AGRICULTURE EMBRACES NEW FACILITY
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross |
“The San Joaquin Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the nation and yet we have a number of individuals in these communities who do not know where their next meal is coming from,” said Secretary Karen Ross stated in a recent statement. “Bringing together the agricultural community with local food banks, faith-based organizations and other stakeholders, is an important step in addressing food insecurity in the Valley.”
Sarah Reyes |
Sarah Reyes, of the California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, began by describing herself as having come from a food-insecure family.
Lindsay Coate |
Lindsay Coate, Ag Against Hunger, said we need to provide a necessary link between agriculture and community needs. Her organization, initiated by the agricultural community, provides a clearinghouse for surplus crops in a 3-county area. With their own fleet of trucks and a cooling facility, the organization provides the local ag community with a distribution system that gave out 210 million pounds of vegetables, particularly leafy greens, last year. In wintertime, they send their trucks to Yuma for fresh crops.
Lettuce Prices Continue to Soar
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all eligible growers of record. Eligible growers who do not receive a ballot may contact Rose Aguayo or Kathie Notoro at USDA’s California Marketing Field Office, 2202 Monterey Street, Fresno, Calif. 93721; phone: (559) 487-5901.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross |