CAFF’s blog (with posts by farmers, members of our Board of Directors, CAFF staff, and other agricultural advocates) includes action alerts, farming resources, policy news and updates, event information, CAFF press releases, and other food and farming topics.
Significant Investments & Drought Relief for Family Farmers in State Budget
This week, the California State Legislature passed and Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of budget bills that include significant investments in drought relief for small farms. After spending months
FSMA Y NOP: ANIMALES SILVESTRES Y DOMÉSTICOS
Esta hoja informativa proporciona una descripción general sobre lo que las granjas que necesitan estar en pleno cumplimiento con la Ley Federal de Modernización de la Seguridad Alimentaria (FSMA) deben
FSMA Y NOP: HIGIENE Y SALUD DE LOS TRABAJADORES
Esta hoja informativa explica qué deben hacer las granjas que necesitan cumplir plenamente con la Ley federal de Modernización de la Seguridad Alimentaria (FSMA por sus siglas en inglés) para
Food Safety & Wildfires Case Study: Brisa Ranch
Key Details: Location: San Francisco bay area , near Pescadero Acres in Production: 16 Main Crops: Fruit, vegetables, flowers Wildfire: CZU Complex in 2020 3rd Party Audit(s): USDA Harmonized GAP
Family Farmer Emergency Fund Returns, Offering Drought & Wildfire Relief
With a third year of severe drought and another wildfire season already heating up, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is relaunching its California Family Farmer Emergency Fund for farmers
FSMA Water Updates June 2022
Confused about FSMA Water Requirements? In 2011 President Obama signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The law updated our federal food safety requirements and for the first
Landmark CA Groundwater policy neglects small, underrepresented farmers
The most consequential groundwater policy in California history has so far failed to include small and underrepresented farmers, according to a new report. Passed in 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management
Membership Spotlight: Black Urban Farmers Association (BUFA)
As summer approaches farmers throughout the state are entering their busiest season. They are working hard to bring our communities all the wonders that the summer season has to offer.
Grazing Sheep in Vineyards case study with Pennyroyal Farm
As part of our work in Ecological Farming and more broadly as an organization, CAFF aims to share stories of California growers and ranchers and the incredible work they do
Meet CAFF’s 2020-22 Partner Farm Cohort, Part 2
From 2020-2022 CAFF partnered with fifteen farms across California to develop and update their food safety practices. Farms who participated in the partnership wanted to ensure their food was safe
Meet CAFF’s 2020-22 Partner Farm Cohort, Part 1
From 2020-2022 CAFF partnered with fifteen farms across California to develop and update their food safety practices. Farms who participated in the partnership wanted to ensure their food was safe
FSMA Inspection Case Study: New Natives Farm
Key Details: Location: California Central Coast Main Crop(s): Microgreens FSMA PSR Inspection: 1/7/2020 3rd Party Audit(s): USDA Harmonized GAP/GMP Certified Organic by National Organic Program: Yes Owners: Ken and Sandra
Family farmers praise drought relief, call for continued investments in food system
For Immediate Release: May 13, 2022 Sacramento, CA – Earlier today, Governor Gavin Newsom released a revised proposed state budget that includes significant investments in drought relief for small farms.
Member Spotlight: Windy River Farm
Each month our goal is to share the inspiring stories of our CAFF members. This month we asked Patrick Mitchell from Windy River Farms to be a part of this series.
PC Rule Supplier Verification Guide
Are you part of a food hub and confused about what Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) food safety requirements you need to require from farmers you source from? Or, are
Member Spotlight: La Puma Farms
Santa Barbara, CA This month, we’d like to introduce you to La Puma Farms. When we asked why he’s a CAFF member, John La Puma said “As a chef and physician, I’ve
CAFF VAPG Scholarship Opportunity
Interested in applying for the USDA’s Value Added Producer Grant? Do you sell your produce as organic, local, free range, grass fed, etc. OR make a finished product from your
CAFF’s 2022 Policy Priorities
What’s needed in California for small farms, sustainable agriculture and local food systems to truly thrive, find equity, and remain resilient in the face of adversity? In the fall 2021,
Member Spotlight: Barinaga Ranch
Photo by: Paige Green New month, new member spotlight! This month we want to introduce you to Marcia Barinaga of Barinaga Ranch. Marcia joined CAFF because she wanted to be
Small Farm FSMA Series Post 4 of 4
SMALL FARM FSMA SERIES – POST 4 of 4 Author: Stepheni Norton, Regional Food Safety Specialist FSMA is serious business, so we have a few disclaimers before we dig in.
2022 Farm Champions
Introducing… the 2022 Farm Champion awardees! To make it as a small farm and to affect real, lasting change in our food system, it requires unwavering determination, hard work, ingenuity,
Winners of the 2022 Small Farm Innovation Challenge
With community-scaled ingenuity at heart, the winners of this year’s Small Farm Innovation Challenge offer solutions for local agriculture. In its second year, the Challenge sought submissions from around the world for
Member Spotlight: Alchemist Farm
Happy 2022! This year we want to start strong by highlighting the amazing farmers that are essential to the work we do at CAFF. This month, we want to introduce
Drought-threatened Family Farmers React to Governor’s Proposed Budget
Today California Governor Gavin Newsom released a record-breaking state budget proposal that includes significant investments to address climate change, support sustainable agriculture, and expand access to healthy school food. Unfortunately,
Locally-Grown Food Won’t Get Stuck in the Suez Canal
In March of this year, an Empire State Building-sized cargo ship infamously lodged itself in the Suez Canal. But while the world watched as engineers scrambled to remove this gargantuan
Why Do Farmers Join CAFF?
