The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the American Pecan Promotion Board. Nominees are needed to fill six seats for members whose terms end on Sep. 30, 2023, and one vacant seat with a term that ends on Sep. 30, 2024. The American Pecan Promotion Board is seeking nominees for the following seats: Four producer seats representing …

American Pistachio Growers announced today that world-renowned Chef Martin Yan will join their team as a global brand ambassador. The news comes just ahead of the Pistachio Industry Annual Conference in Carlsbad, California, where Yan is slated to teach more than 1,000 pistachio farmers how to prepare his trademark Kung Pao Chicken with Pistachios themselves. With a career spanning over …

Elections for the Almond Board of California (ABC) Board of Directors have launched for the 2023-2024 crop year with the call to all candidates to file their petitions or declarations of candidacy by April 1, 2023. The industry will choose for one independent grower position and two independent handler positions on the ABC Board of Directors in voting that starts …

Applications are now being accepted for scholarships awarded through the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation. Each year, the Foundation awards scholarships to high school seniors who plan to continue their education at a four-year or two-year school. These scholarships are available to students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. In addition, one …

The Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation (FWF) celebrated its 21st Annual Napa County Pruning Contest at Beringer’s Gamble Ranch Vineyard on Saturday, February 4.  It was a perfect day as 106 contestants displayed speed and technique in what is considered the most prestigious competition for Napa Valley’s vineyard professionals. “The Napa County Pruning Contest continues to get better every year. Participants …

From lattes to cocktails, fashion and even paint colors, pistachios are having a moment. Food industry leaders like Baum + Whiteman and Lyons Magnus recently predicted pistachios would be the top nut of 2023 in food trend research, and outlets like Forbes and Eat This, Not That! all covered the news. Beyond the taste and nutritional benefits of the nut, …

The sun is rising again for increased U.S. export trade opportunities in “Land of the Rising Sun”.  Japan has a well-developed food retail market that demands high-quality, high-value agricultural and food products. Despite reduced economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, trade data show that agricultural imports have remained resilient (with growth opportunities for California tree nuts in particular). As Japan’s top supplier …

California Farmland Trust (CFT) is pleased to welcome Amy Wolfe to the CFT team. Amy will serve as the strategic marketing and development manager. Amy has spent nearly 20 years in executive capacities within the charitable sector, most recently as the Interim Executive Director of the American Leadership Forum – Great Valley Chapter. Prior to that, Amy dedicated 11 years …

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Blong Xiong today announced that 41 counties in California are accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from the recent severe storm to eligible farmland, fences, and conservation structures/other installations. ECP signup will begin on February 13th, 2023, and end on April 14th, 2023. …

As part of the Biden Administration’s commitment to making Western communities more resilient to the impacts of drought and climate change, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new investments and strategies to help farmers and ranchers conserve water, address climate change and build drought resilience in the West, supported in part by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Western …