California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • CA Walnut Board Supports Industry Growth In New Ways With Retail, Research And Advocacy Programs

    During the 2020-2021 crop year, California walnut growers and handlers worked together with the California Walnut Board and California Walnut Commission to advance the industry in new ways. Growers produced a record crop of 785,000 tons, a 20 percent gain over the 2019 crop. The California Walnut Board (CWB) and Commission (CWC) promoted walnuts through marketing campaigns that increased sales, leveraged new CWC-funded health research to sustain consumer interest in walnut consumption, conducted new production and post-harvest research to help maintain competitiveness, and accessed government dollars.

    “In a year where a pandemic has altered so many aspects of the way Americans live and work, the Board’s contributions to the industry have been critical,” says Michelle Connelly, Executive Director of California Walnut Board.

    Retail Campaign Generates Double-Digit Sales Growth

    Retail programs drove sales and consumption during seasonal time periods when walnuts are not typically a priority for consumers. During American Heart Month in February, the CWB worked with retailers nationwide on a campaign to display walnuts with messaging about their heart-health benefits*. With 34 participating retailers, operating 10,400 locations, retailers saw an average sales lift of 22.5 percent. Additionally, television and radio advertising during this program reached 52% of US households.

    In May through August, a summer snacking campaign signed-on 26 retailers with 7,400 locations to execute in-store promotions and specials. The first-of-its-kind snacking-focused program encouraged retailers to think of new ways to promote walnuts by tying into the consumer trend. Retail elements were supported with consumer outreach, and the average US consumer saw the message on walnuts and snacking six times. The campaign drove year-over-year walnut sales increases, when comparing the summer months.

    Production Research Delivers Short- and Long-Term Benefits

    The CWB continued investment in research programs to maintain competitiveness in walnut production and processing, as well as invested in applied projects that directly benefit immediate grower needs. Topics including pest management, food safety, product quality, and more were prevalent in these programs. UC Davis’ CWB-funded walnut breeding program released a new varietal, UC Wolfskill, in hopes of finding more desirable traits such as a late leafing, early harvesting Chandler-like variety.

    The CWB Grades and Standards Committee approved 11 post-harvest research projects, three of which are exploring byproduct utilization for the walnut industry to add further value across the supply chain while promoting sustainability. The Committee also funded a project to develop methods and a database to help differentiate walnuts from various origins and cultivators which can help preserve the integrity and reputation of California walnuts.

    “Our research programs are key in providing growers and handlers the resources they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive space,” says Connelly.

    Steps Taken to Increase Efficiencies and Mitigate Market Disruptions

    In September, the CWB voted to suspend the mandatory outbound inspections of walnuts to mitigate market disruptions like labor shortages or shipping constraints, while reducing redundancies. The suspension brings further efficiencies to the industry, while allowing resources to be saved.

    “The Federal Marketing Order rules governing inspections are obsolete as market and customer quality demands have since surpassed USDA grade standards,” added Connelly. “The Board’s vote to suspend the inspections stands to benefit both producers and processors.”

    CWC and CWB Do More Together to Advance Industry

    In lock step with the CWB, CWC activities also contributed to and supported the industry throughout the year. As a result of the Commission’s efforts, walnut growers received over $85MM in direct payments from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 1 alone and millions more through CFAP 2. Ensuring the walnut industry’s voice was heard, the CWC, as part of a coalition, also worked with sectors of the CA government to urge lawmakers in the Department of Pesticide Regulations to not increase mill tax for at least two years.

    Furthermore, 17 scientific papers published that were funded or supported by the CWC, including findings in the areas of heart health, cognition, gut health and longevity. Sharing those health findings with health professionals and reporters resulted in 431 articles mentioning the health benefits of walnuts in mainstream media. The average US consumer saw the message 22 times.

    Connelly shared more about why a robust, ongoing health research program is important, “Health is a top reason why consumers eat walnuts and demands are always evolving. New research discovers breakthrough results and makes important health advancements.”

    Growers who want to learn more about how the CWB/CWC are doing more for the walnut industry are encouraged to sign up for newsletters to hear directly from the Board, follow our social channels on LinkedIn and @GrowCAWalnuts on Facebook, and learn more at walnuts.org/walnut-industry.

