Posts Tagged: FOOD IT

Share your favorite Extension methods March 27

Academics and staff who want training, networking and new extension ideas are invited to join the Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative panel for a webinar featuring lightning presentations by UC ANR colleagues showcasing valuable extension tools. They will provide practical demonstrations and explain how they use the tools to engage with clientele.

When: Wednesday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Where: The webinar will be via Zoom. Login details will follow registration.

Register at  https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=42298.

Why: To generate durable and accessible resources for professional development of extension and outreach methodology skills. To cross-pollinate ideas between academic discipline social circles within the broader ANR community.

Who should attend:

• New academics for training and networking

• Seasoned academics who want new ideas

• Community educators engaging with Californians through UC ANR's statewide programs

If you are interested in presenting or have ideas for presentations, please submit your ideas at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=42272. 

“My Favorite Extension Methods” webinar will be recorded and posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/Professional_Development/Webinar_Archive/#Spotlight.

 

Food waste, nutrition in prison focus of webinars Feb. 22, 29

The UC ANR Sustainable Food Systems Strategic Initiative Panel will be hosting two 90-minute public webinars in February about food waste (Feb. 22) and nutrition in correctional systems (Feb. 29). UC ANR staff and academics, collaborators and partners and the public are invited to participate in the free webinars.

The UC ANR Sustainable Food Systems Emerging Issues Webinar Serieswill first cover food waste on Feb. 22.

“The Sustainable Food Systems strategic initiative panel aimed to highlight innovative solutions to emerging issues within the food system from field-to-fork,” said Danielle Lee, UC Nutrition Policy Institute director of communications and research engagement. 

“Over one-third of all available food in the U.S. is uneaten through food loss or waste – totaling up to over $160 billion – which has negative impacts on food security and the climate,” she said. “Households could save over $370 per person each year by reducing or preventing food waste. Additionally, when uneaten food ends up in the landfill, it generates greenhouse gases, and landfills are now the third largest producers of methane in the U.S.”

“California's adoption of SB 1383 aims to solve these problems,” Lee said. “You'll meet experts who are implementing consumer education and organic waste recycling programs aligned with SB 1383.”  

The second webinar, on Feb. 29, will focus on nutritious foods for residents of correctional facilities.

“We also wanted to touch on novel, local food distribution systems that can be used to support nutrition security through improved access to affordable, healthy and nutritious foods for underserved communities,” Lee said.

“We chose incarcerated people as our case study population for two reasons – the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is the single largest public purchaser of food in the state and studies have shown that 63% of incarcerated individuals rarely or never have fresh vegetables and 55% rarely or never have fresh fruit.”

California has two policies that can support institutional procurement of fresh produce – AB 822 and AB 778.

“The Harvest of the Month program is an innovative solution to implementing these policies while supporting improved nutrition security for incarcerated individuals,” Lee said. “Prison gardening programs can not only provide therapeutic benefits to residents, but also reduce recidivism rates and serve as workforce development opportunities to better prepare residents for returning to their communities post-incarceration.”

Part 1 - Harvesting Solutions: A Trio of Perspectives on Addressing Food Waste from Field to Fork

Thursday, Feb 22, at 10-11:30 a.m. PT

To minimize food waste, three experts explore factors influencing food loss and waste, delve into innovative recycling techniques, and explore statewide initiatives targeting household food waste. Experts in postharvest handling, food waste recycling and community education will share research findings and strategies.

Agenda:

• An overview of food waste in fruits and vegetables
  Deirdre Holcroft, Holcroft Postharvest Consulting
• Exploring means to extract embodied energy and lower greenhouse gas emissions in food waste recycling
  Michael Cohen, UC Cooperative Extension organic materials management and agri-food systems advisor for Santa Clara County
• The opportunities in statewide programs in reducing household food waste: Results from UC ANR household food practice needs assessment
  Yu Meng, UC Cooperative Extension youth, family and community advisor in Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties

Part 2 - Farm to Corrections: Cultivating Justice through Nutrition and Gardening Initiatives

Thursday, Feb. 29, at 10-11:30 a.m. PT 

Experts share insights on groundbreaking initiatives for justice-involved individuals' access to California-grown produce and nutrition and gardening education. Innovative initiatives such as a “Harvest of the Month” program by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in collaboration with the Nutrition Policy Institute and Impact Justice aim to increase access to fresh, locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and trauma-informed nutrition workshops. They also highlight the impact of UC Master Gardener projects on rehabilitation and workforce development.

Agenda:

• Produce during and after prison: Increasing justice-impacted individuals' access to California-grown produce and nutrition education
  Carolyn Chelius, UC ANR Nutrition Policy Institute; Heile Gantan, Impact Justice; Lance Eshelman, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations
• UC Master Gardeners Prison Gardens Projects
  Missy Gable, director of the UC Master Gardener Program

Learn more and register at https://ucanr.edu/sites/StrategicInitiatives/Sustainable_Food_Systems/Events.

