California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association
Promoting and protecting California’s agriculture, the environment, and an equitable marketplace since 1880.
CDFA INFORMATION REGARDING COVID-19 AND THE FOOD SUPPLY
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is serving Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing its work to facilitate a safe, healthy food supply.
“Food safety is paramount due to the nutrition provided by California fruits, nuts, vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy products to the health and wellbeing of our citizens,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We know the importance of keeping supply chains healthy and borders open as currently one in eight individuals is food insecure, with one in five of those being children.”
CDFA is continuing its food inspection work while the agency’s senior leadership is utilizing extensive experience in sanitary practices, preventative controls, and emergency response to work closely with the California Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), sister state agencies, federal partners, county agricultural commissioners, and the agriculture industry to ensure that California’s bounty can be relied upon as a large contributor to the overall food system and supply.
FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS AND COVID-19
CDPH is hosting a COVID-19 Updates website. Via the Guidance Documents section of the page, there is a Food Industry document that addresses common questions about COVID-19, including the continued safety of the food supply chain. The fact sheet, in part, references a statement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “FDA is not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggests COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging.”
CDPH, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also state there is currently no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food or food packaging. The CDC is reporting that, in general, because of poor survivability of the coronavirus on surfaces, there is likely a low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient, refrigerated or frozen temperatures.
In regard to food safety and hygiene by the food system work force, California’s standards are among the highest nationally. These include worker health and hygiene standards supported by labor laws that are specific about paid sick leave for people possibly affected by COVID-19 and unable to work. Food manufacturers have been required by longstanding federal and state laws and regulations to prevent anyone who is sick or has a communicable disease from handling, processing or preparing food for human consumption. Thus, industries handling food and agricultural commodities are well practiced at this important and general principle of food safety and hygiene.
CDFA, CDPH, USDA, CDC and FDA recommend that the best food safety advice for consumers and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic is to practice good hygiene, which begins with washing your hands.
Recent News
Some Unsolicited Seeds Identified
By N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified 14 kinds of seeds in the mysterious packages that appear to have been sent unsolicited to people around the country. All 50 states have issued warnings about the packages, some of which...
CDFA Statement On Unsolicited Seeds From China
Recently the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has become aware of a number of reports regarding unsolicited seeds from China being received by homeowners throughout the US. CDFA is communicating with the USDA to determine any necessary actions for...
CDFA and Climate Science Alliance release 2020 Climate Change Consortium for Specialty Crops Reportto Draft
The California Department of Food and Agriculture, in partnership with the Climate Science Alliance, has released the 2020 Climate Change Consortium for Specialty Crops Report for the Southern California Region, which covers three distinct growing regions: San Diego...
About CACASA
The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA) is a voluntary organization comprised of County Agricultural Commissioners and County Sealers of Weights and Measures from California’s 58 counties.
CACASA provides the venue for collaborative opportunities to address matters of statewide significance that affect California’s agricultural production, its natural resources, marketing, food safety, equity, and public health as it relates to our environment.
County Crop Reports
Annual crop year reports have been reproduced for your convenience. Export reports are typically published within the corresponding crop year report. While data is made available throughout the year, crop year and export reports are published typically about one year following the given crop year.
By the Numbers 2018*
The State of California houses the largest agriculture industry in the US with over
in production.
California has the most diverse set of crops in the nation with over
farms and ranches.
%
of all fruit and nut crop production in the US are grown in California, representing
%
of value
%
of all vegetable crops in the US are grown in California, representing
%
of value
California’s top-10 valued commodities for the 2018 crop year are*:
1. Milk and Cream – $6.37 billion
2. Grapes – $6.25 billion
3. Almonds – $5.47 billion
4. Miscellaneous Crops – $4.72 billion
5. Cattle and Calves – $3.19 billion
6. Pistachios – $2.61 billion
7. Berries, All Strawberries – $2.34 billion
8. Lettuce – $1.81 billion
9. Floriculture – $1.21 billion
10. Tomatoes – $1.19 billion
acres of farm and ranch land in California
acres - average size of farm in California
* Based on CDFA/USDA NASS California Agricultural Statistics Review, 2018-2019 published June 2020.
Meet The President
It is truly a privilege to serve as CACASA President for the year ahead. When I look back at the many folks who have served in this position, I can’t help but feel both humbled and honored to serve in this position that was previously occupied by many of the people I look up to as mentors and examples. I pledge to do my best to advance the mission of CACASA, which is to educate, advocate, and promote equity for agriculture, weights and measures and all citizens of California.
I was born in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, but moved to Grass Valley, California in 1981, where I have lived ever since.
Contact Us
P.O. Box 2205
Hanford, CA 93232
(707) 235-6135