Hi there, Maybe you’re a farmers market regular committed to ensuring that everyone has access to healthy, local food. Or a climate change activist who knows that rich, thriving,
BIOS Field day River Garden Farms
The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) hosted our second Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) field day at River Garden Farms on November 30th, 2021 titled “Cover Cropping, Sanitation and
No-Till News: An Update on CAFF’s Biointensive No-Till Project
Since 2017, CAFF’s Ecological Farming team has been conducting an on-farm demonstration project in collaboration with California no-till farmers to better understand small-scale biointensive no-till farming’s effect on soil health.
Food Safety Plan Templates in Spanish
CAFF’s free food safety plan templates for small farmers are now available in Spanish. The templates can be used by farmers that need to be in compliance with the federal
Plantillas de Planes de Inocuidad Alimentaria en Español
Las plantillas gratuitas del plan de seguridad alimentaria de CAFF para pequeños agricultores ya están disponibles en español. Las plantillas pueden ser utilizadas por los agricultores que necesitan cumplir con
Technical Assistance for the Healthy Soils Program!
Are you interested in implementing cover crops, compost, mulch, hedgerows and other Healthy Soils practices on your farm? The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is offering 3 year
The California School District Produce Procurement Guide
A resource developed by Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and Community Health Improvement Partner’s (CHIP) Farm to Institution Center. Use controls at the bottom to flip pages, enter full
Reflections on USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.0
Applications for the USDA’s CFAP-2 (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.0) closed last week on October 12th. CFAP-2 was the second round of federal funding for farmers who faced losses during
Farmers: Need Help Covering Your Covid-19 Business Costs?
(Español abajo) Looking for a way to cover costs — particularly those driven by market changes — incurred during the pandemic? The new Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program
NOP/FSMA/3rd Party Audit Food Safety Guide
This guide provides charts that give a side-by-side comparison of the similarities and differences between the requirements of the National Organic Program, Food Safety Modernization Act, and 3rd Party Food
CAFF Survey: 2021
CAFF’S ANNUAL SURVEY DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 15! Your voice matters! Please take a few moments (no more than 5-8 minutes) to complete CAFF’s annual survey. The feedback you provide here helps
Gov. Signs Historic Budget: Success for Family Farmers in the Capitol!
Today, Governor Newsom signed a $15 billion climate budget package passed earlier this month by the California State Legislature, the largest in California’s history aimed at investing in the needs
New Competition Seeks Innovations for Small Farms
While farm tech may conjure images of GPS-driven tractors, robot harvesters, and biotechnology, a new competition in California is calling on innovators to refocus their attention away from scaling up
CAFF kicks off BIOS program with event promoting sustainable nut orchards
The first Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) event on “Impacts of Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) in Walnuts” was held in Linden at the Anderson-Barngrover Ranch on Friday August 27th.
Family Farmer Emergency Fund Provides Drought & Pandemic Relief
Davis, CA – With many small farms still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, and deepening impacts felt from the drought, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is relaunching its California
Debt Relief for Farmers of Color & White Allies
A few weeks ago, an odd request appeared on an online farmer discussion group to which I belong. A lawyer was soliciting white farmers to join a lawsuit fighting a
Rescue Small Farms, California!
Irrigation pipes beside a fallow field that last year overflowed with vegetables for a local CSA. Photo by Kelsey Joy Murphey Farming has always been a risky business, but here
Drought’s Toll on California Family Farms
Just as California begins recovering from a year of pandemic and devastating wildfires, the state is facing another disaster: severe drought and record-breaking high temperatures. Small farmers who scrambled to
CAFF chosen as a 2021 Nonprofit of the Year
This week, CAFF was selected as a 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year by Senator Sydney Kamlager. We’re honored to join other inspiring nonprofits around the state recognized for their
Critical Investments for Our Small Family Farmers
The Community Alliance with Family Farmers is calling on legislative leaders to support critical investments in California’s small and underserved farmers. CAFF is seeking legislative support for approximately $60 million
Family Farmers Return from State Capitol with High Hopes
Earlier this month, CAFF traveled (virtually) to the State Capitol in Sacramento to meet with legislators during CAFF’s Week of Action. Over three days, farmers and ranchers participated in meetings
Revision to Co-Selling Regs at Farmers Markets
State of California Memorandum To : Certified Producer’s, Market Operators and other Interested Parties Date: May 18, 2021 Sacramento (916) 900-5030 From : Department of Food and Agriculture – Steve
Latest Round of Federal Funding for Farmers Impacted by COVID-19: Limited Time, Apply Now!
Note: Translated application and fact sheets are available in Hmong (Hmong), 한국어(Korean), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi), Español (Spanish), اردو (Urdu), and Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) found here. The USDA is handing out $14
Plantillas de Planes de Inocuidad Alimentaria Actualizadas en Español
La plantilla gratuita del plan de inocuidad alimentaria de CAFF para pequeños agricultores ha sido actualizada recientemente. La plantilla está orientada a los agricultores que necesitan cumplir con la Ley
Fund Gives Sacramento Small Farmers New Tools To Recover from Pandemic
Sacramento, CA – With many small farms still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) announced today that the nonprofit is launching a fund to help