23 fiscal year summary, mission, vision and strategic direction. Pictures and graphics offer an overview of ISD staff working to improve food and environmental safety, food access, climate-smart agriculture, organic agriculture, services for California farmers and ranchers, continuing innovation and next generation talent and tools.

Highlights include:

  • Fostering climate-smart food systems through cohosting an inaugural conference for collaboration and research that will help animal agriculture meet climate goals for a reduction of methane emissions
  • Building healthy communities through Office of Farm to Fork grants fostering farm to school, urban agriculture and food access
  • Collaborating on smarter regulations by meeting with government, academia and industry stakeholders to coordinate and advance a strategy to enhance California food safety

Click here to view the CDFA Division of Inspection Services Annual Report 2023 (FY 2022-23).

Posted in California Avocado Inspection Committee, California Nutrition Incentive Program, California Organic Products Advisory Committee, CDFA Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Program, CDFA Avocado Inspection Program, CDFA California Citrus Program, CDFA California State Organic Program, CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry, CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry Nucleus Team, CDFA Center for Analytical Chemistry Research and Development Team, CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Direct Marketing Program, CDFA Environmental Safety Laboratory, CDFA Farm to School Network, CDFA Farm to School Program, CDFA Feed Inspection Advisory Board, CDFA Feed Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board, CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP), CDFA Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, CDFA Food Recovery, CDFA Food Safety Laboratory, CDFA Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, CDFA Inspection & Compliance Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division, CDFA Livestock Drug Program, CDFA OCal Cannabis Certification Program, CDFA Office of Farm to Fork, CDFA Organic Input Material Program, CDFA Organic Input Material Program, CDFA Produce Safety Program, CDFA Quality Assurance Program, CDFA Regulatory Analysis Laboratory, CDFA Safe Animal Feed Education (SAFE), CDFA Shipping Point Inspection Program, CDFA Standardization Advisory Committee, CDFA Standardization Program, CDFA Technical Assistance Program, CDFA Urban Agriculture Grant Program, Certified Farmers Market, Certified Farmers Market Advisory Committee, Farm to Community Food Hubs Program, Farm to Community Food Hubs Program Advisory Committee, Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee, Inspection Services Division Administration Unit, Shipping Point Inspection Advisory Committee | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Commercial Feed Regulatory Program awarded for implementing FDA Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Joshua Bingham
CFRP’s Samantha Moran-Defty (left) and Erika Lewis-Ortega accept an award on behalf of CDFA for successful implementation of FDA’s 2023 Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Commercial Feed Regulatory Program (CFRP) was recently awarded for successful implementation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2023 Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS).

The award was accepted on behalf of CDFA by CFRP’s Research Data Specialist II Erika Lewis-Ortega and Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist Samantha Moran-Defty at the annual AFRPS Face-to-Face Meeting in Mobile, Alabama. At the meeting, Lewis-Ortega and Moran-Defty also participated in a panel discussion on the ways CFRP has utilized FDA funding to incorporate federal preventative controls requirements into routine state activities.

Click here to view a CFRP Run of the Mill Blog post for more information.

BACKGROUND:
In 2011, FDA and the Association of American Feed Control Officials entered into a partnership to develop the AFRPS that were launched in 2014. These standards are designed to promote uniformity and consistency among animal food state programs to provide a mechanism for developing and implementing uniform and equitable statutes, regulations and standards to enhance the protection of the nation’s animal food supply.

Click here to view the 2023 Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards.

Posted in CDFA Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged | Leave a comment

Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board Technical Advisory Subcommittee welcomes three new members

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Joshua Bingham
New FIAB TASC members in 2024 include (L-R) Dan Cook, Franklin Gaudi and Ehsan Toosi.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board (FIAB) Technical Advisory Subcommittee (TASC) has welcomed three new members this year.

This FIAB TASC serves as an expert scientific panel on matters concerning efficient use of fertilizing materials and irrigation water. TASC members assist in setting project priorities for the Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Grant Program, review and recommend research and outreach proposals to FIAB for funding and advise on FREP activities.

New member Dan Cook is an agronomist with Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. and has more than 15 years of experience working with tree, vegetable and row crop growers in Central Valley. He is a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) with a specialty in nitrogen management and has a master’s degree in soil and water science.

New member Franklin Gaudi is the vice president of Design for Laurel Ag & Water and worked as an assistant professor and project manager at the Irrigation Training and Research Center in Cal Poly. He is a CCA and irrigation specialist and has an Ed.D. in educational leadership with a specialization in technology.

New member Ehsan Toosi has a Ph.D. in soil biogeochemistry and is the director of Research and Development in True Organic Products. He has 15 years of experience in annual and perennial cropping systems and carbon and nutrient cycling.

Click here to view a FREP Blog post about these new FIAB TASC members, as well as subscribe to the FREP Blog.

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

Produce Safety Program launches Phase 1 of Farm Data Repository for growers to view FSMA Produce Safety Rule inspection records & more

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Joshua Bingham

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Produce Safety Program (CDFA PSP) announces the launch of Phase 1 of the Farm Data Repository website, also known as the PSP Portal.

Beginning in April 2024, California produce farms required to comply with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule will be added into the system on an ongoing, rolling basis. Once added, growers can anticipate receiving a welcome email with instructions on how to create an online account and verify their account information.

The PSP Portal will allow California farmers having password-protected access to the data CDFA PSP collects on their farms and operations, including inspection reports and educational communications.

Click here to view a Produce Safety Rules! blog with further details.

The Produce Safety Program is part of Inspection and Compliance Branch of CDFA’s Inspection Services Division.

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

CDFA’s Nick Young discusses innovation of plant biostimulants in podcast

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Joshua Bingham
Nick Young

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program Supervisor Nick Young is featured in a podcast, Charting the Course for Plant Biostimulants, published by Redox Bio-Nutrients.

During the podcast, Young discusses his CDFA role working at the state level and with the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) for uniform fertilizer regulations, protecting growers and consumers, and fostering environmental stewardship. He also discusses biostimulant innovation.

“It’s an exciting time,” Young comments in the podcast about biostimulant advancements. “There hasn’t been a time like this in 50 years at least, where there is so much innovation happening that can benefit this industry.”

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Posted in CDFA Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch, CDFA Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, CDFA Inspection Services Division | Tagged , , | Leave a comment