    *Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet and not resulting in increased caloric intake, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. (FDA) One ounce of walnuts offers 18g of total fat, 2.5g of monounsaturated fat, 13g of polyunsaturated fat including 2.5g of alpha-linolenic acid – the plant-based omega-3.

    About the California Walnut Board

    The California Walnut Board (CWB) was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California. The CWB is funded by mandatory assessments of the handlers. The CWB is governed by a Federal Walnut Marketing Order. The CWB promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research.

    About the California Walnut Commission

    The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The CWC represents over 4,800 growers and approximately 90 handlers (processors) of California walnuts in export market development activities and conducts health research. The CWC is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

  • Getting a Solid Soil Response to Biosolids Application in Ag

    Many people do not know that human waste can be recycled to benefit the environment. After intense treatment, it can be applied to fields in the form of biosolids.

    While scientists know that this can benefit the soil, they are still learning about the best ways to measure this. In addition, it can be hard to determine how much it helps the soil over a long period.

    That’s where Yocelyn Villa from the University of California, Merced comes in. She and her collaborators studied fields in California where biosolids have been applied for 20 years.

    Their findings were recently published in Journal of Environmental Quality, a publication of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America.

    “Our goal was to assess how stocks of soil carbon have changed over time at each of these sites,” she says. “We did this by measuring how much carbon is present compared to adjacent areas without biosolids application. Specifically, we wanted to account for not only shallow soil depths, but also deep soil carbon, down to 100 cm depths.”

    The three sites they studied had different biosolids application frequencies, management practices, and soil texture. The researchers focused on measuring microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen. These are all soil qualities known to benefit from the application of biosolids.

    They predicted that the more biosolids that are applied, the more carbon and nitrogen there would be in those soils. Most of their results were what they expected. However, they were surprised that the site that had the highest application of biosolids did not show the most change. In addition, one of the sites did not show a benefit from the biosolids application until they performed tests on the deeper soil.

    Soil sample were taken using an auger at five different depth increments (Photo by Rebecca Ryals).

    “If we had only taken the top 30 cm into account, we would have not detected a change in soil carbon at the Merced site,” Villa said. “This is the biggest and most important finding.”

    She adds that this shows how the organic matter in biosolids does not simply sit in the soil and accumulate. Instead, it is impacted by dynamic properties that also influence soil organic matter.

    This told the researchers that it’s important to measure deep soil carbon and consider other management practices at a site when studying the impact of biosolids. These local controls can be soil texture, irrigation practices, and tillage.

    “Many studies have shown the benefits of biosolids application for plant production and nutrient cycling,” Villa explains. “This conjointly provides benefits to soil carbon. Farmers and ranchers have seen differences in vegetation for livestock and other soil health benefits. I would recommend monitoring these benefits through time.”

    Different areas were roped off to create transects. Along each transect, soil samples were taken every 10 meters (Photo by Rebecca Ryals).

    Another reason scientists are interested in soil carbon is because of its potential to mitigate climate change. Soils that can sequester carbon can keep it out of the atmosphere. So, Villa’s findings highlight the importance of taking deep soil carbon into account to better predict a soil’s ability to mitigate climate change.

    “This research is interesting to me personally because I have always been interested in climate change,” she says. “The more I learned about the environment, the more I realized that soils may be the key to mitigate climate change.”

    The next steps in Villa’s work are to determine how exactly the soils stabilize carbon and keep it in the soil. She is also assessing where the carbon is in the soil, which will provide insight on how accessible the carbon is for microbes to use. Overall, she is excited to see others beginning to appreciate soil’s potential.

    Biosolids have been used in cities like Chicago for several years, to help clean up industrial sites and other purposes.

    “I think people don’t realize that human waste can be recycled like this, and that soil is a potential solution to climate change,” she says. “It’s always a treat to see how people’s faces light up with intrigue. Hopefully I have convinced them that we need to stop treating soil like dirt!”

    Funding for this research was provided by the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, Jena and Michael King Foundation, and Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Merced.

    Biosolids are applied using a spreader in agricultural soils. All biosolids applied in the study had similar nutrient composition (Photo by Rebecca Ryals).

    American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America: Collectively, these Societies represent more than 12,000 individual members around the world. Members are researchers and professionals in the areas of growing our world’s food supply while protecting our environment. Together we work toward solutions to advance scientific knowledge in the areas of agronomy, crop science, and soil science.

