All posts in Blog

FSMA Y NOP: Higiene y salud de los trabajadores

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 […]

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Food Safety & Wildfires Case Study: Brisa Ranch

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 […]

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Family Farmer Emergency Fund Returns, Offering Drought & Wildfire Relief

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 […]

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FSMA Water Updates June 2022

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 […]

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Landmark CA Groundwater policy neglects small, underrepresented farmers

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 […]

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Membership Spotlight: Black Urban Farmers Association (BUFA)

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. […]

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Grazing Sheep in Vineyards case study with Pennyroyal Farm

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 […]

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Meet CAFF’s 2020-22 Partner Farm Cohort, Part 2

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 […]

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Meet CAFF’s 2020-22 Partner Farm Cohort, Part 1

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 […]

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FSMA Inspection Case Study: New Natives Farm

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 […]

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Family farmers praise drought relief, call for continued investments in food system

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. […]

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Member Spotlight: Windy River Farm

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. […]

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PC Rule Supplier Verification Guide

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 […]

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Member Spotlight: La Puma Farms

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 […]

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CAFF VAPG Scholarship Opportunity

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 […]

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CAFF’s 2022 Policy Priorities

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, […]

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Member Spotlight: Barinaga Ranch

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 […]

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Small Farm FSMA Series Post 4 of 4

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.   […]

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2022 Farm Champions

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, […]

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Winners of the 2022 Small Farm Innovation Challenge

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 […]

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Member Spotlight: Alchemist Farm

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 […]

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Drought-threatened Family Farmers React to Governor’s Proposed Budget

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, […]

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Locally-Grown Food Won’t Get  Stuck in the Suez Canal

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 […]

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Why Do Farmers Join CAFF?

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, […]

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BIOS Field day River Garden Farms

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 […]

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No-Till News: An Update on CAFF’s Biointensive No-Till Project 

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. […]

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Food Safety Plan Templates in Spanish

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 […]

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Plantillas de Planes de Inocuidad Alimentaria en Español

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 […]

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Technical Assistance for the Healthy Soils Program!

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 […]

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The California School District Produce Procurement Guide

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 […]

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Reflections on USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.0

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 […]

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Farmers: Need Help Covering Your Covid-19 Business Costs?

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 […]

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NOP/FSMA/3rd Party Audit Food Safety Guide

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 […]

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CAFF Survey: 2021

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 […]

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Gov. Signs Historic Budget: Success for Family Farmers in the Capitol!

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 […]

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New Competition Seeks Innovations for Small Farms

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 […]

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CAFF kicks off BIOS program with event promoting sustainable nut orchards

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. […]

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Family Farmer Emergency Fund Provides Drought & Pandemic Relief

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 […]

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Debt Relief for Farmers of Color & White Allies

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 […]

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Rescue Small Farms, California!

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 […]

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Drought’s Toll on California Family Farms

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 […]

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CAFF chosen as a 2021 Nonprofit of the Year 

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 […]

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Critical Investments for Our Small Family Farmers

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 […]

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Family Farmers Return from State Capitol with High Hopes

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 […]

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Revision to Co-Selling Regs at Farmers Markets

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 […]

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Latest Round of Federal Funding for Farmers Impacted by COVID-19: Limited Time, Apply Now!

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 […]

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Plantillas de Planes de Inocuidad Alimentaria Actualizadas en Español

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 […]

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Fund Gives Sacramento Small Farmers New Tools To Recover from Pandemic

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 […]

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Getting the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) demonstration project off the ground!

Getting the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) demonstration project off the ground!

