Community Nutrition and Health

Two blooming peach trees in a green lawn with evergreen trees in background

Food Blog: Article

New edition of UC ANR’s ‘The Home Orchard’ offers advice on growing tree fruit, nuts

December 3, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The new “The Home Orchard” covers more crops and site selection, variety choice, pruning, grafting, irrigation and integrated pest management.

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While holding a clipboard in her right hand, Margaret Lloyd grabs a handful of soil with her left hand from a tilled field.

Food Blog: Article

UCCE offers webinar on managing nitrogen in organic annual crops Dec. 9

November 24, 2025

By Phillip T Fujiyoshi

University of California Cooperative Extension will hold a webinar on managing nitrogen in organic annual crops Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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A whole dark purple-skinned sweetpotato flanked by pieces of purple sweetpotato flesh cut into curls

Food Blog: Article

Purple sweet potatoes create buzz

November 24, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

When West Coast consumers buy sweet potatoes at a store, chances are good that they will be choosing varieties that were selected by Scott Stoddard, UCCE farm advisor.

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Bushy green plants in neat, boxy-looking test plots, coming in at an angle

Food Blog: Article

UC Dry Bean Field Day gives updates on new-variety research

November 17, 2025

By Trina Kleist

Researchers across California are developing new varieties of dry beans for larger seed size, higher yield, tolerance to drought and heat, and resistance to disease and pests.

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Photo illustration of a spray drone hovering over a orchard

Food Blog: Article

Public invited for up-close look at future of citrus ag tech

November 12, 2025

By Hanif R Houston, Michael Hsu

Six ag tech companies will demonstrate their technologies at a VINE Connect Field Day on Dec. 5 at UC ANR's Lindcove Research and Extension Center. This cohort focuses on citrus.

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A group of people look at crops growing in field

Food Blog: Article

Farmers strive for sustainability, inclusiveness at California Earthworkers Summit

October 27, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The inaugural California Earthworkers Summit brought together farmers and other food producers in Santa Cruz to discuss approaches to climate, environment, agriculture and food system resilience on Sept. 11–12.

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Gabe Youtsey speaks at a podium while Karen Aceves and Karen Ross look on at AgTech Alliance press conference

Food Blog: Article

California AgTech Alliance launches to help farmers stay competitive

October 23, 2025

By Hanif R Houston

The Alliance will coordinate nine regional innovation hubs that will deploy cutting-edge technology, train the next generation of workers and attract private investment.

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Leonel Jimenez (center) smiles with the potato variety trial team

Food Blog: Article

New Cooperative Extension area director amplifies ‘wealth of knowledge’

October 20, 2025

By Michael Hsu

In February, Leonel Jimenez started as the UCCE area director for Kings, Kern and Tulare counties. Born and raised in Reedley, Jimenez said he's come "full circle."

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Orry Pratt, Carrie Teiken and Crystal Whitelaw standing side-by-side outdoors.

Food Blog: Article

UC SAREP announces new associate directors to support program growth and integration

October 14, 2025

By Kristen Farrar

Orry Pratt, Carrie Teiken and Crystal Whitelaw will lead efforts on sustainable production systems, small farms and sustainable food economies, respectively.

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Food Blog: Article

Plum breeding gets a boost from new gene ‘catalog’

October 3, 2025

By Trina Kleist

UC Davis researchers in the Department of Plant Sciences have laid the foundation for understanding the genes that control the ripening process in plums. Po-Kai Huang, a postdoctoral scholar, discovered three groups of genes that correspond to fruit softening at different rates.

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The project includes one test bed served by an AI system and one watered traditionally

Food Blog: Article

AI-powered irrigation system offers opportunities for communications, farming

October 2, 2025

By Patty Guerra

Researchers at UC Merced and UC ANR have installed an irrigation system powered by artificial intelligence to deliver the precise amount of water needed and measure the results.

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Kearney REC researchers and IRTA scientists line up for a photograph in front of the research center

Food Blog: Article

UC ANR, Catalan research institute to spur innovations for agrifood systems

September 30, 2025

By Michael Hsu

UC ANR and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology will prioritize research and innovation in food systems to develop and deliver new tools and resources to farmers and ranchers across California and beyond.

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Closeup of leaf being scanned by the Leaf Monitor tool

Food Blog: Article

AI tool to help farmers measure real-time crop health from the field

September 24, 2025

By Emily C. Dooley

Leaf Monitor, a new mobile tool backed by artificial intelligence and predictive modeling, could revolutionize how farmers monitor crops and make decisions by providing real-time nutrition and leaf trait information in the field.

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Food Blog: Article

UC ANR offers ‘Taste of California’ at Terra Madre festival Sept. 26-28

September 21, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

F3 Local, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP), Master Food Preservers, 4-H youth, and Southwest Regional Food Business Center partners will participate.

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Cover crops in the foreground with mountains in the distance

Food Blog: Article

New online tool helps growers choose cover crops

September 19, 2025

By Michael Hsu

For the first time, farmers in California and throughout the West have a decision-support tool that recommends cover-crop species based on growers’ goals.

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Ngodoo Atume talks about her poster on SGMA and small farmers

Food Blog: Article

UC ANR team helps small farmers understand historic, decade-old groundwater law

September 12, 2025

By Michael Hsu

To raise awareness of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act among small farmers, a UC ANR team is providing technical assistance, education and outreach.

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Gloria Allorbi stands in a kitchen holding a bottle of Ghanaian vegan chili oil

Food Blog: Article

Business Builder Awards infuse $1.5M into food enterprises across Southwest

September 2, 2025

By Tracy B Celio

Southwest Regional Food Business Center awards 73 Business Builder grants to farmers and food entrepreneurs to strengthen local food systems in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah.

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Julie Katawicz and Hedman Okella pose in front of a sign: San Benito County 4-H, Juventino M. Ortiz youth development center, 1479 Nash Road

Food Blog: Article

Farmers, food producers to gather at California Earthworkers Summit on Sept. 11-12

August 28, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Summit at UC Santa Cruz to discuss approaches to climate, environment, agriculture and food system resilienceFarmers and food producers are invited to participate in the inaugural California Earthworkers Summit on Sept. 11–12 at UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology Farm. Held at the UC Santa…

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Aerial view of harvester driving through crop field

Food Blog: Article

How can we feed a growing population?

August 27, 2025

By Ria DeBiase

In his UC Press book, “Food Fight,” UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emeritus Richard J. Sexton contends misguided policies that reduce food crop yields or redirect food crops for use as biofuels may be taking us further from the goal of adequately feeding the world in the future.

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Food Blog: Article

UC releases costs of growing cilantro, parsley

August 26, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

For commercial growers considering planting cilantro or parsley, the costs and returns of producing in Ventura County are outlined in a new study by the University of California Cooperative Extension, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Institute, and UC Davis Department…

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Community Nutrition and Health

What we do

Teach nutrition education to youth and families.
Provide nutrition tools and information to make healthier food choices.
Train teachers and community organizations to use our nutrition curriculum.
Offer training to volunteers to prepare food safely at community events.

What sets us apart

All programs, curricula, and educational tools are evidence-based.
Education services are free of cost.

Nutrition Education

San Joaquin County offers nutrition and physical activity education through two programs.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE

Get to know your local Farmers Market

Farmers markets are easy to find:

Use the USDA Farmers Markets Search to find one near you. Due to their flexible locations, some community farmers markets provide fresh, healthy foods when other sources aren't as easily accessed.

SNAP and WIC cards are accepted at most farmers markets.

Click here for more information on food assistance programs.

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