- Author: Tunyalee Martin
- Author: Cheryl Wilen
Sometimes an invasive pest takes a while to become invasive. The Invasive Species Council of California defines an invasive species as “non-native organisms which cause economic or environmental harm.” So, until a species not originally from the area actually causes harm, it doesn't get the title of invasive.
Take the Italian white snail, also known as the white garden snail. In San Diego, it caused extensive damage to agricultural plants in the early 1900s but was considered eradicated after a massive control program in the 1920s. However, it was found again in San Diego County in the 1980s but it did not damage agricultural crops or gardens. Instead the snails lived off of weeds in neglected fields. Now it appears to be moving slowly from these fields to fruit tree orchards and avocado groves as well as landscapes. The Italian white snail feeds on decaying organic matter and living plants, damaging leaves, flowers, and fruit. Another fear is it being found in cut flower growing areas or in nurseries where it could become an export issue.
White or light tan, the Italian white snail is about the size of a dime or nickel when fully grown. It may or may not have brown markings on the outside of the shell. The inside shell color near the opening is light colored (compared to the milk snail, which looks similar but has a dark inside shell). Italian white snails are most noticeable during the day and when it is hot, because the snails climb up on fence posts, walls, weeds and other vegetation and congregate in large numbers.
In California, the Italian white snail is only officially found in San Diego County. However, it could easily move to new areas because of its small size, which makes it hard to detect, and tendency to attach to many kinds of surfaces such as truck beds. Also, because land snails are hermaphroditic—each snail has both male and female reproductive organs—it only takes any two snails to reproduce!
Californians can help in the fight against invasive species by learning and participating during California Invasive Species Action Week, June 2–10.
- Author: Emma Sandoval
- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
This year, UC CalFresh joined the statewide day of action in promoting Rethink Your Drink Day by serving fruit infused water to middle school students. What would have been a regular lunch break, turned into a time to teach about increasing water consumption. On a given day, 6 in 10 youth (63%) and 5 in 10 adults (49%) drank a sugar-sweetened beverage (CDC, 2017). Our educators work to help reduce these numbers through nutrition education in local schools.
At Nicolet Middle School, lines were formed and students answered surveys about their sugar sweetened beverage habits. One question was “How likely are you to drink more water after what you learned?” and 46% of 168 students surveyed responded with “very likely.” UC CalFresh nutrition educators, Claudia Carlos and Yazmin Nieto, along with Reanna Liversage from Banning Unified Nutrition Services and Brandon Takahama, California Baptist University intern, gave students information about sugar sweetened beverages. They showed students the amount of sugar in various drinks, informed them about health consequences, and gave them a tasting of fruit infused water.
At Bobby Duke Middle School in Coachella Valley, UC CalFresh Nutrition Educators, Malryn Pulido and Jackie Barahona, had a similar event. Students (265) rushed to taste cucumber mint or kiwi berry blend infused water. The votes were casted with “yum” or “not today.” The winner was the cucumber water with 191 ‘yums' but the kiwi berry blend was not far behind with 176 ‘yums'. Youth were taught a lesson on rethink your drink in their class that day. Students received stickers promoting drinking more water and re-useable straws donated by the Dairy Council.
Students pledged to rethink their drink because…
“Some drinks have too much sugar and it's not healthy”
“It will be healthy and help me with sports”
“The water was really refreshing”
“The water was really good!”
- Author: Sonia Rios
The Citrus Research Board (CRB) is proud to announce the return of the Citrus Grower Seminar Series, co-produced by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). Three different meeting dates and locations will give growers from different regions the opportunity to attend.
The FREE half-day seminars start at 8:30 AM and are expected to end at 12:00 PM. Registration will begin at 7:30 AM.
CLICK HERE to register for the seminars.
CLICK HERE to view event flyer (including guest speakers).
Continuing Education (CE) Units have been applied for and are pending approval through the California Department of Pesticide Regulation for license categories PCA, QAL and QAC. Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Units have also been applied for and are pending approval.
Meeting Flyer
- Author: Sonia Rios
CALIFORNIA AVOCADO SOCIETY SEMINAR: IRRIGATION — SELECTION OF SENSORS, EMITTERS, INJECTORS AND READING WATER REPORTS
- Author: Chutima Ganthavorn
- Author: Emma Sandoval
- Contributor: Claudia Carlos
During March 2018 which coincides with the National Nutrition Month, Senator Richard Roth (Riverside) visited Wells Middle School to hear about the school's achievement in student wellness. Wells Middle School recently received a Gold Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's National Healthy Schools Program. UC CalFresh is proud to be a partner in this success. UC CalFresh Educator, Claudia Carlos, has been implementing EatFit curriculum with PE teachers at Wells Middle School for over five years to help students learn to live healthier lifestyles. More recently, she provided the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement training to the cafeteria staff and assisted with the implementation of lunchroom changes to nudge students to choose healthier options. UC CalFresh supervisor, Emma Sandoval, assisted with the rejuvenation and maintenance of the school garden, and worked with other teachers and staff to teach students how to grow fruits and vegetables. Emma also invited a Master Gardener, Larry Dodson, to share his tree planting & pruning expertise with the students.
During Senator Roth's visit, two of UC CalFresh staff, Claudia Carlos and Yazmin Nieto, were invited to conduct a parent education class on Rethink Your Drink. About 30 parents came to learn about sugar sweetened beverages and how they can help their families choose healthier options. To give families ideas to make healthy drinks at home, the staff provided participants with a smoothie tasting from the Eating Smart and Being Active cookbook. The parents enjoyed the class and one shared that it was a “very good class regarding sweetened beverages and reading nutrition facts labels. I will try to buy less sweetened beverages. I will make fruit infused water drinks at home”. Another parent said the class “will help me to be more conscious of what I drink and what I purchase.”
The staff and administration at Wells work hard year round to create a healthy environment for students. There's no wonder why they have achieved a gold award and be recognized as one of the healthiest schools in the nation. Congratulations Wells Middle School!