    Twitter: @ASA_CSSA_SSSA & @SSSA_soils | Facebook: ASA, CSSA & SSSA | Instagram: @sustainablefoodsupply & @iheartsoil

  • Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Homeland Security Jointly Establish New Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission

    The Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the establishment of a new Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. Establishing this Commission fulfills a key provision of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and represents a critical step in combating the nation’s wildfire crisis and improving resilience in America’s landscapes.

    The Commission is tasked with recommending federal policies and strategies to more effectively prevent, mitigate, suppress and manage wildland fires, including the rehabilitation of land affected from wildland fires. It will include representation from federal, state, Tribal, county and municipal governments as well as non-governmental stakeholders from private industry. Through a coordinated effort, the Commission will deliver a report to Congress with practical policy recommendations one year from the first meeting. In addition, the Commission will outline a strategy to cost effectively meet aerial firefighting equipment needs through 2030.

    The work of the Commission will build on existing interagency federal efforts such as the Wildland Fire Leadership Council and the White House Wildfire Resilience Interagency Working Group and will continue to pursue a whole-of-government approach to wildfire risk reduction and resilience.

    “We have a historic opportunity to take action on forest restoration, hazardous fuels management and post-wildfire restoration activities, and better address the needs of federal wildland firefighters,” said Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Commission established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide valuable insight into ways we can better prepare communities and ecosystems against the threat of wildland fire across our nation’s public and Tribal lands.”

    “The effects of a changing climate are all around us. Americans, especially those in rural communities in the West, are experiencing a growing number of bigger, hotter, and more destructive wildfires that threaten people, livelihoods, and our natural resources. The Commission will bring together a diverse group of leaders to help tackle this crisis and inform our collective ability to improve the health and resilience of our forests and communities” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

    “This Commission represents a unified effort across the federal government to answer a call that is quickly growing louder; we must protect our wildlands from the ravaging impacts of climate change,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “In coordination with our partners at USDA and DOI, FEMA is committed to doing our part to help build readiness and resilience in communities who are at risk from wildfires.”

    “Climate change and increasing development in the wildland urban interface are rapidly changing the complexity and response challenges for the fire service. It is time for us all to recognize that wildland fire is not just a forest or rural problem any longer. Urban and suburban fire departments that had no part in wildland firefighting 30 years ago are now heavily engaged in wildland fire prevention, mitigation, and response. The wildland urban interface is now the frontier for wildland fire,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore Merrell. “This Commission will pull together our partners and stakeholders to focus on community risk reduction, enhanced prevention efforts, and overall response and mitigation capacity that matches the wildfire risks within the nation’s wildland urban interface.”

    “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law calls for a dramatic increase in the scale and pace of wildfire mitigation, restoration and post-fire recovery work,” said Executive Director of the Wildland Fire Leadership Council Mike Zupko. “Success can only be accomplished through dedicated partnerships and collaboration. The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission will advance our collective ability to combat the nation’s wildfire crisis and accelerate implementation of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy.”

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests unprecedented funding for America’s natural infrastructure. The joint Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission will support the implementation of effective wildfire risk reduction and resilience strategies to combat the wildfire crisis, recovering and protecting our nation’s forests, landscapes and surrounding communities.

    About the U.S. Department of the Interior

    The Department of the Interior (DOI) conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper.

  • 2021-22 CA Navel and Mandarin Forecast Down from Initial Estimates

    The California Citrus Mutual Marketing Committee (Committee) estimates that the total Navel orange crop for the 2021-22 season will be down 20% from the previous season’s final utilized, or sold, production. The Committee also estimates that the Mandarin crop will be down as much as 45% from the 2020-2021 season.

    According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s 2021-22 California Navel Orange Objective Measurement Report, released on September 10, 2021, the initial forecast for the navel orange crop was 70.0 million cartons, down 14% from the previous year’s total utilized production. Additionally, an estimated 4% of last season’s crop was not utilized, meaning it was not picked or sold.

    Now several weeks into 2021-22 season, the Committee anticipates, based on current picking estimates, will be 20% below the prior season’s total utilized production and approximately 24% below the total crop size.

    The drop in production is attributed to the previous season’s heavy crop and extended season. Due to the larger sized crop and other market conditions, fruit remained on the tree far longer than is typical, which negatively affected the current year’s crop size.

