Agriculture

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) will present a hands-on workshop series at the UCCE Mendocino County office in Ukiah on May 15 and 22.

This two-part workshop series is one of six being offered at locations across Northern California designed especially for farmers interested in producing value-added products in their home kitchens.

Participants will learn about the new California Homemade Food Act (AB1616), which allows individuals to prepare and package certain non-potentially hazardous foods in private-home kitchens referred to as “Cottage Food Operations” (CFOs).

“Most farmers don’t know that if they become a Cottage Food Operator, they can legally sell products made with their very own produce in their home kitchens, including fruit jams, jellies, pies, and dried fruit. This is an exciting opportunity because farmers can now make delicious products with the season’s abundance, diversify their operations, and generate new income,” said University of California Davis Agricultural Economist Shermain Hardesty.

Rachel Elkins, UCCE Pomology Farm Advisor for Lake and Mendocino Counties agrees. “Cottage foods are a terrific way for small producers to add value to tree crops including pears, apples and walnuts.”

While designed especially for farmers, the workshop series is also open to others wishing to learn how to produce and sell cottage foods.

“This workshop series will benefit all new and prospective Cottage Food Operators by providing practical information to support the success of their new cottage food business ventures,” explained UCCE North Bay Food Systems Advisor Julia Van Soelen Kim.

The workshop series is partially funded by a California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant and will cover: CFO Law; food science and sanitation; business operations for CFOs; packaging, storage, and marketing of CFO products; and hands-on demonstrations and tastings with jams, jellies, honey, nuts, dried fruit, and baked goods.

Because processed meat, dairy, fermented foods, and juices are not legally acceptable cottage foods, they will not be covered in these workshops.

Workshops take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with lunch provided at six Northern California locations including:

  • Fairfield at UC Cooperative Extension in Solano County on May 13 and May 20;
  • Ukiah at UC Cooperative Extension in Mendocino County on May 15 and May 22;
  • Eureka at the Agriculture Center on May 28 and June 11;
  • Redding at Shasta College (Building #800, Room #822) on May 29 and June 10;
  • Jackson at UC Cooperative Extension in Amador County on June 12 and June 16;
  • Sacramento at UC Cooperative Extension in Sacramento County on July 1 and July 9.

The two-part workshop series costs $25 with advance registration and $40 at the door, space permitting.

For more information and to register, visit the registration Web page at http://ucanr.edu/cfoworkshops or contact UCCE Mendocino at 707-463-4495 or UCCE Lake at 707-263-6838.

SACRAMENTO – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that California has been allocated $19.76 million in funding for the 2014 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).

The agency awarded approximately $66 million nationwide for projects that help support growers of specialty crops through research, market development, environmental stewardship and more.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is designed to enhance the markets for specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

“California’s leadership in the production and development of specialty crops is due in large part to the innovative nature of our growers,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The research, market development and other projects supported by this partnership with USDA help keep our farmers on the cusp of innovations from food safety to stewardship, from identifying niche markets to expanding international exports.”

The announcement marks the beginning of the 2014 grant cycle.

In 2013, CDFA was awarded approximately $18 million and solicited competitive proposals for projects including market enhancement, agriculture education, nutrition, and research.

The 64 projects funded under the 2013 SCBGP reflect the diversity of California’s specialty crops across the state, including: creating economic opportunities for specialty crop producers through market development activities that focus on local, regional, or international markets; development of effective agritourism associations to enhance rural tourism and promote specialty crops; food safety benefits and training programs; growing community food systems in underserved neighborhoods; online irrigation nitrogen management tool for cool season vegetables; and research to mitigate impacts of invasive pests.

 In addition, CDFA partnered with the Center for Produce Safety in the evaluation and recommendation of food safety related projects. These projects represent an ongoing effort to minimize outbreaks by proactive research.

Information about the program, including California’s 2013 projects, is available online at www.cdfa.ca.gov/grants .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Farm Bureau (LCFB) Scholarship Committee is proud to announce the scholarship application period for 2014 is now open.

The LCFB Scholarship Program was organized to give financial aid to Lake County students who show a desire to pursue a career in the agricultural industry.

The scholarships are awarded annually and are based upon academic achievement, career goals, extracurricular activities, determination, leadership skills and a commitment to study agriculture.

To apply for the LCFB scholarship, an eligible student needs to complete an application, provide transcripts from each school attended and include two current and dated letters of recommendations.

The entire packet must be received by LCFB on or before April 30 to be considered by the scholarship committee.

Applications are available on the LCFB Web site, www.lakecofb.com ; at the office located at 65 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport; or by contacting your local school counselor.

LCFB strives to protect and promote farming and agricultural interests throughout Lake County and to find solutions to challenges on the farm, at the ranch home and throughout the rural community.   LCFB is Lake County’s largest farm organization, representing over 550 farm families and individual members.

For more information, contact Executive Director Claudia Street at 707-263-0911.

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Pear Festival team is still seeking submissions for the 22nd annual  Poster Contest.  

The 2014 artwork theme is “Pioneers and Pear Farming in Kelseyville.”   

Art work must be 12 inches by 18 inches in size. The artist’s name and phone number should be attached to the back of the entry.  Only one entry per person will be accepted.   