 

UC ANR and partners launch Southwest Regional Food Business Center

In the spring of 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that UC ANR was selected to lead the Southwest Regional Food Business Center, one of 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers across the country. The Southwest RFBC is a collaboration of 40 partners from academic, government, and community-based organizations across four states, Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. 

The goal of the Southwest Regional Food Business Center is to develop resilient, diverse and competitive local and regional food systems by improving opportunities for food and farm businesses. 

The Southwest RFBC will help producers gain access to local and regional supply chains, connecting them to wholesalers and distributors. With a focus on underserved farmers, ranchers and food businesses, partners will assist small- and mid-sized producers in overcoming barriers to market access and will help them access federal, state and local resources.

As a first step, UC ANR has assembled a Southwest Regional Food Business Center management team that is working closely with USDA and partners to set up the center. Over the past several months, the center management team has been drafting a framework for partners from all four states to collaborate, as well as attending meetings with representatives from the other RFBCs across the country. 

Next, the management team will guide the process of drafting implementation plans and forming a stakeholder advisory committee with partners participating in the process. The implementation plans will guide the technical assistance efforts, capacity building grants, coordination, and impact tracking that will result from the project. The stakeholder advisory committee will include the voices of clientele for developing the direction of the center. UC ANR is recruiting a project manager who will oversee the development of the center. 

In January, the California partners of the Southwest Regional Food Business Center will meet to begin developing an organizing strategy for the state. They will identify avenues for engagement with the UC ANR community, form channels of communication, and create a map and directory oftechnical assistance providers across the state.

For more information, visit the center's newly launched website for updates and a complete list of partners.

If you would like to get involved, contact members of the Southwest RFBC management team: evaluation lead Karen Jetter, UC Agricultural Issues Center, at jetter@ucanr.edu; technical assistance co-lead Tim Galarneau, UC Santa Cruz, at tgalarne@ucsc.edu; or interim business builder grants co-lead Rachael Callahan, UC SAREP, at rmcallahan@ucanr.edu.  

 

F3 celebrates first year of impact at All Gears meeting

The Farms, Food, Future Initiative celebrated its first anniversary with an All Gears meeting on Dec. 5 at Fresno State University. This meeting was not just a commemoration, but a forward-looking forum, addressing the vital components of agrifood technology and workforce development. The gathering brought together key stakeholders from across the initiative's three gears — F3Local, F3Innovate and F3AgTEC Workforce Development — to discuss progress and strategize for the coming year. 

The Food, Farms, Future Initiative, or F3, is a program focused on revitalizing California's Central Valley economy through agrifood tech innovation. A recipient of a Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant by the Economic Development Administration, F3 aims to develop and commercialize climate-adaptive food production solutions, thereby creating high-quality jobs across various skill levels. F3's approach not only drives economic growth and equity but also actively engages small farmers and entrepreneurs, constructs a seamless talent development pipeline, and catalyzes local market growth in the small-scale farm and food industry. 

“As we reflect on the first year of F3, I'm deeply inspired by the strides we've made,” said Ashley Swearengin, president and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation. “Our journey has been about more than just technological advancements, it's about ensuring that these innovations are in harmony with the needs and skills of our diverse workforce, from those in year-round positions to seasonal workers. This initiative represents a concerted, collaborative effort to bring tangible, positive change to the Central Valley, blending tradition with innovation for a sustainable and equitable agricultural future.”

Milestones in Local Farm and Food Innovation

Helle Petersen, regional director of Local Farm and Food Innovation, spoke on the progress made on the F3Local gear, led by UC ANR, which addresses the economic and technological challenges faced by small-to-large scale farmers and food entrepreneurs in California's Central Valley. Key accomplishments include:

• Empowering Small BIPOC Farmers: A remarkable $433,000 worth of produce was sold by small Black, Indigenous and people of color, or BIPOC, farmers, 44% above the year-one goal, with a third of these sales within the F3 Region. Fresno BIPOC Produce, involving over 200 farmers, played a pivotal role, including bridging connections to Merced Community College's student food pantry.
• Innovation and Technology Support: The Small Farm Tech Innovation Challenge saw an impressive 43 entries, with tailored one-on-one technical support provided to farmers.
• Food Recovery Efforts: Approximately 1.4 million pounds of food were distributed to 28,000 residents in Fresno, with the St Rest + Food to Share Hub project being a cornerstone.
• Small Farm Tech Expo: The Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension Center hosted the expo, attracting more than 200 attendees and showcasing more than 20 technologies for small farms.

