Monthly Archives: September 2016

Farmer Spotlight: Gil Gossett, G – Bar – G Ranch

 

Apples just starting out

Apples just starting out at G – Bar -G Ranch in Half Moon Bay, California

Gil Gossett II heads up G – Bar – G Ranch in a small canyon near the town of Half Moon Bay, California. Gil started working on the 47-acre ranch full-time about a year ago when his father passed away. They grow and provide fresh-picked, tree-ripened, certified organically grown, fruit from their orchards which have been in production for over 35 years.

Gil enjoys working hard in the beautiful surroundings of the secluded ranch. He loves being able to see the fruits of his labor and, at the same time, continue the passion that his father embodied.

When asked about the importance of selling his produce to California school children, as well as other Californians, Gil responded, “We pride ourselves on tree ripening our produce. I feel that few people, let alone children, know what such fruit should taste like and what the texture should be…Children are especially in need of more healthy foods today and should have the opportunity to experience a real-life juicy, crisp, delicious apple.”

One of Gil’s favorite varieties they grow and eat is the Gordon apple. The Gordon apple is a larger, red-variegated, sweet and crisp apple which is well suited for eating, as well as baking. The Gordon apple, which does not appear in most stores, has been a wonderful surprise to Gil’s customers.


 

September is National Childhood Obesity Month. In California nearly one in three children are considered overweight or obese with low-income children disproportionately impacted. Schools that have shifted to include more locally grown, farm fresh products see an overall increase in school meal participation. Considering that for many low-income children school meals might be their only reliable source of nutrition, they stand to benefit the most from healthy changes made to school lunches.

Recognizing the need for a system to help schools procure more local produce, the CDFA Office of Farm to Fork developed the California Farmer Marketplace. To sign up click here or contact us with questions or feedback.

CDFA’s Secretary Karen Ross kicks off the State Employees Food Drive by donating farm fresh produce

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Secretary Karen Ross visited the Capitol Mall Farmers’ Market to kickoff the State Employees Food Drive by purchasing and donating over 20 pounds of fruits and vegetables from local farmers. The CDFA Office of Farm to Fork organized a fresh produce drive along with the Reverse Food Truck, River City Food Bank and the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, encouraging state employees to purchase produce at the market and donate it through the Reverse Food Truck. Throughout the market’s duration over 450 pounds of produce were donated.

Click here to view the full story of Secretary Ross’ visit to the market.

Agriculture conference digs into ag education

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento is the capital of California, the largest agricultural producer in the nation. Known as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, the city will be home to the 2016 California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, which will prepare and inspire educators from across the state to incorporate agricultural education into their programs.  Attendees will learn new ways to incorporate agriculture into everyday curriculum through innovative presentations, hands-on workshops, inspiring guest speakers and fantastic networking! The conference will be held Sept. 22-24 at the Holiday Inn Sacramento- Capitol Plaza.

Go to California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom website for more details.

***Reposted from Morning Ag Clips & California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom***

Feeding Families Fund Drive

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On September 16th, Gar Tootelian, Inc., the Community Food Bank, KMJ Radio, and Farm Credit will team up for the 3rd Annual Feeding Families Fund drive. For every $10 donated at the Market in Fresno, Gar Tootelian, a local agricultural business, will match $5. Donations will be distributed through the Community Food Bank to valley families affected by the drought. $10 donated will purchase enough food for a family of four for one week. Over the past two years, the Feeding Families Fund Drive has raised $150,000 to provide a million meals.

For more information visit the Community Food Bank website.

 

Vilsack on decrease in food insecurity

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WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today issued the following statement on the release of the USDA Economic Research Service analysis, Household Food Security in the United States in 2015, which points to the lowest figures on record for food insecurity among children:

“Today’s report marks a significant benchmark in our battle against hunger and food insecurity, underscoring in clear terms that our nation’s families and children are better off today than they were when the President took office in 2009. In fact, today’s report points to the lowest figures on record for food insecurity among children–a major achievement in our country’s efforts to ensure every child has a safer, healthier future filled with unlimited opportunity. In 2015, household food insecurity fell 1.3 percentage points from 2014 and 2.2 points from 2011–the peak of the recession. At the same time, very low food security has dropped to 5 percent from a peak of 5.7 percent. Today’s data mean that 7.9 million fewer people were struggling to provide adequate food for themselves or household members than when President Obama took office in the midst of the worst economic downtown since the Great Depression. The figures released today also remind us that our work to fight for access to healthy food for our nation’s most vulnerable families and individuals is far from over. We must work to preserve the critical Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which prevented millions of Americans from falling into poverty or becoming food insecure during the most difficult stretches of the recession. And we must continue to encourage the public and private sectors alike to invest in our rebounding rural communities–the place that produces our food, fiber and fuel. As our economy continues to gain strength with millions of new jobs, falling unemployment and growing wages, today’s report just underscores that America is greatest when everyone gets a fair shot.”

–USDA