Food Blog

Man in straw hat picks crops in a field

The Food Blog covers our latest research and extension work to advance and optimize the production and vitality of California's abundant agricultural commodities.

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Rod Stiefvater speaks at a Department of Plant Sciences seminar
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Gift extends UC Davis pistachio research on new scions, rootstocks

March 6th, 2025
By Emily C. Dooley
The University of California, Davis, is enhancing and expanding its Pistachio Breeding Program after a generous gift from philanthropist and pistachio farmer Rod Stiefvater, who is donating more than $335,000 over three years to develop new rootstocks that thrive under changing climate conditions.
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Rows of date palms
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Date production workshop set for April 23 in Palm Desert

March 5th, 2025
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
The 2025 California Date Palm Workshop will be held on April 23 in Palm Desert at the UC Riverside Palm Desert Center. Anyone who is interested in growing dates is welcome to attend. "This workshop brings together researchers, growers and stakeholders to discuss recent research data on the ‘state of the…
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A shepherd and dog move sheep across a field
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California producers: Climate change is real; we could use a little help

February 26th, 2025
By Trina Kleist
How can farmers and ranchers continue to grow our food while facing challenges of a changing climate, increasingly scarce water, land use pressures and rising costs? UC and UC ANR scientists are using surveys and interviews with people in the state's agricultural sector to learn what folks need to stay…
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