Commercialization support to agtech startups

Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR chief innovation officer and founder of the VINE, provided an update on the contributions of the VINE, which is a critical partner for both the F3Local and F3 Innovate. Youtsey discussed how the VINE is helping to identify, commercialize and scale agricultural, food and biotech innovations, particularly in the complex domains of agriculture and food technology, through its various programs and events. Notable achievements included:

• Nurturing ventures from research to market: Guided four companies from research to venture by a team of industry specialists and UC experts through The VINE Studio program.
• Facilitating industry engagement and validation: Accepted 20 companies into the VINE VIP program, ensuring industry engagement and field validation.
• Fostering student innovation in agriculture: launched the inaugural Farm Robotics Challenge, where 150 students from 12 universities competed to develop robotic solutions to address real agricultural challenges.
• A global platform for agricultural robotics: Co-hosted the second annual FIRA USA in Salinas, attracting over 1,700 participants from 30 countries to explore the future of agriculture with a focus on robotics and automation.

Shaping education for agriculture

Karen Aceves, who leads F3AgTEC Workforce Development, spoke about the initiative's broader role in supporting small enterprises. Aceves highlighted the collaborative effort between industry, educators and students in agriculture, emphasizing the importance of diverse participation. 

A key achievement of the initiative over the course of the last year was the collection of over 12,000 surveys from farmworkers, the largest survey of its kind. This survey is a cornerstone of the F3AgTEC Workforce Development initiative, offering vital insights into the aspirations, educational backgrounds and needs of farmworkers. These findings have been instrumental in shaping the AgGED certificate program, ensuring that it is tailored to the real-life requirements and ambitions of those at the heart of agriculture. 

This data-driven approach exemplifies a commitment to making educational offerings in agriculture more relevant and accessible, aligning with the evolving needs of the sector and empowering those who form its backbone.

Government's role in economic development and inclusivity

The meeting also featured remarks from Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Castillo, who underscored the importance of economic development and inclusivity. She discussed the role of government as a catalyst rather than a complete solution, and acknowledged the transformative period the U.S. is undergoing with substantial federal investments in various sectors, including agriculture. She emphasized the importance of inclusivity in these efforts, ensuring that economic growth encompasses all communities and industry types. The dialogue included perspectives on the challenges and evolution of work in academia and community colleges, emphasizing the difficulty of implementing change within established institutions and celebrating the efforts of those pushing through these barriers.

Looking forward

Discussions also touched on various initiatives and projects, highlighting the integration of technology in agriculture and the crucial role of innovation in the region's economic and societal progress. There was a focus on ensuring that technological advances do not lead to displacement, but rather inclusive development where everyone has a seat at the table.

The meeting concluded with an open forum for questions and a showcase of research projects, emphasizing the collective effort and interdisciplinary collaboration that the F3 initiative embodies. As it enters its second year, F3 remains committed to advancing agrifood technology and workforce development in the Central Valley, with a focus on inclusive and sustainable growth.

UC Master Food Preserver Program featured in New Technologies for Ag Extension yearbook

The New Technologies for Ag Extension 2022-2023 Yearbook documents dozens of projects funded through the New Technologies for Ag Extension program, a cooperative agreement between USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture, Oklahoma State University and the Extension Foundation. UC Master Food Preserver Program is among the projects featured. 

Community is Our Jam describes a food preservation project led by Amira Resnick, statewide director of community nutrition and health, that addresses the connection between food safety, food insecurity, food waste and health equity. This publication offers an in-depth look into the UC Master Food Preserver program, which aims to curb food waste and promote safe food storage, preparation and preservation methods to enhance food security in our communities.

In the past year, the UC Master Food Preservers made it a priority to reach communities that are often underrepresented in such programs. The MFP Program partnered with UC Master Gardener Program, the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, 4-H and CalFresh Healthy Living, UC. The story narrates their journey and lessons learned in their efforts to promote equity and expand the program's reach.

A pullout version of the Community is Our Jam story includes on page 3 a note of dedication to Dorina Espinoza, UC Cooperative Extension youth, families and communities advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties, who recently passed away.

The goal of the New Technologies for Ag Extension grant is to incubate, accelerate and expand promising work that will increase the impact of the Cooperative Extension System  in the communities it serves, and provide models that can be adopted or adapted by Extension teams across the nation.

This 83-page yearbook publication – presented in a lively magazine format – shares how these grant projects improve human, environmental, and community health. It contains an overview of the NTAE program, which has supported nearly 75 Cooperative Extension projects and program teams over four years.

Using illustrated feature articles and Q&As, the publication shares innovative Cooperative Extension work across the U.S., from technology to composting to youth development to health and equity. In addition, the publication shares information about the vital work undertaken by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy's Program Action Teams.

The yearbook was edited by Julie Halverson, Rose Hayden-Smith (emeritus UC Cooperative Extension advisor for digital communications in food systems) and Heather Martin of the Extension Foundation.

 

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