Community Nutrition and Health of San Diego

Two Kearney REC Tea Day attendees put their noses into cups to evaluate the aroma of various teas

Food Blog: Article

Brewed awakening: UC explores tea’s potential as ‘champion crop’ for California

May 21, 2026

By Michael Hsu

Scientists at Kearney Research and Extension Center are studying tea as a potential high cash-value, climate-resilient crop for the Central Valley and other regions.

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UC Orchard Spray Nozzle Day aims for spray efficiency May 29

May 8, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Tree crop growers, pest control advisers (PCAs) and others looking to improve spray efficiency, coverage and drift management in orchard systems are encouraged to attend Orchard Spray Nozzle Day on May 29.

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Two cartoon chickens. One listens through a stethoscope held against an egg as the other presses her ear against the other side of the egg

Don’t wing it: Vets pen ‘Dr. Cluck’ book to help keep chickens healthy, safe

April 29, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The new book “Dr. Cluck’s Backyard Chickens” provides backyard chicken owners with science-based advice for poultry care at every life stage

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Branched broomrape growing among tomatoes in a research field

Tomato industry taking steps to stop spread of parasitic weed

April 24, 2026

By Emily C. Dooley

Equipment cleaning could prevent branched broomrape, help growersCalifornia’s processing tomato industry for the first time this past harvest season agreed to voluntary equipment cleaning and notification guidelines to prevent the spread of branched broomrape, a parasitic weed that attaches to roots…

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A woman and two men sit at a table facing an audience

Ranching with wolves: Ranchers lose livestock, profits, sleep

April 7, 2026

By Tracy K Schohr

“Dinner, Documentary and Discussion” brings together students, ranchers, researchers, local leaders and community members to discuss wolf impacts on cattle.

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Three white women and one Black woman wearing white uniforms

After 63-year career, UC ANR nutrition advisor still writing her legacy of public health

March 31, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Mary Blackburn retired as a UC Cooperative Extension nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor for Alameda County in 2025. The trailblazing Black dietitian began her career in the tumultuous Civil Rights era.

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Adult Asian citrus psyllid on a green leaf

Food Blog: Article

How do you feel about bioengineered pest control to protect citrus trees?

March 20, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

To understand consumers’ attitudes toward a bioengineered crop pesticide for controlling Asian citrus psyllid, researchers are seeking volunteers for focus groups.

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The Port of Los Angeles filled with brightly colored shipping containers and a container ship docked next to cranes.

Food Blog: Article

U.S.-China trade conflict harms California farming communities

March 18, 2026

By Ria DeBiase

The top 13 California agricultural commodities exported to China fell 64% from 2024 to 2025.

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Tea field from an angle backlit by the sun

Food Blog: Article

Could tea be California’s next cash crop? Take a taste March 19

March 13, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Learn about tea culture and cultivation in California’s Central Valley climate during Tea Day at UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

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Lemons irrigated with fan jet micro sprinklers

Microirrigation School, starting March 30, offers guidance on maximizing water use efficiency and productivity

March 6, 2026

By Michael Hsu

This hands-on learning opportunity (March 30 to April 3) features UC experts. It is for a broad audience, including growers, crop consultants and irrigation practitioners.

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Five cows, black and brown, with tags in the ears, peek out between trees on rangeland

Study examines practicality of methane-reducing seaweed for grazing cattle

March 5, 2026

By Michael Hsu

UC ANR scientists are at Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center studying how seaweed additives could be incorporated into cattle grazing systems to reduce methane production.

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Food Blog: Article

UCCE hosts rice production workshop March 18-19

February 24, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Topics include rice growth and development, land formation, varieties, planting and stand establishment, water and fertility management, weed control, pests and more.

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Ground-level view of a grape harvest scene with scissors and bags of harvested grapes

Food Blog: Article

Can a simple spray protect grapes from wildfire smoke?

February 23, 2026

By Emily C. Dooley

Smoke from wildfires can alter grapes and affect the taste and sensory experience of wine. Researchers are applying a calcium spray to grapes to see if the treatment can protect the fruit from smoke exposure.

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A chicken struts on green grass inside a fence. Inside the fence is a include a covered coop and a solid tarp structure with chickens under it.

Food Blog: Article

Backyard poultry at risk for bird flu as virus lingers in environment

February 17, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Bird flu outbreaks often occur three to 10 days after spikes of waterfowl abundance within 2.5 miles of affected farms, says Maurice Pitesky, UCCE poultry specialist.

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Hand places a pistachio onto a microscope next to a plastic baggie full of pistachios

Food Blog: Article

Breakthroughs found for preventing hull split in pistachios

January 26, 2026

By Trina Kleist

UC Davis scientists are seeking solutions to hull split for California’s $2-billion-a-year pistachio industry. New research reveals how the hull is built and how cell walls in certain layers break down.

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Face and shoulders of a black-faced wolf

Livestock losses and wolf deterrence efforts cost Californians millions

January 23, 2026

By Ria DeBiase

Wolf attacks kill and terrorize cows and raise rancher costs for monitoring, fence repair, non-lethal deterrents and livestock death investigations, study finds.

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A group of people pose for a photo in several rows during a farm tour

Cooperative Extension area director to emphasize water, land, labor issues in SoCal

January 22, 2026

By Michael Hsu

Chandra Richards, who started as UCCE area director for San Diego and Imperial counties in November 2025, provides support in the agriculture, natural resources, community health and youth development spaces.

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A woman with a spoon in her hand leans over a basket set over a cookstove on what looks like an area of brown grass

Food Blog: Article

Event celebrates California’s native plant foods and their web of relationships

January 16, 2026

By Trina Kleist

California Native Plant Foods Celebration and Symposium to be held at UC Davis on Feb. 10 For California’s Native people, plants are part of their extended family. For thousands of years, they have tended and gathered plants that provide food and other resources in a web of relationships that embrace…

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Small, leafy almond trees with cover crop growing between the rows

UC offers young orchard workshops in Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced

January 15, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

UC Cooperative Extension is offering workshops in Bakersfield, Fresno and Merced to help growers manage irrigation and nutrients for young orchards as they mature.

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A black and white cow grazes in a green pasture

Webinar on Jan. 15: How can risk models keep dairy cows healthy?

January 9, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The Southwest Regional Food Business Center will host a webinar on how risk modeling can inform preparedness and strengthen the resilience of our food systems.

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Community Nutrition and Health

EFNEP Supervisor, Shirley Salado and Community Education Specialists, Stella Weaver, Nellie Casillas, and Sabina Padilla

Vision for San Diego:
Safe, healthy, financially secure families.

What we do:
Teach nutrition education | Sponsor San Diego Saves | Promote financial education | Inform financial caregivers | Offer food safety information

What sets us apart?
All programs, curriculum, and educational tools are research-based.

EFNEP Highlights and Impacts

Click here to view and download

EFNEP Job Board

EFNEP Program Supervisor for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, Job ID 78489

Location: Highland Date Posted: May 22, 2025
Closing Date: January 1st, 2026

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