Leafy Green New Member Sign-Up Deadline – April 1

The Board of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) is currently accepting sign-up forms from new signatories for the 2014/2015 fiscal year.  In order to participate in the LGMA program from April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015, handlers need to submit a sign-up form to the LGMA office by end of day on April 1, 2014.  The form is available at the marketing agreement’s website: www.lgma.ca.gov.

The LGMA has second sign-up period with a deadline of October 1st.  The April 1st deadline is timely for companies in the Salinas region, and the October 1st deadline accommodates handlers in other regions of the state like Imperial Valley and San Joaquin Valley.

Current members do not need to sign up again.  Brand new companies can sign up at anytime.

Handlers who would like to join the LGMA need to verify that they meet the LGMA’s definition of a handler and also that they handle at least one of the leafy green products covered under the LGMA program.

The LGMA defines a handler as:  Any person who handles, processes, ships any person who handles, processes, ships or distributes leafy green product for market whether as owner, agent, employee, broker or otherwise.  This definition does not include a retailer.

Leafy green products covered by the LGMA include:

  • arugula
  • baby leaf lettuce
  • butter lettuce
  • cabbageLGMA Crops
  • chard
  • endive
  • escarole
  • green leaf lettuce
  • iceberg lettuce
  • kale
  • red leaf lettuce
  • romaine lettuce
  • spinach
  • spring mix

Prospective members should review the New Members section on the LGMA website.  Once enrolled in the program members are subject to compliance audits conducted by California Department of Food and Agriculture inspectors.  The goal of these audits is to verify that handlers, and their growers, are complying with the accepted Food Safety Practices of the LGMA.

New members of the LGMA are subject to assessments on all California grown leafy greens handled by the company during the period of April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015.

Since 2007 handlers of California lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens have been protecting public health by establishing a culture of food safety on the farm through the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.  Buyers of leafy green products look for LGMA certification to see if their suppliers are certified LGMA members; additionally both Canada and Mexico have regulations in place allowing imports of leafy greens only from LGMA-certified companies.

2016-05-31T19:38:49-07:00March 17th, 2014|

PASSING THE HOE: Farmer Training

Beginning Farmer-Training Program Accepting 2014 Students

 

The Center for Land-Based Learningdedicated to creating the next generation of farmers and teaching California’s youth about the importance of agriculture and watershed conservation, is getting ready for it’s third California Farm Academy class beginning in February 2014. The Farm Academy still has a few spots available.

 
The California Farm Academy, a one-of-a-kind beginning farmer-training program, was established to inspire and motivate people of all ages, especially youth, to promote a healthy interplay between agriculture, nature and society through their own actions and as leaders in their communities.

Admission requirements include:

  • A strong desire to become a specialty crop farmer
  • A commitment to participate in 7-10 hours of training per week, and
  • Transportation to attend classes near Winters, CA and at other nearby locations.
  • Some previous experience with farming is preferred. Classes and activities are conducted in English.

 

The program provides approximately 270 contact hours from Feb. 11th to Sep. 13th, 2014, including classes, hands-on experience, one-on-one consultations, farm visits and field trips. Printed curriculum materials are provided, as are the necessary machinery, tools and supplies for the activities. Partial tuition assistance may be available for admitted applicants who demonstrate financial need.
 
Another CLBL program, FARMS (Farming, Agriculture, and Resource Management for Sustainability) Leadership Program, provides innovative, hands-on experiences to urban, suburban and rural youth at working farms, agri-businesses and universities. Participants develop leadership skills and learn about agriculture practices that contribute to a healthier ecosystem, and connect to agricultural, environmental, and food system careers.
 
CLBL envisions a world where there is meaningful appreciation and respect for our natural environment and for the land that produces our food and sustains our quality of life. CLBL Founder, Craig McNamara was awarded the 2012 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. He is also President, California State Board of Food and Agriculture.
2016-10-24T15:28:53-07:00December 23rd, 2013|

Cotton ELS Prices Good, While Upland Cotton is Bleak

Upland Cotton Prices Down; Extra Long Staple Types Are Up

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Editor

 

Upland cotton prices are still bleak, falling 10 cents per pound over the last month, and are now in the .85 to .95 cents a pound range. However, there is a glimmer of good prices ahead for extra long staple (ELS) cottons on the open market.
Many growers forward contracted the just-harvested crop that might have returned a decent price, but the Pima and other ELS types are still holding a good price,” said Cannon Michael, V.P. Bowles Farming Co., in Los Banos Calif., who farms more than 11,000 acres of row and field crops, including cotton throughout Merced County.
“I know some guys that have booked some pricing of ELS for 2014 at $1.60 to $1.70, but that’s a market that operates in a different world,” said Michael. “There has been good demand, the world crop is down, and California does not have that much Pima this year due to an overall decline in cotton acreage.”
In 2013 California growers planted 90,000 acres of Upland cotton, down 37 percent from last year. ELS plantings in the West declined nearly 14 percent to 206,000 acres with largest decline -35,000 acres in California.
“There is more optimism on the ELS side due to higher prices,” said Michael. “But there is so much pressure on Upland cotton as far as what China and other areas of world can grow, so the prices are on the depressed side.”
Michael noted that farmers in his area grow the Hazera type of ELS, an Israeli hybrid type which is not as strong as Pima, but has the staple length and other properties. “It performs like an Upland type in terms of yield in the north end of the Valley, but pays about 10 cents less than Pima.

“While the Hazera seed is more expensive and does not have any Roundup Ready traits,” Michael commented, “it has a better quality fiber that the mills are looking for right now.”

2016-10-05T13:35:38-07:00November 16th, 2013|
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