    The Committee also estimates that the 2021-22 mandarin crop will be down 45% from the previous season’s exceptionally large crop.

    The current navel and mandarin crops are forecast to go through May and June, respectively.  Consumers can expect favorable size structure and excellent eating quality due to the fruit’s high sugar content.

    “The 2021-22 season is shaping up to be far different than the previous season. Last season, we had a very heavy crop and there were a lot of growers whose fruit was never harvested. Shippers extended the season well into August in an effort to market and sell as much of the crop as possible, but ultimately about 4% was dropped to the ground,” says CCM President/CEO Casey Creamer. “We expect this year’s lighter crop to move more quickly through the market with its high sugar content and excellent eating quality.”

  • A Producer’s Guide to Drought

    Drought events are often wide-spread, persistent, and long lasting. Drought losses are as substantial as those from hurricanes, tornadoes, and other immediate-impact disaster events. Drought causes losses to agriculture, and affects domestic water supply, energy production, public health, wildlife, and contributes to wildfire.  

    If drought has impacted your operation, USDA can help you recover from your losses, mitigate risk, and prepare for future natural disasters. USDA offers a suite of programs that help with recovery as well as those that can help you manage risk and build resilience on your operation.  

    Assistance for Farmers

    If you raise livestock, assistance is available through:

    We can also help with damage to conservation practices or forests. The  Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)  and  Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)  provide financial and technical assistance to restore conservation practices like fencing, damaged farmland, or forests. ECP can also help implement water conservation practices during severe drought. 

    Similarly, the  Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)  provides financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices. Common drought recovery forest management plans, tree/shrub establishment, brush management, prescribed grazing, pasture and hay planting, wildlife habitat, livestock watering systems, and cover crops. 

    Finally, the  Tree Assistance Program (TAP)  provides cost share assistance to rehabilitate or replant orchards and vineyards (trees, vines, or bushes). 

    Disaster assistance programs are designed to complement risk management tools available to producers, such as federal crop insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Crop insurance provides indemnity payments to growers who purchase crop insurance for production and quality losses related to drought and other weather hazards, including losses caused by inability to plant on time. Meanwhile, NAP covers losses for crops not covered by crop insurance.   

    Producers impacted by drought should also consider available guaranteed and direct (including emergency) farm loan options.  In addition to loan making, USDA offers loan servicing options for borrowers who are unable to make scheduled payments on their USDA farm loan debt because of reasons beyond their control. 

    Reporting Losses

    If your operation was impacted by a natural disaster, you should report losses and damages and file an application with the Farm Service Agency, or if you have crop insurance, report to your agent. 

    Timelines for reporting losses and applying for payments differ by program:

    • ELAP: 30 days for livestock and fish and within 15 days for honeybees;
    • TAP: within 90 days; 
    • NAP: within 15 days, except for hand-harvested crops, which is within 72 hours; and
    • Crop insurance: within 72 hours of discovering damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.

    Improve Drought Resiliency

    Conservation practices can help you use water more efficiently and boost soil health. Healthy soil stores water better for when it’s needed most. The Natural Resources Conservation Service,through programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), provides technical and financial assistance for conservation practices like irrigation efficiency, prescribed grazing, reduced- or no-till, cover crops, mulching, and residue management. Conservation practices that boost organic matter in the soil lead to more water – every 1% increase in organic matter results in as much as 25,000 gallons of soil water per acre.

    More Information

    To learn more, visit our Drought webpage, Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, or Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet. If you want to learn more about the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is a trigger for many of our programs, read our question and answer with one of the drought monitor’s climatologists. 

    For assistance with USDA programs, reach out your local Service Center. —By Ciji Taylor, USDA public affairs specialist

  • The Almond Conference in a Nutshell

    Almond Board of California — The 49th annual Almond Conference returned to Sacramento with a bang. Renovations to the newly named SAFE Credit Union Convention Center forced the conference to shift locations in 2019, and COVID-19 precautions forced the 2020 conference to a virtual format.

    The Almond Board of California (ABC), abiding by Sacramento County safety mandates, welcomed 3,308 industry members back to downtown Sacramento with the biggest trade show in Conference history. 270 exhibitors blanketed the bottom level of the convention center with the latest products and innovations available to growers.

