The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Produce Safety Program (PSP) announces the launch of a Produce Safety One Health Initiatives webpage dedicated to California’s actions for enhanced produce safety based on the One Health approach.
In response to a series of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks associated with leafy greens between 2018 to 2020, CDFA launched the California Longitudinal Study (CALS) in 2020 and California Agricultural Neighbors (CAN) in 2021. These actions are part of a collaborative effort across government agencies (federal, state, and local), universities, industry associations, and members of the produce, viticulture, livestock, and compost industries to initiate dialogues, address knowledge gaps, and foster enhanced produce safety practices.
USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB?A lot of my time is spent on reviewing grantee invoices for reimbursement and helping grantees with invoice submission. However, most days, my mind is to stay on top of our encumbrances, expenditures and billings!
HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY?Our grants help further a lot of entities’ farm to fork mission. Whether it be supplying new equipment, Market Match or helping build new infrastructure, I help grantees get their reimbursement (or advance funds) as quickly as possible.
THOUGHTS OF WORKING AT INSPECTION SERVICES?I love it!
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE? Just do it!
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOU?I’m a rescue mom of two cats and eight chickens.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY?It’s like I’ve come full circle landing this job. I’ve always loved crunching numbers and managing money and wanted a business degree. But my path took me in a different direction to political science and international affairs. I never found my fit … until four years and one month ago!
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
“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).
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.
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.
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.