The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Monday, May 12.

Entrants should deliver their artwork to Affordable Travel, 3850 Main St., Kelseyville.  

Judging of submitted posters will occur on May 15 with the winner being announced on Friday, May 16.

The winner will be awarded a prize of $500.

The Kelseyville Pear Festival has the sole right to use the image through Dec. 31, 2015.

The 22nd annual Pear Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014.  

For more information go to www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com or call 707-279-9022.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s viticultural region experienced the greatest increase in harvested winegrapes in California last year when statewide totals showed another year of record harvested tons for grapes, according to the 2013 California Grape Crush Report recently released by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Lake County’s harvest numbers were up 25.3 percent to 43,619 total winegrape tons for 2013, according to the CDFA report, nearly 9,000 tons more than the harvested amount for 2012 (34,816 tons reported).

In comparison, the statewide winegrape harvest totaled 4.245 million tons, up 5.6 percent from 2012’s 4.018 million tons.

Despite the state’s record harvest amounts, the statewide average price per ton across all varieties decreased from 2012.

By contrast, Lake County’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, the county’s two largest varietal crops, enjoyed healthy price per ton increases, the CDFA numbers indicate.

In fact, four of the region’s top six most widely planted varieties increased in price per ton, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Petite Sirah and Merlot.

“For Lake County, 2013 was really a strong year,” said Lake County Winegrape Commission Chair Peter Molnar. “The region continued to attract high-quality wine programs with Lake County fruit being used by top quality wineries. We are seeing many of those wineries use Lake County winegrapes in their North Coast programs.”

The average prices for Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc were up by approximately 6 percent each over the previous year.

Nearly 20 percent of the Lake’s Cabernet Sauvignon sold at nearly $2,000 a ton. The weighted average price per ton was slightly more than $1,700, with growers receiving from $660 up to $3,100 per ton.

“That is comparable to Sonoma County prices,” Molnar said.

Lake’s Cabernet Sauvignon garners the third highest average price per ton in the state. The varietal accounts for more than 30 percent of the region’s winegrapes.

Concurrently, Molnar said, the amount of Lake’s fruit selling at lower prices has been reduced.

The Crush Report indicated a weighted average price of $1,058 per ton for Sauvignon Blanc with prices to growers ranging from $350 per ton to $1,600 per ton.

Statewide figures indicate an overall drop in winegrape prices across the state of about 3.4 percent from $779 per ton to $760 per ton in 2013.

The average price for red winegrapes statewide was down 4 percent from 2012 and for white winegrapes decreased by less than 1 percent.

Lake’s white grapes accounted for more than 18,000 tons last year while red grapes crushed accounted for more than 25,000.

The average price for the region’s reds increased slightly from $1,556 per ton in 2012 to $1,628 per ton last year; and whites’ average price also grew, from $1,052 per ton to $1,088 per ton.

Average price for both red and white for 2013 was up from $1,395 to $1,407, nearly twice as much as the state’s average for all winegrapes ($760 per ton).

“These numbers indicate a stellar 2013 harvest for Lake County’s winegrowers,” said Lake County Winegrape Commission President Debra Sommerfield. “Lake County growers continue to employ quality viticultural practices, while winemakers, grower relations representatives, and other grape buyers recognize the quality and character that Lake’s fruit brings to their wine programs.”

For additional information about Lake County’s winegrape production, visit the Lake County Winegrape Commission Web site, www.lakecountywinegrape.org .

The Web site contains detailed information about the area’s growing regions, grapes for sale, vineyard maps, upcoming events, and average prices paid for Lake County winegrape varietals for the last five years.

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state health officer, today warned consumers with certain allergies not to eat nine varieties of Nunes Farms products due to undeclared milk or soy allergens:

Undeclared milk:

  • Spicy Cocktail Almonds; 1.5 oz., 5 oz., 8 oz., 10 oz.
  • Maui Onion Almonds California Crunchies; 5 oz. and 10 oz.
  • Tangy Tomato BBQ Almonds California Crunchies; 1.5 oz., 5.0 oz., 10 oz.
  • Crunchie Munchies Barbeque; .5 oz. and 6.0 oz.
  • Crunchie Munchies Fiesta Crunch; 2.5 oz. and 6.0 oz.

Undeclared soy:

  • Chocolate Dipped Caramel Chews; 2.5 oz.
  • Mixed Caramel Chews; 3 oz. and 6.5 oz.
  • Almond Caramel Chews; 6.5 oz.
  • English Toffee; 8 oz.  

Product labels may be viewed on the CDPH Web site, www.cdph.ca.gov .

Nunes Farms has issued a recall notice and is notifying consumers not to eat the products if they have allergy sensitivities. Consumers who have the recalled products should return them to the place of purchase.

The recall was initiated after CDPH identified the labeling omission during a routine inspection of the facility. These products were distributed nationwide. No illnesses have been reported at this time.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk or soy run the risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, that requires immediate medical attention should they consume these products.

Consumers who have experienced allergic reaction after consuming any of these products should contact their health care provider.

Anyone observing the products being offered for sale is encouraged to call CDPH toll-free complaint line at 800-495-3232.

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