Please join the CDFA Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) for a virtual info session about the Cohort 4 California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program.

During this session, CDFA-F2F will provide an overview of the draft Request for Applications (RFA) and allow time for questions and public comments. Please note CDFA-F2F is also welcoming written comments about the draft RFA until 5pm PT on September 11, 2026.

Please submit written comments via the public comment submission link, found on the CDFA Farm to School grant webpage (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/caf2sgrant/).

Once the public comment period is complete, CDFA will incorporate stakeholder feedback in the final RFA and the grant application period will begin in October 2026.

Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff unlocks the secrets of pickled, perfection as she explores the rich tradition and health benefits of pickled foods, followed by a demonstration of two refrigerator pickling methods. Utilizing crunchy, seasonal vegetables such as pickling cucumbers, participants will learn how to prepare pickles that are ready to be served within days.  Sampling the pickles with crackers and home-made chai for a flavorful experience will conclude the event.  

This event is FREE and open to the public. The space is limited.

Stop by or call Other Avenues at 415 661 7475 to register. 

Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff  is the author of Other Avenues Are Possible: Legacy of the People's Food System of the San Francisco Bay Area, Flavors of India Vegetarian Indian Cuisine and  Cooking Together: A Vegetarian Co-op Cookbook. Having moved to the US from her native India, she settled in San Francisco where she actively participated in The San Francisco Bay Area’s Peoples Food System. Retired from co-ownership of Other Avenues Grocery cooperative, a worker-owned food co-op, she continues to contribute articles on food, nutrition and cooking to publications like Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon. Shanta shares cooking techniques in public places such as the libraries via food demonstrations and she teaches vegetarian cooking classes at her home.

Public Charge and the Federal Nutrition Programs: What We Know So Far 

Thursday, August 20, 2026, 3:00 p.m. Eastern (2:00 p.m. Central, 1:00 p.m. Mountain, 12:00 p.m. Pacific)

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a new public charge rule that is likely to increase fear and uncertainty among immigrant and mixed-status families accessing the federal nutrition programs. This webinar will explain public charge, what the new rule says so far, and what questions still remain.

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Join CSPI on Wednesday, August 19th from 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET for an engaged presentation and discussion on The 5 Conditions that Help Community-Led Councils Reclaim Their Stories and Activate Their Impact.

What does it take for someone to use what they’ve lived through to change the systems that shaped it? In Arizona, nine community members with the shared experience of food insecurity answered that question together. Over six sessions, the Arizona Food Bank Network Food Justice Leadership Series used restorative circle practices and the Your Story, Your Terms™ storytelling framework to turn a room of strangers into community advisory advocates who understand how food policy works, know exactly who they are and what they're fighting for, and tell their stories with dignity and confidence.

Project co-leads Frank Velásquez Jr. of 4 Da Hood and Hawwa Muhammad of Pink Trumpet will discuss their unique approach and share how the series unfolded, what the evaluation found, and what they'd strengthen next time.

Expect to experience a "taste" of what participants experienced.

Este seminario virtual será en inglés y lo ofreceremos con interpretación y traducción al español en tiempo real.

Speaker Information:

Frank Velásquez Jr. (he/his/él), relentlessly pursues racial and gender equity, while creatively connecting our stories, preserving the unique flavor of each one like in a yummy bowl of jambalaya. As Founder of 4 Da Hood, he’s forging paths for communities of color to lead with more authenticity, courage, and joy, and build their generational wealth. Frank holds a Master’s degree in Human Relations from Northern Arizona University. 

Hawwa Muhammad (she/hers), is the Founder of Pink Trumpet and supports mission-driven organizations through evaluation, project management, and learning design. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University and is based in Newark, NJ.

This event is hosted as a part of CSPI’s Resource Hub Training Series. We invite organizations and community advocates to join us, as we at CSPI learn alongside our partners and community at large to build power and share knowledge across disciplines on a myriad of social, economic, and environmental justice issues.

Este seminario virtual será en inglés y lo ofreceremos con interpretación y traducción al español en tiempo real.

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REGISTER HERE

From 1996 to H.R. 1: 30 Years of Fighting for SNAP

Monday, August 17, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Eastern (1:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific)

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Thirty years ago, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act fundamentally reshaped the nation’s economic mobility programs, leaving restrictions that continue to limit access to SNAP today.

