Community Alliance with Family Farmers - March 2016                      
CAFF's e-newsletter for farmers and community members
Governor's Proposed State Budget Supports Climate Smart Agriculture
by Pete Price

Governor Brown's proposed 2016-17 state budget introduced early this year includes more than $100 million in cap-and-trade funds to support agricultural practices and projects that will help the state meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions goals. Specific allocations include:
                                                      Continue Reading...

Shop at Whole Foods on 
April 6th and CAFF Will Receive 5% of Your Purchase!

Shop at any Northern CA or the Reno Whole Foods store on Wednesday April 6th and 5% of your purchase will support CAFF's work to increase fresh produce grown by local family farmers in a school in your community! This helps support local family farmers, while providing fresh and nutritious food in school cafeterias.
EcoFarm Awards

The annual award ceremony at the EcoFarm Conferens is always a highlight. This year, the Stewards of Sustainable Agriculture Award, also known as the "Sustie" was awarded to Frank and Karen Morton, Susan Clark (Director of Programs for Gaia Fund, a CAFF funder), Ken Kimes (a CAFF Board member) and Sandra Ward. The Advocate of Social Justice Award or the "Justie" was awarded to The Homeless Garden Project and accepted by Executive Director Darrie Ganzhorn. Read more about the awardees here. Congratulations to all!
Upcoming Events

Please join us for these upcoming events!

March 5 | CSA Open House in Sonoma (FREE) | Register here



And please save the date for our Celebrate the Solstice Event in Davis! June 18, 2016
courtesy of Smith-Madrone
By Sayla Kraft

In the 1970s, dry farming was the only option for a mountain vineyard. Such was the case for Stuart and Charles Smith when they started Smith-Madrone Vineyards - named after the ambitious brother duo and the Madrone trees that distinguish their property. In trying to find land to plant a vineyard in the Napa Valley, through a family friend Stuart explored a forest on the remotest and highest part of Spring Mountain and discovered that the land had been a vineyard in the 1880s and in fact had been part of the wagon trail route between Napa and Santa Rosa. Continue Reading... 

The complexity and clutter of the fresh produce supply chain works against its most important contributor - the grower. The founders of eHarvestHub have set out to change this by connecting small growers directly to retailers and truckers to help them increase their profits. Meeting one-by-one with more than 100 small- to mid-sized growers, the eHarvestHub vision and mission became apparent: They are clearing a path for small- to mid-sized growers to smarter business and increased profits. They help to place the value where it belongs, with the small-to-mid size grower. CAFF farmer members who join eHarvestHub on or before March 31, 2016 will also receive one case label printer and have access to eHarvestHub Order and Inventory Management Systems at no cost. Continue Reading 


In This Issue
News and Events


Farmers and ranchers: The signup period for the Conservation Stewardship Program is officially open until March 31!

Workshops available March 12 & 13 for growers in the Yolo area, given by the Farmers Guild

Growers in the Bay Area can apply for a small grant from the Fruit Guysto improve on-farm sustainability

CAFF featured in Edible Silicon Valley (p. 33)

CAFF can be found in the 2015 Good Food Org Guide

PCFMA has launched a small California farms and drought campaign

RMA announces the first universally available crop insurance policy

A recent study was published showing the loss of crop diversity over the last three decades.