- Author: Roberta Barton
How are you celebrating American agriculture in your life? In advance of National Ag Week, March 19-25, and National Ag Day, March 21, Central Valley third-grade students were “learning with lettuce” how to bring more agriculture into their lives last week. The UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center offers the free lettuce plantings every year at Farm and Nutrition Day in Fresno County and Kings County, typically around the time of National Ag Week.
Students with the help of volunteers learned how to plant tiny lettuce seedlings into a pot of healthy soil to take home for transplanting later. In addition to helping the students connect their food to agriculture, the lettuce planting offered an engaging, hands-on experience growing healthy and nutritious food at home.
National Ag Week is a nationwide effort coordinated by the Agriculture Council of America to tell the vital story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is a part of all of us. National Ag Day encourages every American to:
• Understand how food and fiber products are produced.
• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.
• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.
Each American farmer feeds about 144 people. As the world population soars, there is even greater demand for the food, fiber and renewable resources produced in the United States. Agriculture is this nation's #1 export and incredibly important in sustaining a healthy economy. That's why National Ag Week is a great time to reflect on and be grateful for American agriculture.
- Author: Susana C. Bruzzone-Miller, RDN
The west steps of the state capitol building in Sacramento were decked out yesterday surrounded by fruits and vegetables, flowers, animals and displays. All this to celebrate—California agriculture! The yearly event is sponsored by the California Department of Food & Agriculture and many other sponsors, including UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Legislative representatives who recognize the importance of farming were on hand to celebrate the hard work of farmers and ranchers that grow our food. California produces 400 crops and agricultural commodities from fruit and vegetable crops to livestock, dairy, eggs, nuts, beans and grains. The golden state helps feed the nation and exports food around the world. In addition California produces timber, flowers, nursery stock, seeds, cotton and more. Ag Day is also an opportunity for the public to meet farmers and learn about the agriculturally rich state in which we live.