    Day one of the conference, Tuesday, December 7, was dedicated for tradeshow time and the State of The Industry address. ABC President and CEO Richard Waycott and 2021/2022 Board Chairman Brian Wahlbrink headlined the address as co-anchors of “AlmondCenter”, a fast moving and informative ninety minutes of almond action news. ABC staff were positioned as field reporters who brought the latest information to attendees about shipping delays, water issues, marketing efforts, industry resources and more.

    At the conclusion of the “AlmondCenter” production, Waycott and Wahlbrink announced the winners of the annual industry awards. George Goshgarian Sr. was presented with this year’s Almond Achievement Award, and Ken Stevenson was the recipient of the new Almond Technical Achievement Award. ABC and the industry thanked both award winners for their dedication and service to the industry over their respective careers. The industry then adjourned back to the tradeshow for an opening reception.

    (From left to right) Brian Wahlbrink, Swati Kalgaonkar, George Goshgarian Sr., Karen Lapsley and Richard Waycott (Photo Courtesy of the Almond Board).

    The vast amount of information dispersed at The Almond Conference began on day two, Wednesday, December 8. Growers and industry members learned the latest about key topics during three blocks of four consecutive sessions at 8:40 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. A break in the action on day two was during lunch as Mattson President and Chief Innovation Officer Barb Stuckey addressed attendees. She talked about the latest in product development such as almond milk base – a 100 percent almond powder that when water is added becomes almond milk. Stuckey also identified areas that she sees as opportunities for almonds to enter the market like almond baked goods, pizza crusts, pastas and tortilla chips.

    Mattson President and CIO Barb Stuckey addressing attendees at lunch on day two (photo courtesy of the Almond Board).

    Educational sessions continued into day three of the conference with 11 more talks on marketing tactics, production information and more. Attendees also got a chance to hear the incredible story of Dan On, global CEO of Dan-D Pak. Born in Saigon, Vietnam — now known as Ho Chi Minh City – On’s journey includes escaping the Vietnam War, surviving pirate attacks on the open sea and living in a Malaysian refugee camp. On ultimately was brought to Canada through a Hope Lutheran Church program. After being adopted by Irish Canadian parents who sold granola, On came up with the idea to sell the ingredients separately which became a lucrative business decision. The Dan-D Group is now an importer, manufacturer, and distributor of cashews and other tree nuts, nut butters, dried fruits, snack foods and spices from around the world with approximately 1,000 employees in Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, with headquarters in Richmond, British Columbia.

    The Almond Conference 2021 wrapped up with the annual Conference Gala Dinner, with a twist. This year, the Gala Dinner was transformed into the Nuthouse Honky Tonk Bar with a private concert from up-and-coming country music star Tyler Rich. As a California native, Rich entertained hundreds of industry members with original songs such as “The Difference” and “Leave Her Wild”.

    ABC also included a few special presentations at the Gala Dinner. The 2020/2021 Almond Leadership class was recognized for their dedication and effort over the past two years, as the Covid-19 pandemic extended the 2020 class experience. ABC also recognized the lifetime contributions of Bill Morecraft Jr. who is retiring from Blue Diamond Growers after 35 years in the industry.

    During the three-day event, ABC and the Almond Leadership Program ran a silent auction that netted over $11,000 for California Future Farmers of America. Thanks to the generosity of Emerald Sponsor Qcify, that total will be increased to over $36,000 going towards scholarships for graduating FFA students planning to pursue a degree in agriculture.

    The Almond Conference 2021 would not be possible without the support of sponsors. ABC would like to thank the 2021 Metal Sponsors for their generosity this year.

    All Conference presentations will be available at Almonds.com/Conference. The Almond Conference will again be in Sacramento at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in 2022. Industry members are encouraged to save December 6-8, 2022 as dates for the conference.

  • What US Food Exporters Need to Know about China’s New Facility Registration Requirements

    Port congestion and unresolved international trade disputes are tough enough, without China’s new facility registration requirements going into effect at the start of 2022 for food export destined for China.  Watch this brief interview with Keith Schneller, Trade Policy Specialist for the Almond Board of California,  as he explains the issue and how FDA is addressing it.
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Jacob Villagomez Hired as CA Citrus Mutual Director of State Governmental Affairs

    California Citrus Mutual (CCM) is proud to announce we have hired Jacob Villagomez as the new Director of State Governmental Affairs. He comes to us from the State Senate, where he previously served as the District Director for Senator Melissa Hurtado.

