• At the Ventura County Fair, Evy Young showed off the Orange County Fair's Centennial Farm, a 3.5 acre working farm on the fairgrounds 

• Chef Rachelle Boucher of the Marin County Fair explained how a contest and a platform for chefs helped fair food vendors embrace healthy food options as choices at all food concession booths. 

• Marin County Fair partnered with UC Cooperative Extension and local farmers' market organizers, Agricultural Institute of Marin, to create an interactive and cohesive set of displays and activities about past and present Marin County agriculture, in the spirit of this year's theme, "Always Fresh, Local & Fun" 

• The Santa Cruz County Fair sold slices of apple pies baked less than three miles away by local agritourism operator and  apple grower, Gizdich Ranch

• John Steffanic, of Plumas Sierra County Fair, shared his plan for a "start to finish" research, greenhouse growing, processing kitchen and sales facility to replace unused range cattle pens located on the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds

Many of the presentations, information, articles and reports from earlier workshops are posted here     

• Each participant will receive a free copy of the 2011 edition of "Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California", an extensive handbook that will be used as a text for the class.
• All class sessions will be 9:00 a.m - 3:00 pm, breakfast & lunch provided
• Registration fee is $50 for the 3-session course - Space is limited  

Sacramento County class registration 

Dates: Thursdays, Nov 15, 2012, Jan 17, 2013 and Feb 21, 2013

Location: UCCE Sacramento County, 24145 Branch Center Road, Sacramento 95827 

Dates:  Mondays, Dec 3, 2012, Jan 7, 2013 and Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013

Location: UCCE Merced County, 2145 Wardrobe Avenue, Merced, CA 95341

San Diego County class registration 

Dates: Wednesdaya, Dec 5, 2012, Jan 9, 2013 and Feb 6, 2013

Location:San Diego County Farm Bureau, 1670 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido 

The law firm/ organization at  http://www.theselc.org/  has a pretty good analysis of the bill

• Now that Governor Brown has signed AB 1616 it will go into effect in January.
• What is Cottage Food & Other Frequently Asked Questions 
• Read the Bill Language 
• Cottage food laws in other States  
• What People are Saying  

Implementing the Homemade Food Act - From County Environmental Health

Here is a message from Brad Banner, Butte County Environmental Health Director:

"Just so you know... a lot of discussion is taking place among the regulatory community about implementation of the new law. Some county health folks are suggesting that implementation needs to be delayed until California Department of Public Health (CDPH) gets their website updated with a list of approved cottage foods and establishes their food processor class.  Meanwhile, CDPH is seeking 6 new positions out of the bill in order from them to do their part, presumably to be funded by a surcharge on permit and registration fees. You get the picture.

California Small Farm Conference scholarships are available for small-scale farmers, ranchers, farm and ranch employees, student farmers, and certified farmers' market managers of limited means. Scholarships include:

• Conference registration
• Conference-hosted meals
• Sunday Tasting Reception
• Travel stipend and lodging (if applicable)

The networking and educational opportunities of the conference are priceless. Scholarship applications must be received no later than Monday, December 3, 2012. Applications received after December 3 will be placed on a waitlist.

Download the scholarship application today!

Submit all applications to:  conference@californiafarmconference.com   

Call for presentations and workshops

In an effort to ensure that the California Small Farm Conference remains relevant to you, the attendee, we are putting the program in your hands! We want to know what speakers, industry professionals and farmers you want to hear from.

The Call for Presentations Form is your opportunity to  provide us the information about a potential conference session topic or speaker you'd like to see at the 2013 Small Farm Conference.

Please download and complete the Call for Presentations Form and get started today. Your input and feedback is greatly appreciated.

Questions? Contact  conference@californiafarmconference.com.

Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities 

The California Small Conference attracts more than 400 attendees each year, where attendees turn to exhibitors and sponsors for information on products and services relevant to small scale farmers. Exhibiting at or sponsoring the 26th annual conference is an opportunity to reach new customers, farmers, market managers and advisors.

Download the Exhibitor/Sponsorship Packet for details about available opportunities.

Questions? Contact Simone Parker, CMP at  simone@californiafarmconference.com  to request additional information.

• Safe Agritourism website Integrating Safety into Agritourism - Created by the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health, this new website offers simulated walk-throughs of various agritourism activities, checklists, resources and plenty of advice for keeping your agritourism operation safe and healthy for both children and adults

• Marketing 101 Manual - An Introduction to Basic Marketing Practices, published online by Community involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) - a 45 page workbook including worksheets & case studies, targeted for direct-marketing farmers and agritourism operators (24 MB)

• Access to Capital- A report developed by the California Financial Opportunities Roundtable, with funding from UCDA Rural Development. This 113 page report, available free to download, provides a comprehensive view of capital sources currently available to rural businesses and communities, sources of capital that could be available with substantial work, and resources for technical assistance and mentoring, business research and data, financing, and network and advocacy.(4 MB)   

• New Farmer's Guide - Cultivating Success at Farmers' Markets, by Randii MacNear and Shelly G. Keller - Created by the manager and sellers of the Davis Farmers' Market, this 34 page guide offers tips, strategies, marketing and budgeting advice and personal stories from farmers and the market manager to help new farmers get started selling at farmers' markets 

• North America Farm Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) comes to the Pacific Northwest for the first time in 20 years for their 2013 Convention - February 1-6, 2013 in Portland, Oregon. The convention includes a three-day bus tour and a three-day conference and trade show. Read more   

• Yuba County Agritourism Workshop - November 9, 2012 - organized by the Yuba County Economic Development Coordinator, John Fleming - a discussion with local agritoruism operators and others in the community about  regional development and support for Yuba County agritourism - for more information, contact John Fleming, 530.749.7560  

• USDA funds available for Value-Added Producers - up to $300,000 - Applications deadline is October 15, 2012 - read more 

• Western SARE Professional & Producer Competitive Grants - up to $50,000 - proposal due December 5, 2012 -read more 

• Western SARE Farmer/Rancher research and education Competitive Grants - up to $25,000 - proposals due December 5, 2012 - read more

• Western SARE Professional Development Program Competitive Grants - up to $75,000 - proposal due October 31, 2012 -read more