This week I was able to join Center for Land-Based Learning staff members in West Sacramento, greeting residents of The Park Moderns as they came to pick up their CSA boxes for the week. I loved the conversations that I had with residents; from how to make a wonderful summer salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and mozzarella cheese, to some of the youngest residents gleefully planning their dinner that night with the fresh fruit in their box!  Not to mention, our entire office smelled like wonderful ripe cantaloupe melons...quite a bonus. We are very excited about this partnership with Fulcrum Property and The Park Moderns, and look forward to building a new urban farm next to The Barn in West Sacramento in the coming months.

The bounty of summer is certainly upon us! Our California Farm Academy graduates and incubator farmers harvests are filling urban farm stands and farmers markets in West Sacramento, Davis, and Sacramento, and rural farm stands in Yolo County food deserts like Knights Landing. Graduates Fiery Ginger Farm and Gomez Farms at The Cannery Farm are quickly becoming immersed in the Davis community through on-site, open-to-the-public farm stands, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program, and lots of workshops, open houses, and tours. We couldn't be more proud of all of them - if you get the chance, please do stop by and support them. Visit our all new Take a Bite! Calendar to find local farmstands, farmer's markets, volunteer days, workshops and other fun on the farm activities.

Our high school student programs are fully producing this summer as well;  21 paid internships with students from West Sacramento (three different high schools), Grant High School's GEO Academy, and Davis High School. These students are being exposed to careers in agriculture and natural resources through Citizen Science research in native pollinator habitat with UC Davis, working with local farmers to get first-hand knowledge of production practices,  participating in the Water & Energy Resources Summer Academy at  Woodland Community College, and the Sacramento State Farm-to-Fork Academy. Now that is what I call Career Pathways!

Summer has also brought a new Board Member, Jeana Hultquist, a long time supporter, partner and donor through her many years with the Farm Credit system - and soon, five new staff members around the state. We are hiring for FARMS Leadership Coordinators to staff our new program in Monterey/Santa Cruz County, two new coordinators for our rapidly growing programs in Fresno, Tulare and Kings Counties, and another Coordinator in Kern County. Plus, we will have a new Cannery Farm Coordinator on staff within the next month!

Its exhilarating to be experiencing so much growth this summer season. Please take a moment to read below and learn more about our upcoming summer and fall events, ways to get involved, and opportunities to share in this bounty. As always, we thank you for your ongoing support, commitment, and passion for our work together.

Best,