California Ag Network

Tag: Secretary Karen Ross

Sacramento Farm Day puts kids in touch with Agriculture

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined in the “Sacramento Farm Day” festivities today, hosted by the California Farm Bureau Federation. The event, presented by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, brings in about 1,000 students and teachers who rotate through several stations to learn about agricultural subjects ranging from pollinators and nutrition to raising livestock and maintaining the health of our soils.

Raley’s partners with the event, providing lunch for the students through the company’s Food for Families program. The Dave Joerger Foundation (coach of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings) also supports Farm Day, and Coach Dave came out to make the rounds with Secretary Ross and Farm Bureau Administrator Jim Houston.

Several local TV stations came out to report on Farm Day

Secretary Ross with members of the Delta FFA, who showed students their project pigs, goats, lambs and a horse

Secretary Ross with CFBF Adminstrator Jim Houston and Sacramento Kings Coach Dave Joerger

Learning about pollinators

Snacks and facts courtesy of Blue Diamond

Secretary Ross at the #CAonMyPlate booth

Raley’s Food for Families program provided lunch for 1,000+ students

Secretary Ross with students from American Lakes School

March 28, 2019
Turning Waste into Energy

Secretary Ross Addresses National Renderers Association

If it were up to her, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross would rather we all stopped using the word “waste.” That’s what she told the National Renderers Association last week at their conference in Orange County.

When more than 62 billion pounds of animal by-products are converted annually into usable commodities such as animal feed, biofuels, fertilizers, soaps, and paints, that’s no longer “waste,” that’s a sustainable livestock and meat industry. Renderers play a critical role to agriculture by recycling fallen animals to protect the health of our livestock populations, public health, and the environment. Renderers also provide a vital service to the restaurant sector by converting used cooking oil into biodiesel.

When 75 percent of California’s biodiesel production comes from used cooking oil, that’s no longer primarily a “waste” product – it’s an energy product. And when those diesel-substitute biofuels also provide significant greenhouse gas reductions, that’s not “waste,” that’s climate change mitigation. There are more opportunities out there along these same lines – ways to get organic waste out of landfills and into productive, beneficial roles in our marketplace. And California’s Rendering Industry has a long history of leading that transformation.

October 30, 2018
CA Table Grape Commission Celebrates 50 Years

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the California Table Grape Commission (commission), Secretary Karen Ross of the California Department of Food and Agriculture presented the organization with a resolution commemorating 50 years of service to the state and its residents.

Among other things, the resolution Secretary Ross presented noted that, “since its first meeting in 1968, the commission has served the public interest by providing the leadership, promotion, and research needed to turn a small struggling industry into a mainstay of the state’s agricultural economy.” Further, Secretary Ross noted that, “in remaining dedicated to its purpose of creating demand for the state’s fresh grape crop the commission has fostered an environment that allowed a disparate group of small growers producing 27 million boxes of fresh grapes for U.S. consumers only to grow into an industry that ships approximately 110 million boxes to 60 countries with a crop value of $1.8 billion.”

As part of the celebration, Dominick Bianco of Anthony Vineyards was honored for his service on the first board of commissioners from 1968-1971 and for his continuous service since 1986. Marko B. Zaninovich of Sunview Vineyards was recognized for his service from 1971-1974 and for his continuous service since 1991.

During the meeting at which the recognition took place, the 2018 crop estimate was confirmed to be 114.6 million 19-pound boxes. Reports on the promotion programs underway in the U.S., Canada, and export markets around the world were provided.

August 10, 2018