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Community Nutrition and Health

Cupped hands holding blueberries

Rod Stiefvater speaks at a Department of Plant Sciences seminar

Article

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.

A shepherd and dog move sheep across a field

Article

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…

Cows gathering in the shade of a clump of trees

Article

Sweet molasses feed key to understanding grazing behavior in cattle

February 19th, 2025

By Emily C. Dooley

Researchers tempted grazing cattle with sweet molasses feed to discover whether cows would roam far and wide to graze or stick close to the herd, water supplies and feed stations.

A large field of green spinach under the irrigation equipment.

Article

Workshop highlights advances in desert irrigation, tech on Feb. 27

February 5th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The latest in irrigation research and technology will be showcased at the Advances in Irrigation Tools and Technologies Workshop in Holtville on Feb. 27.

Image of Black Oak acorns with description and harvesting guidelines

Article

The Principles of Indigenous Food Sovereignty

February 5th, 2025

By Kitty Oppliger

Indigenous Food Sovereignty: Opportunities and Importance in Extension work In 2007, the first global Forum on Food Sovereignty defined the concept as the right of peoples to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define t...

A couple dozen black cows surrounded by hazy air hoof it through forested land.

Article

Climate, wildfire, wolves topics of Feb. 18 rangeland discussions in Davis

January 28th, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Ranchers, land managers, conservationists, policymakers and scientists will gather to discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities in managing the state's rangelands at the 2025 Rustici Rangeland Science Symposium on Feb. 18at UC Davis.

Carpophilus beetles in hullsplit almond

Article

Almond Day updates growers on new pest, disease in California

January 27th, 2025

By Michael Hsu

Late in 2023, California almond growers responsible for a crop valued at $3.88 billion in 2023 started to hear about a potentially devastating new pest, the carpophilus beetle (Carpophilus truncatus).

L to R: Gerry Spinelli, Chris Shogren, UCCE Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Lindsey Pedroncelli and Natalie Levy, UCCE Soil Health and Organics Material Management Advisor, pose with a batch of fresh pesto.

Article

South Coast REC studies pesto profitability for small-scale basil growers

January 10th, 2025

By Saoimanu Sope

UC ANR advisors, staff research methods in conserving highly perishable product If you visited the greenhouse at the University of California South Coast Research and Extension Center in early fall, you would have smelled a sweet aroma with notes of lemon, pepper and licorice.

Strips of cover crop grows between rows of a young orchard.

Article

Young orchard water and nutrient management workshops offered in Madera, Stockton, Parlier, Tulare

January 2nd, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Growers invited to discuss young almonds, pistachios, walnuts, olives, citrus and peach orchards starting Feb. 18 To help growers manage irrigation and nutrients for young and immature orchards, UC Cooperative Extension is offering workshops in Madera, Stockton, Parlier and Tulare.

Cows gather amid trees as wildfire smoke lingers in the air above

Article

Wildfire takes toll on mental, physical health of food producers

January 2nd, 2025

By Trina Kleist

The people who produce our food need support especially in the areas of mental and physical well-being to recover from increasingly widespread wildfire, scientists have found.

A mass of ducks and other waterfowl congregate in and around a pond.

Article

To limit bird flu spread, keep wild birds away from poultry, livestock

December 17th, 2024

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Every winter, millions of migratory birds fly south to warmer locales, passing over California Central Valley dairies and poultry farms. Many of these wild waterfowl are carrying the virus that causes avian influenza, based on the U.S.

Three people crouch to look at tomatoes in a high tunnel system

Article

Unique conditions in Modoc County drive organic agriculture adaptations

December 11th, 2024

By Lexie Wilson

Modoc County, home to 8,500 people and tucked in the remote northeastern corner of California, has been a leader in advancing organic agriculture through its significant ranching and agronomic crop production, namely of potatoes and hay.

Shital Parikh (left) and a few of the residents that help maintain the Belden Community Garden. Photo by Saoimanu Sope.

Article

UC Master Gardener of San Diego County’s ‘labor of love’ improves health of older adults

December 9th, 2024

By Saoimanu Sope

The Belden Village Apartments in Clairemont Mesa East of San Diego is home to a diverse population of older adults.

Workers move cardboard boxes on the back of flatbed trucks in a lettuce field

Article

Will importing workers lead to importing crops?

December 6th, 2024

A dwindling and aging agricultural workforce, coupled with higher labor costs, have added pressure on U.S. farms over the past decade. A recent study by University of California agricultural economists Alexandra Hill and James Sayre explores these changing trends in U.S.

Three types of cold weather cover crops including sunn hemp, cowpea and Sudan grass can be seen growing in rows.

Article

Desert Organic Research and Food Safety Workshop set for Dec. 4 in Holtville

December 2nd, 2024

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The "Advances in Southwest Desert Agriculture Research, Organic Production and Food Safety" workshop is scheduled for Dec. 4 in Holtville. This event will showcase cutting-edge research and practical organic farming strategies tailored to California's unique desert environment.

The CalFresh Healthy Living, UC team prepared food from fresh produce for visitors to the UCSF Food Farmacy at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. They also handed out recipes.

Article

CFHL, UC and UCCE Alameda team up with UCSF for Food Farmacy

November 22nd, 2024

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Green peas, orange carrot cubes and squares of white tofu sizzled as they were stirred into brown rice in an electric frying pan. Smells good, commented a man walking to the fresh produce display.

Students pose with their advisor next to the agricultural robot they designed

Article

Students design high-tech solutions through Farm Robotics Challenge

October 25th, 2024

By Michael Hsu

A robot that navigates and weeds row-crop fields and its design team from Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts have garnered the grand prize in the second annual Farm Robotics Challenge. Five winning teams, representing various universities and colleges across the U.S.

An artist's conception of Reservoir Farms

Article

Partners unveil first on-farm robotics incubators

October 23rd, 2024

The Reservoir, a nonprofit building tech incubators across California, and partners Western Growers Association, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Merced College, Hartnell College and venture capital firm HawkTower have announced the creation of the first-ever on-farm robot...

Chandra Richards (left) and Joyce Nkhoma (right). All photos by Saoimanu Sope.

Article

UC ANR project to help underserved farmers in SoCal with land ownership

October 8th, 2024

San Diego County has more than 5,000 small farms but less than 2% are operated or owned by Black, indigenous, or people of color including those of Asian, Hispanic or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander descent, according to the 2022 Ag Census.

A boy sits in the cab of a harvester

Article

Butte County first graders enjoy ‘ricetastic’ day at local farm

September 26th, 2024

By Michael Hsu

When Tracy Schohr volunteered in her son's pre-K class a couple years ago, she was stunned to find out that only two of the 20 children had ever been around a tractor. And this was in the rural Butte County community of Gridley, in the heart of California's rice-growing region.

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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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