    In his new role, Jacob will advocate on behalf of California’s citrus growers in the State legislature and within administrative and regulatory agencies.

    “I am extremely excited to add another talented member to the CCM team,” stated President/CEO Casey Creamer. “Jacob’s time as a legislative staffer will add valuable experience and perspective to the organization as we deal with significant concerns related to water, pest management, labor, and the overall cost of doing business in California. As a son of citrus farmers in the Sanger area, he has a vested interest in our success and a strong passion to bring positive change for the industry.”

    Jacob attended California State University, Fresno where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is also an alumnus of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute’s Legislative Scholars program and a graduate of the Fresno County Farm Bureau’s Future Advocates Concerned About Tomorrow (FAACT) program.

    About California Citrus Mutual (CCM)

    CCM is a voluntary, non-profit trade association representing CA citrus growers on the economic, regulatory, and political issues that impact them most.

  • Allied Grape Growers Hires Pam Bond as North Coast Operations Support

    Allied Grape Growers (AGG) has named Pam Bond as its North Coast operations support, effective Dec. 1. In her new role, she will work closely with AGG’s North Coast regional manager and grower relations representative, providing administrative support around contract negotiations as well as field support for grower relations. Bond worked with AGG through the 2021 harvest as a seasonal employee before accepting this full-time position.

    “We are very excited to expand our North Coast staff with someone of such rich experience and reputation,” AGG President Jeff Bitter said. “Pam brings a delightful spirit and work ethic to AGG, and she will serve our growers and grape buyers well. Her experience in all aspects of administration and operations, from vineyards to winery, will be an asset for our rapidly growing North Coast business.”

    Bond comes to AGG with extensive experience and connections in the industry, specifically with coordinating successful vineyard management strategies and initiatives with growers designed to increase quality and revenue. She previously worked for Swanson Vineyards and Winery in Oakville as director of vineyard and estate operations from 2010 to 2020 and as assistant vineyard manager from 2002 to 2010. During her time with Swanson, she served in management positions; handled grower relations; was responsible for all aspects of grape purchases, sales and communication; and worked on pest and disease identification and control.

    Bond was a member of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s PD/GWSS Board from 2012 to 2020, including a one-year term as board chair. She holds an associate degree in viticulture from Napa Valley College.

    “I am delighted to become a member of Allied Grape Grower’s excellent team,” Bond said. “I look forward to contributing in their service to, and collaboration with, North Coast growers and wineries, working together and weaving the ongoing story of beautiful wines.”

  • California Farmland Trust Awarded 2021 CalAgPlate Grant Funding

    Thanks to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) California Special Interest License Plate (CalAgPlate) grant program, California Farmland Trust (CFT) is proud to be awarded funding to distribute an additional 40 Orange You Glad We Have Farmland kits to classrooms all throughout California.

    Geared toward third through fifth grade students, the Orange You Glad We Have Farmland curriculum provides students with a hands-on, poster-based activity, to better understand just how little farmland is left in the world to supply food for our growing population. Students learn fractions in a tangible, sensory-oriented manner by cutting an orange and exploring how the slices resemble various parts of earth. Once they complete the activity, they can enjoy a fresh, California orange as a nutritious and healthy snack.

    “The funds provided by the CalAgPlate grant program have helped connect our youth back to the farmland that grows food for their own families and created conservation-based habits, while also teaching them the importance of farmland protection for their generation and generations to come,” said Katie Otto, development and operations director at CFT. “We are thankful to receive another round of funds from CDFA’s CalAgPlate program.”

    CFT was chosen as one of the five organizations to receive funds under the 2021 CalAgPlate grant, which aims to fund efforts that enhance agricultural education and leadership opportunities. The Orange You Glad We Have Farmland curriculum aligns with California Education Standards and includes a Spanish option, to better serve a wider segment of California’s youth.

    CFT previously received funding from the CalAgPlate grant in 2020 to fund initial kit development and disbursement, reaching 1,000 students statewide. The 2021 grant money will supply materials for 1,000 students to complete the activity in-person or virtually, including English and Spanish educational posters, fresh oranges, reusable cutting boards, and student-safe knives. More information on CFT’s education and outreach efforts can be found at cafarmtrust.org/education-outreach/.