Central Coast Report

Our Farm to Table Celebration and fundraiser in December drew more than 100 people and was very successful. Dave Runsten gave an insightful and interesting perspective to direct marketing options on the Central Coast. We honored Cathy Carlson as the Volunteer of the Year, and Nick Pasqual as the Organic Pioneer Farmer of the Year (see article). The music, food and silent auction were well received.

CAFF's Central Coast staff is busy developing collaborative projects focused on direct marketing. These efforts include recent meetings with the local University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) director Laura Tourte, with staff from California Institute of Rural Studies, and with Patricia Allen at the Center for Agro-ecology and Sustainable Food Systems who expressed interest in collaborating with CAFF and UCCE on a Central Coast Direct Marketing Initiative. We are also preparing a proposal for a Central Coast major donor to fund a CAFF pilot project on direct marketing.

Sam Earnshaw attended a Pajaro Valley Water Management Board public meeting to speak against a proposal for the March ballot to overturn Measure D regarding the water pipeline project. Sam and other chapter members have been attending Flood Management Levee meetings to develop multipurpose objectives to prevent floodwalls and create a livable river.

Reggie Knox is CAFF's representative on the Deep Ecology sponsored Fatal Harvest Campaign. The campaign is a spin-off of the Fatal Harvest book project chronicling the industrialization of agriculture. CAFF board member Rebecca Spector is leading the campaign and a number of interesting organizations are involved including International Forum on Food and Ag, Organic Consumers Association, Center for Food Safety, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Straus Communications, Rural Advancement Foundation International and Food First. The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County agreed to fund our Farm-to-School proposal. They were so enthusiastic about our proposal that they invited Dave Runsten and Reggie to give a presenttion to 20 local bankers, lawyers and stockbrokers who are all involved in donor advising and estate management planning.

We completed the Fields to Ocean Eco-label project with the final report for the state water board and distribution of Fields to Ocean signs to farmers. Growers are starting to utilize the logo in their marketing materials.

Anyone interested in participating in CAFF's work on the Central Coast should contact Central Coast regional coordinator Sam Earnshaw at 831-722-5556 or sambo@cruzio.com.