REGIONS :: Southern San Joaquin Valley

Many of the founding farmers in CAFF, whose wisdom informed our success, continue farming today in the Fresno and Tulare counties. Pioneers such as the California Clean Growers established biological farming as an approach that would eventually gain a significant foothold, reducing pesticide use in nut and stone fruit crops statewide.

Today, CAFF is working with cotton growers, local food advocates and small farms in the region to create new food- and fiber-related opportunities for both agricultural and urban communities.

CAFF is also working closely with Fresno Metro Ministry's, Hunger & Nutrition Project in promoting the concept of FARM TO SCHOOL in the Central Valley school districts.

Farm Fresh Day

CAFF and Metro are working with two Fresno County school districts on a Farm to School program called “Farm Fresh Day”.  Students will learn about seasonal fruits and vegetables in class from participating teachers, farmers, and ‘farm-to-school educators’ through a combination of in-class visits, taste tests, and curriculum.  The featured produce will be featured each Wednesday in the cafeteria.   The goal of the program” is to develop connections between food service and classrooms while increasing students’ consumption of local seasonal produce.

Farm Fresh Growers Collaborative

Getting local produce from grower to school can be a logistical challenge.  CAFF is working with liaison Stephanie Johnson of the African American Farmers Association in developing a business that will bridge the divide between local farmers and food service.  There are currently about 15 growers (Hmong, African American, & Caucasian) who are willing to visit classrooms and grow crops to feed Central Valley students.

• Central Valley Farm-to-School Workshop (download PDF flyer 1mb )

• Check out photos of our recent Alternative Weed Management field day in Livingston. Hey, it's in Merced County, but it was a great day!

Burning weeds back in tree rows with tractor-mounted flamers isn?t advised on windy days.	Field day attendees listen to an evaluation of alternative herbicides that combine essential oils, such as clove, with vinegar. Nearly 200 growers turned out for this CAFF event.
At a field day highlighting alternative weed control methods near Livingston in April, 2004, growers watch a demonstration of hand-held weed flamers.

• Community Food Systems Organizing

  The Community Alliance with Family Farmers is working with local food advocates and small farmers to create new economic options for family farmers that also bring fresh, local food to urban communities. Our Farm-to-School work in Merced County is helping to inform similar strategies we are working hard to establish in Fresno County. We are working with parents, school officials, community leaders and farmers to devise effective food systems organizing to improve public health, especially among children. Currently we are a partner in Fresno Metro Ministries? local food access project, looking for opportunities to build stronger connections between family farms and urban communities.

• Economic Options / Integrated Farm Drainage Management

  CAFF member-farmers have developed innovative means to restore soil health while producing economically viable crops and eliminating off-farm discharges of selenium-affected water. Sound too good to be true? Farmers are working with this system right now. Recent field days are demonstrating good results. This work is supported by the Westside Resource Conservation District and the California Department of Water Resources. Read more in our full-color project brochure. (coming soon)

• Sustainable Cotton Project

  The Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) was founded in 1996 to expand and disseminate knowledge about alternatives to chemical farming systems in cotton, and to promote their use in the textile and apparel industry. As a private non-profit 501(c)3 group working under the direction of CAFF, Sustainable Cotton is dedicated to helping build bridges between cotton farmers, manufacturers and consumers. This work is supported by the Garfield Foundation, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, the State Water Resources Control Board and the Wallace Genetic Foundation. Read more about it here.

Local Staff:

Stephanie Johnson

Growers Collaborative

stephanie@caff.org

Local Board Members:
  To contact our board members, please click here.