CAFF January newsletter

Community Alliance with Family Farmers - January 2014 Click to forward to a friend

CAFF's e-newsletter for farmers and community members

Policy Update

The CA Food Policy Council, which includes one of CAFF's Board members, has released a new report that tracks CA legislator votes concerning healthy food, sustainable agriculture and environmental policy. Continue Reading...

CSA Update

The Community Alliance with Family Farmers is continuing to work on CSA legislation as well as develop a robust CSA network in an effort to make the CSA model more viable. Our goal is to make growers more aware of CSA policy and practices to increase their success.

CAFF is pleased to announce the new California CSA Network blog! This is an interactive tool designed to encourage a statewide dialogue about CSAs. We look forward to hearing your questions and/or comments.

We are also planning to organize some meetings of CSA growers in different regions of the state in February to discuss how we can better promote farm-based CSAs in California. If you are interested, please contact Rachel Petitt: rachel@caff.org.

Farmer Profile: Laguna Farm

by Susan Stover

Laguna Farm is located on over 25 acres on an alluvial plain, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, in Sebastopol. The Laguna de Santa Rosa is a biologically diverse ecosystem of native oaks and vegetation and provides a beneficial habitat for birds, mammals and insects. Laguna Farm truly encompasses sustainable growing practices, by working in harmony with the seasonal floodwaters, protecting the topsoil with erosion control and water conservation. In addition, soil fertility is maintained by organic compost and cover crops. When possible, crops are dry-farmed without irrigation and tilling is carefully planned. Continue reading...

Deborah planning her produce purchasing with Julie Jo at Ocean Air Farms in Del Norte County.

Food Service Operator Profile:
Deborah Kravitz

Nutrition Services Director,

Del Norte County Unified School District

by Erin Derden-Little

Deborah Kravitz had never coordinated a school meal program when she took over the helm of Nutrition Services at Del Norte County Unified School District in July 2013. Using her passion and energy for food and nutrition, she hit the ground running in order to serve 3,100 healthy meals per day at 13 school sites. Six months later, it is hard to tell that she is a newbie.

Actually, Kravitz was not new to the district; from 2007-2013 she coordinated Del Norte's Nutrition Education Program, where the Harvest of the Month (HOTM) program was central to her work. Through HOTM, hundreds of classrooms received a sample of a featured fruit or vegetable for tasting each month. With CAFF's support, Kravitz was able to identify a couple of local family farms from which to purchase some of the HOTM items. Continue Reading...