The BIOS project is underway! CAFF’s Ecological Farming team has been busy the past several weeks setting up the Biologically Integrated Orchards Systems (BIOS) project at six demonstration sites located […]

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Bold Climate & Agriculture Bill Introduced in Congress

Bold Climate & Agriculture Bill Introduced in Congress

Today, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA) in Congress, outlining a farmer-focused, research-driven path to net zero agriculture. This Earth Day, […]

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CAFF Week of Action 2021

CAFF Week of Action 2021

CALLING ALL FAMILY FARMERS: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Join us for CAFF’s (first ever!) Week of Action, May 17 – 19th, a series of virtual meetings with your state legislators! In order to […]

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Farmer Opportunity: Local Food Access for Seniors

Farmer Opportunity: Local Food Access for Seniors

Eligible farmers, farmers markets and other local aggregators have a unique opportunity to help distribute fresh, local produce to seniors across California. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program may look […]

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California’s small farmers thank state leaders for critical pandemic relief support

California’s small farmers thank state leaders for critical pandemic relief support

CAFF-led effort helps deliver $3.35 million in state early action funds will help underserved farmers access relief and recovery dollars  Sacramento, CA  – Today California state leaders enacted budget legislation […]

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PC Rule Guide for Food Hubs and Values-Based Buyers

PC Rule Guide for Food Hubs and Values-Based Buyers

FSMA Supplier Verification Demystified The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is composed of seven main rules or sections. Th common name of one of those sections is the PC or […]

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Action Alert: Sign-on to Support Food Hubs!

Action Alert: Sign-on to Support Food Hubs!

? ACTION ALERT! ?​ SIGN ON TO SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD HUBS! Calling on Farmers, Ranchers, and Organizations to sign on in support of a California Assembly Bill (AB1009 – Bloom) […]

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Persevering Through COVID-19: Schools Support Food Access in San Mateo County

Persevering Through COVID-19: Schools Support Food Access in San Mateo County

PERSEVERING THROUGH COVID-19: Schools Support Food Access in San Mateo County California schools, a significant market for family farmers, are critical sources of food access for local communities. CAFF Teamed […]

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Ca Relief Grants: Farmer Applications Open for Round 6

Ca Relief Grants: Farmer Applications Open for Round 6

Learn how to apply for the California Relief Grant

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California’s Chance for a Resilient and Equitable Food & Farming System

California’s Chance for a Resilient and Equitable Food & Farming System

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed weaknesses within our food and farming system and exacerbated long-standing inequities. This pandemic has disproportionately impacted California’s small-scale farmers and, in particular, historically underserved farmers […]

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Family Farmers Condemn Anti-Asian Violence

Family Farmers Condemn Anti-Asian Violence

We condemn the harassment, violent attacks, and most recent murders of those in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. We are horrified not only by the recent surge […]

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Family Farmers for Early Action on CA State Budget

Family Farmers for Early Action on CA State Budget

The below letter was sent by CAFF and signed by dozens of family farmers across the state to members of the California state Senate and Assembly, expressing our support for […]

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Integrating Sheep into Walnuts: a case study on Sierra Orchards

Integrating Sheep into Walnuts: a case study on Sierra Orchards

Want to find out more about the benefits and tradeoffs of integrating sheep into orchard systems? Check out our newest case study on Sierra Orchards of Winters, CA. Sean McNamara […]

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CAFF’s Farmer Survey Results 2021

CAFF’s Farmer Survey Results 2021

In 2020 we asked you to complete our annual survey, participate in one-on-one conversations, and listening sessions – this critical feedback from farmers helps guide CAFF’s work and advocacy to […]

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House Ag Committee Proposes Much-Needed Aid in Next COVID Relief Package

House Ag Committee Proposes Much-Needed Aid in Next COVID Relief Package

COVID-19 Funding Will Assist with Farm and Food System Response and Recovery February 9th, 2021, Washington, DC — Today, the House of Representatives released the Agriculture and Nutrition title of […]

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CAFF on CA Assembly Ag Committee Hearing

CAFF on CA Assembly Ag Committee Hearing

CAFF’s public comment for the California Assembly Ag Committee Hearing, February 10, 2021:  Good Afternoon Chair Rivas and members. Jamie Fanous for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. CAFF has represented small […]

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Don’t Let FDA’s Unfair Rules Jeopardize Small Farms

Don’t Let FDA’s Unfair Rules Jeopardize Small Farms

When it comes to regulating American agriculture, one size does NOT fit all. That was the message that CAFF and thousands of family farmers brought to the Food & Drug […]

