California Department of Food and Agriculture

Grapevines from a Fresno nursery shipped to California Costco stores in April and May were found to be carrying the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), an insect capable of spreading a potentially lethal vine disease.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is urging anyone who purchased grapevines from Costco stores in Northern California between April 21 and May 21 to contact their local agricultural commissioner after an invasive pest was discovered among the 13,000 vines shipped during that period.

Read more:
https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/68859812

🚨Hanford Jack Cabernet Jack Cheese produced and packaged by Fagundes Old World Cheese of Kings County is the subject of a statewide recall announced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Read the news release:
https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/68857487

🌱 The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in collaboration with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the California Water Boards, has released final recommendations from the Regulatory Alignment Study.

Learn more about the Regulatory Alignment Study and recommendations:
https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/68842724

Farm to School benefits small farms like Old Grove Orange in Redlands

Farm to school programming provides the consistent demand needed to sustain local small farmers who take pride in benefitting student health and the local economy.

“Small farmers need to adapt to survive!” said fifth-generation farmer Anna Knight of Old Grove Orange. “We’ve done everything from farmers’ markets to community supported agriculture, but for the last 20-plus years, 100% of the produce we grow has gone directly to local K-12 public school districts. We wouldn’t be here without the visionary nutrition services programs of Greater L.A., and these partnerships are how we keep farming forever!”

Old Grove Orange is a family farm stewarding 81 acres in Redlands, California. Over the last 21 years, Old Grove Orange and the 30 farm families contributing to its food hub have worked with 50+ school districts in the Greater Los Angeles area. Their thoughtful approach to farm to school provides students with experiential education programs that connect them to the land, the farmers and the products served in their school meals.

As a three-time grant recipient of the CDFA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program, Old Grove Orange has increased its production of minimally processed seasonal vegetable products designed specifically for the school market. School districts can often find it challenging to cook whole vegetables due to staff or equipment capacity; therefore, Old Grove Orange’s pre-cut, portioned and packaged produce allows for an easier adoption of local products into school meals.

Click here to learn more about Old Grove Orange: https://oldgroveorange.com/

Photo Caption: (L-R) Farm to school programs help sustain small farmers like the hardworking, passionate team pictured with Anna Knight, a fifth-generation farmer at Old Grove Orange in Redlands. For local school districts, Old Grove Orange grows a variety of seasonal produce, including those offered by farmer Jackie to students while hosting an Old Grove Orange Mini Farmers’ Market in the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/index.php/2026/06/02/farm-to-school-benefits-small-farms-like-old-grove-orange-in-redlands/

👏CDFA welcomes the appointment of Carney King as Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs
Read more on CDFA's Planting Seeds blog
👇

CDFA welcomes the appointment of Carney King as Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs - CDFA's Planting Seeds Blog Carney King has been appointed the Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. King has been CDFA’s Legislative Manager since 2025, and came to the department after a distinguished career in the US Army … Continue reading →

A reminder of today's State Board of Food and Ag meeting. Details below.

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will hear updates on the agricultural economy, pest prevention programs and the California Water Plan at its upcoming meeting on:

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street - Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814.

The meeting is also available via Zoom.
(Simultaneous Spanish interpretation is available via the Zoom application)

Details: https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/68787134