All posts in Advocacy

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 […]

Read More »
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 […]

Read More »
More Funds for Farmers Impacted by COVID-19 & Economic Crisis

More Funds for Farmers Impacted by COVID-19 & Economic Crisis

For many family farmers reeling from the economic turmoil of COVID-19, sorely needed emergency relief never came because the government programs intended to serve them were targeted to the largest […]

Read More »
2020 CAFF Survey

2020 CAFF Survey

CAFF’s ANNUAL SURVEY Your voice matters! By taking the time to complete this survey, you help guide CAFF’s work and advocacy to better serve and represent California family farmers, while […]

Read More »
ACTION ALERT! Tell Congress: Local Farms Need COVID-19 Relief

ACTION ALERT! Tell Congress: Local Farms Need COVID-19 Relief

 The majority of farmers selling local foods have suffered severe market disruptions due to COVID-19, yet the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) has left them out. Now we have […]

Read More »
Don’t Let Congress Ignore Small Farms Yet Again!

Don’t Let Congress Ignore Small Farms Yet Again!

In the last COVID aid package, congress approved $16 billion to support U.S. agriculture. But how much of that money found its way to the small family farmers who need […]

Read More »
USDA’s COVID-19 Farmer Relief Will Leave Out Farmers Most Impacted by Crisis

USDA’s COVID-19 Farmer Relief Will Leave Out Farmers Most Impacted by Crisis

Thousands of Farmers and Ranchers Working to Feed their Communities Will Not be Fairly Compensated for Losses

Read More »
Urging Congress to Protect Organic Food & Ag During Pandemic

Urging Congress to Protect Organic Food & Ag During Pandemic

As a member of the Organic Farmers Alliance in D.C., CAFF joined in urging congress to include provisions in the next coronavirus relief package to help organic farmers, farmworkers, retailers, […]

Read More »
EIDL Disaster Loan Applications Now Open to Farms

EIDL Disaster Loan Applications Now Open to Farms

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories were able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of […]

Read More »
State Program Puts Food Industry Back to Work, Sources from Local Farms to Feed Seniors in Need

State Program Puts Food Industry Back to Work, Sources from Local Farms to Feed Seniors in Need

Last week, Governor Newsom announced the launch of a first-in-the-nation “Great Plates Delivered” program, a state-funded meal delivery service with two goals: 1) help seniors and other adults at high […]

Read More »
Don’t Let the USDA Leave You Out

Don’t Let the USDA Leave You Out

ACTION ALERT! As farmers and ranchers across the country are feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA is preparing to distribute $16 billion in direct aid to producers who have […]

Read More »
CAFF Participating in Survey of Farm Workers During COVID-19

CAFF Participating in Survey of Farm Workers During COVID-19

Farmworkers are considered essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis and continue to work on California farms and ranches. In order to ensure that these workers’ voices are shaping responses to […]

Read More »
COVID-19 USDA Farm Stimulus Packages

COVID-19 USDA Farm Stimulus Packages

On Friday, the White House announced that it will direct $19 billion in funds to aid farmers and ranchers during the coronavirus crisis. CAFF and our allies in D.C. are […]

Read More »
New Legislation, Crucial Support to Family Farmers & Ranchers

New Legislation, Crucial Support to Family Farmers & Ranchers

On April 13, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced landmark legislation to provide debt relief to small farmers across the country. The Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act issues one-time debt relief of up to $250,000 […]

Read More »
Urge Congress to help get Covid-19 money out the door to farmers

Urge Congress to help get Covid-19 money out the door to farmers

ACTION ALERT! The U.S. Department of Agriculture is weighing how to spend $9.5 billion in relief for farmers, ranchers and local food systems, already allocated by Congress under the Coronavirus […]

Read More »
CAFF Policy Update: COVID-19

CAFF Policy Update: COVID-19

Updated 4/10/20 (we will continue to update this document as new developments unfold and as new information is released) CARES Federal programs In the face of our public health crisis […]

Read More »
Local Food Producer Aide Implementation Letter

Local Food Producer Aide Implementation Letter

Letter to Secretary of Agriculture Perdue requesting relief for farmers and ranchers suffering market losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Has your representative signed? If not, tell them to sign […]

Read More »
A Closer Look at Farmer Relief in Senate Pandemic Aid Package

A Closer Look at Farmer Relief in Senate Pandemic Aid Package

As farmers and communities all across the country continue to deal with the impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Congress has been working around the clock to pass another round […]

Read More »
Congress Steps Up to Support Family Farmers

Congress Steps Up to Support Family Farmers

Washington, DC – Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), a nonprofit organization that serves small- and mid-scale farmers in California, issued the following statement from Policy Director Dave Runsten in […]

Read More »
Tell Congress: Support Family Farms & Local Food During COVID-19 Crisis!

Tell Congress: Support Family Farms & Local Food During COVID-19 Crisis!

The global COVID-19 pandemic is touching every part of our lives, including food and agriculture. Necessary measures to contain the spread of the virus have resulted in the immediate loss […]

Read More »
Farm Industry Critical Needs projection

Farm Industry Critical Needs projection

Please use the below form to list any current or anticipated supply shortfalls that cannot be resolved through your procurement systems. Recognizing that farms are part of the State’s critical […]

Read More »
Is Your Farmers Market Closed? Send this Letter!

Is Your Farmers Market Closed? Send this Letter!

Is your farmers market closed because of COVID-19? Use this template letter to urge your local government to reopen the market, recognizing it as an essential business keeping your community […]

Read More »
COVID-19 & its Impacts on the Farm and Food System

COVID-19 & its Impacts on the Farm and Food System

A policy update from CAFF’s advocacy coalition in D.C., the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: The rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic is already causing significant impacts across the entirety of our US […]

Read More »
What can consumers do to support farms & local food system during Covid-19?

What can consumers do to support farms & local food system during Covid-19?

What Can Consumers Do During the COVID-19 Crisis to Support Family Farms & Our Local Food System? While confusion abounds during this ever-developing COVID-19 crisis, one thing is clear: a […]

Read More »
Community Alliance with Family Farmers’ Statement on Governor’s Announcement on COVID-19 Actions

Community Alliance with Family Farmers’ Statement on Governor’s Announcement on COVID-19 Actions

For Immediate Release: March 15, 2020 Sacramento, CA – Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), a nonprofit organization that serves small- and mid-scale farmers in California, issued the following statement […]

Read More »