Ventura Ag Futures Alliance
The Ventura AFA was born in 1999. In the years since its inception, the AFA has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments to date. The underlying success rests with formation of an active alliance of representatives from leading community organizations. These leaders are committed to formation of consensus positions on those issues most important to the future of a sustainable agriculture and the community at large. With consensus established, AFA members work collaboratively over sustained periods to activate their desired principles and policies within the community.
Ventura Ag Futures Alliance 2012 Accomplishments
➢ The Ventura Alliance hosted the event, Ventura County Ag Summit: How the Local Food Movement Can Support Ventura County Agriculture, in February 2012. The public summit brought together over 250 producers, agricultural support agencies, elected officials, educators, food distributors, labor advocates and consumers. Panelists and speakers included the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner and Public Health Officer, the Farm Bureau of Ventura County, USDA Rural Development Director Glenda Humiston, the Deputy Director for Los Angeles Unified School District’s Food Services Department and many more. California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, Karen Ross, gave the keynote address. In addition to building local awareness and engagement in sustainable food system issues, the Summit provided direction for the Alliance.
➢ The Land Use Committee participated in a Regulatory Listening Session that allowed producers to articulate concerns about regulatory barriers. The Land Use Committee is now working to bring these concerns to the attention of local policy decision-makers through a series of agricultural presentations focusing on the many components of the diverse agriculture industry in the county.
➢ In addition to regulatory burdens, the need for education about agriculture surfaced at the Summit, and VAFA responded by forming an Ag Education Committee. Members of the committee hosted a forum with local agricultural educators on November 1st to assess the status of local ag education efforts, determine where there were gaps, and asses the role of the VAFA Ag Education Committee for building bridges.
➢ The House Farmworkers! Project, a former committee of the Alliance, developed city-based, satellite committees in seven municipalities throughout the county, extending the reach and membership of the project.
3rd Annual “From Field to Fork” Fundraiser
July 2013. House Farm Workers! will host its third annual “From Field to Fork” fundraiser on Thursday, July 25th. “From Field to Fork” is a fundraiser to benefit House Farm Workers! The event will bring together farmers who produce Ventura County’s agricultural bounty, local chefs who celebrate that bounty on their menus, and the farm workers whose labor makes it all possible.
Ag Education Network Survey
The Ventura County Ag Education Network is seeking Ventura County facilitators and agricultural educators to participate in the Ag Education Network Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gather information surrounding agricultural education in Ventura, and to begin to gauge the interest in creating a county-wide network for educators.
Please take a minute to participate in this brief survey. The survey will be available until June 6, 2013.
Read More »2012 Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance (VAFA) Progress Report
Dec. 2012 Ventura AFA has released a report on the Ag Summit and the work the Alliance has done since this incredible event.
Ventura Ag Summit Thanks its Sponsors
Feb. 2012 We would like to thank all of the Ventura County Agricultural Summit Sponsors! The event was a huge success in part because of the generous support of these organizations and individuals.
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