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California Relief Grant: Round 2 opens Tuesday 2/2

California Relief Grant: Round 2 opens Tuesday 2/2

(Español abajo) If you missed Round 1 of the California Relief Grant for businesses impacted by Covid, there’s still time to get your application in! Round 2 is open February […]

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2021 California Food & Farm Champions

2021 California Food & Farm Champions

Every year, we honor individuals, farms and local businesses making a positive impact on our food and agricultural communities throughout California. This year’s nominations–submitted by people like you–overflowed with inspiring […]

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Tell Our CA State Legislature that Backing Governor’s 2021 Budget Means Supporting Family Farms

Tell Our CA State Legislature that Backing Governor’s 2021 Budget Means Supporting Family Farms

Last week, Governor Newsom released his California state budget, which included funding for a number of incredibly important programs aimed at helping family farms during the pandemic, advancing social equity […]

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Farmers’ Market Workers Should be Included in 1B Vaccine Group

Farmers’ Market Workers Should be Included in 1B Vaccine Group

January 15, 2021 To: Dr Erica Pan, CDPH; Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, OSG; Community Vaccine Advisory Committee Members CC: Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom, Secretary Karen Ross, Bobbie Wunsch Re: Ensure […]

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Family farmers applaud Governor’s investments in underserved small farmers & ecological agriculture

Family farmers applaud Governor’s investments in underserved small farmers & ecological agriculture

Sacramento – Earlier today, Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed FY 21-22 budget, including targeted investments to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), an agricultural group […]

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Farmers Standing Up for Democracy

Farmers Standing Up for Democracy

We at CAFF often find ourselves at odds with those in power, frustrated by a government that for too long has neglected family farms, drags its feet on climate legislation, […]

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CSA / Farm Box Survey

CSA / Farm Box Survey

CSA/Farm Box Operators, Raise Your Voice! By taking just a few minutes to complete our 2020 CSA / Farm Box Survey, you help guide CAFF’s CSA-related work and help us capture the […]

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CA Offers New COVID Relief Grants

CA Offers New COVID Relief Grants

The State of California is offering $500 million in new relief grants to help small businesses and nonprofits, including farms, impacted by COVID-19. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 per […]

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Help CAFF Level the Playing Field for Family Farms

Help CAFF Level the Playing Field for Family Farms

Meet Celsa Ortega. After years of working in other peoples’ fields, in 2020 she finally started her own farm, Induchucuiti Organic Farms. With her own hands, Celsa tends her field […]

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CAFF’s Cover Crop Decision Guides

CAFF’s Cover Crop Decision Guides

  We’re excited to share two new resources for growers: our Cover Crop Decision Guide for Perennial Systems and Cover Crop Decision Guide for Annual Systems created in collaboration with […]

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2021 Awards

2021 Awards

NOMINATE YOUR FOOD & FARM HERO! Loading…

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Newest Round of Federal COVID-19 Aid for Farmers More Accessible

Newest Round of Federal COVID-19 Aid for Farmers More Accessible

The USDA is handing out $14 billion of CCC/CARES money as CFAP 2.0. The new program is a marked improvement on the last version with more eligible commodities and a payment option […]

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Did you receive a Healthy Soils Incentives grant?

Did you receive a Healthy Soils Incentives grant?

CAFF is offering technical assistance to growers and ranchers to help implement Healthy Soils practices on-farm! We can help: Provide advice on how to implement cover cropping, no-till and reduced […]

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Black Lives Matter on our Farms

Black Lives Matter on our Farms

Since summer’s start, when CAFF joined millions in taking a stand for Black lives, the movement for racial justice has grown. But during that same time, violence against people of color […]

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Seeking Farmers to Speak up on Groundwater Mgmt. Policy

Seeking Farmers to Speak up on Groundwater Mgmt. Policy

Concerned about the impacts of SGMA on your farm? Join CAFF’s farmer support network for resources, connections with other CA farmers, and the opportunity to influence State policy to serve […]

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