News on Regional Food Systems

Sonoma County Healthy & Sustainable Food Action Plan

The Sonoma County Healthy and Sustainable Food Action Plan, a project of the SCFSA, is poised to be a huge success.

RFP Release for San Mateo County Ag Ombudsman

May 2013 San Mateo County has released an RFP for an agricultural ombudsman position for the County, which will be overseen by the Ag Commissioner’s office. The need for an agricultural ombudsman was clearly expressed during the San Mateo County Ag Workshop held in November, 2012 which was co-sponsored by Supervisor Don Horsley and the San Mateo Food System Alliance (SMFSA).

Fresno FSA’s Farm-to-School Committee Members Feautred on NPR Valley Public Radio

April 2013 FFSA Farm-to-School Committee members, Pao Saephan and Jose Alvarado, were featured on NPR Valley Public Radio on April, 2nd.

SCCFSA Member highlighted in article about immigrant growers in Santa Clara County

March 2013 Aziz Baamuer of UCCE Small Farms Program and SCCFSA member, speaks to the challenges of Asian immigrant farmers in Silicon Valley. See Article

SMFSA Members Release Report: Farming and Farmland Report on San Mateo County Land Use

January 2013 SMFSA Members, Jered Lawson and Ned Conwell, and Pie Ranch staff Jessica Beckett released a report looking at farmland availability and preservation on San Mateo County.

Sonoma County FSA’s Food Action Plan featured in the Bohemian

The Sonoma County Healthy and Sustainable Food Action Plan (FAP) is featured in the Bohemian holiday issue.

SMFSA Farm to School Pilot Project Presentation

Founding Alliance members Robin Galas and Jennifer Gross presented at the American Public Health Association’s 140th Annual Meeting.

SMFSA Announces release of food policy brief

June 2012 Producing, Distributing, and Consuming Healthy Local Food: Ingredients for a Sustainable Food System is now available online.

San Mateo Food System Alliance Accomplishments in 2011

• SMFSA has three committees: Farm to Institution, Land Use, and the newly formed Policy Committee
• San Mateo participated in the National Food Day event and focused on highlighting fish-friendly farming practices, as well as a panel with various stakeholders discussing Alliance initiatives.
• The San Mateo Alliance was recognized by the County Board of Supervisors and they formally endorsed the efforts of the Alliance to improve access to locally, sustainably produced, and healthy food in San Mateo County.
• The San Mateo Food System Alliance (SMFSA) began a Farm-to-School pilot with two school districts.
• The Farm-to-Institution Committee hosted a seminar in March for educators, youth and parents who want to increase their consumption of locally grown produce.
• The Alliance has translated their goals into a policy brief for local cities on inclusion of policies favorable to local production agriculture, and will be distributed to local officials in the coming months.
• Received primary funding for a feasibility study for local aggregation and distribution on coast-side produce to bay-side urban residents and institutions.

Panel Discussions Focus on Local Consumption

Jan. 2012. The year-long Farm to Fork series came to a successful conclusion on January 25 and 26 with panel discussions at the Santa Maria and Santa Barbara public libraries. This fourth installment of Farm to Fork series, entitled Closing the Loop, focused on the role of consumers in supporting local farmers, ranchers and other producers. Panelists included Gerri French, Nutritionist and Diabetes Educator at Sansum Medical Clinic; Melissa Gomez, Manager at Goodland Kitchen; Jaime Herrera, Executive Chef at UCSB Dining Commons; Liz Powell, Director of Food Services at Santa Maria Bonita School District; and Clark Staub, Owner at Full of Life Flatbread.

Sonoma FSA Hosts Successful School Food Workshop for Food Day

Oct. 2011 Sonoma County FSA hosted a free School Food Workshop on October 25 for Food Day, which provided a review of best practices, networking opportunities with local farmers.

Farm Forum Praises Sonoma County FSA

Sept. 2011 Sonoma’s 3rd Farm Forum featured more than a dozen speakers on various aspects of the food system. Praises were sung for the Sonoma County Food System Alliance among other efforts within the county. Click to read the Press Democrat article (pdf).

Sonoma FSA Members Present to Windsor Town Council

Sept. 2011 Alliance members Jana Hill and Wendy Krupnick presented the outcomes of the Sonoma County Food Forum to the City of Windsor’s Town Council on Wednesday, September 21. The presentation also included an update about other food system work going on in the county. After a successful presentation to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisor on August 9, Sonoma County FSA members are eager to reach out to individual municipalities and towns in the county about the Food Forum recommendations outlined in the report, and how every community can adapt and use them.

Sonoma FSA Presents Food Forum Report to BOS

Aug. 2011 The Sonoma County Food System Alliance presented their Food Forum report to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on August 9.

School Food Service Survey Reports Interest in Local Produce

Aug. 2011 The Farm-to-Institution Committee of the Sonoma County FSA released the School Food Service Produce report on August 8. The document reports the results of a survey of Sonoma County school food service leaders, and indicates that 84% of schools are interested in purchasing local produce directly from a grower or from their distributor. While cost was cited as the biggest barrier to purchasing local produce for school lunches, there is enthusiasm among both food service departments and their parent/student population for seasonal fruits and veggies on the menu. Download the report for more details.

Sonoma County FSA Releases the Community Food System Assessment

July 2011 As eaters, we all have a stake in the health of our food system. A new report from the Sonoma County FSA points out that the many other reasons to care about what’s happening in this area of our community.

Context Matters: Visioning a Food Hub in Yolo and Solano Counties

June 2011 The students from a UC Davis graduate seminar in Food System Analysis recently completed an assessment of the local food system for the Yolo Ag and Food Alliance.

Yolo Regional Food Forum Report Released

Feb. 2011 The report from Yolo County’s July 2010 Regional Food Forum has been published.

Sonoma County Food Forum a Huge Success

Feb. 2011 Over 300 people participated in Sonoma County’s largest ever gathering of people interested in a better food system.