Join Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-D2), and state poverty experts for a conversation about 30 years of harm, hard-won progress, and lessons for today’s fight.

We’ll examine SNAP cuts and their human and administrative costs, the advocacy that has chipped away at some harmful policies, and why those lessons matter as H.R. 1 expands time limits, restricts eligibility, and shifts unprecedented SNAP costs to states.

We cannot allow H.R. 1 to become the new normal—and spend the next 30 years trying to undo it.

Join us to reflect on where we’ve been and, most importantly, organize for what comes next.

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This National Farmers Market Week, please join Foodwise in celebrating Alemany Farmers Market, the market that started it all, on Saturday, August 8, 9 am to 12 pm. Join us for:

• Welcome remarks (9:30 am)

• Pick up a free Alemany Farmers Market tote bag and other goodies (while supplies last)

• Tastings, family fun, music, and more!

Affectionately known as “The People’s Market,” the Alemany Farmers Market is the oldest continuously operated farmers market in California. First established on August 12, 1943, it played a key role in starting the farmers market movement in the state. Earlier this year, Foodwise was honored to become the manager of this beloved market, in partnership with the City and County of San Francisco.

With a focus on local food, affordability, and accessibility, the market hosts a diverse community of more than 80 small family farms and food businesses. Visit Alemany Farmers Market on Saturdays, 7 am to 2 pm, at 100 Alemany Boulevard in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood, year round, rain or shine.

Do you know what the American Community Survey (ACS) is and why it’s such a valuable and necessary resource in advocating for human needs? Do you know how you can use it to support your work?

Whether it’s access to SNAP and WIC, eligibility for health insurance, or the need for more subsidized housing, we use ACS data every day—and you can, too! (And you may already be using it even if you don’t realize it!)

We invite you to register for The ACS Is a Human Needs Data Goldmine, a webinar on Wednesday August 5, at 12 pm ET (9 am PT). Register here

ACS data is critical for advocacy for human needs programs. You can use it to show policymakers how programs will benefit their constituents; understand how federal funding is allocated for many human needs programs; assess how different racial and ethnic groups are being served; and create a baseline to measure whether programs are adequate for need. And the ACS data is available in tables at data.census.gov, so you don’t need to be a statistician to find what you need!

Our expert panelists will explain all of this and more:

• Chris Becker, Vice President, Budget Policy and Data Analytics, First Focus on Children

• Professor Iheoma U. Iruka, Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Mark Mather, Associate Vice President of Programs, Population Reference Bureau

• Jie Zong, Senior Research Analyst, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

Every human needs advocate should know what the ACS provides and how to use it. We hope you will register here and join us. As always, all registrants will be sent the recording, slides, and other materials.

Register here

One Year After H.R. 1: What Has Changed for Families, States, and Communities

Thursday, July 29, 2026, 3:00 p.m. Eastern (2:00 p.m. Central, 1:00 p.m. Mountain, 12:00 p.m. Pacific)

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One year after the enactment of H.R. 1, communities across the country are experiencing the effects of sweeping changes to SNAP, Medicaid, and other economic mobility programs. As implementation has unfolded, new data and on-the-ground experience are beginning to paint a clearer picture of how these policy changes have affected families, state and local governments, healthcare systems, and local economies.

Join FRAC, Caring Across Generations, Americans for Tax Fairness, and the Hope Center for the release of a new cross-sector report examining the first year of H.R. 1 and what the evidence tells us about its impacts.

Whether you are a policymaker, state or local official, healthcare leader, advocate, researcher, or community partner, this webinar will provide an evidence-based look at the first year of H.R. 1 and its implications for communities across the country.

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CalFresh Work and Community Engagement Activities Guest Speaker Webinar Series: California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) Part 2

The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office will join CDSS for a follow-up webinar exploring colocation models and their benefits—covering how on-campus co-located services boost student access to public benefits, streamline verification and referral, strengthen campus-community partnerships, and improve outcomes through coordinated supports.

To request a reasonable accommodation (such as language interpretation), please contact Juliana Utiyama at juliana.utiyama@dss.ca.gov by Friday, June 26, 2026. We will do our best to meet all requests received by this deadline.

SNAP Time Limits and the Volunteer Provision: Can Volunteer Opportunities Help Eligible Individuals Maintain SNAP Benefits?

Monday, July 27, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Eastern (1:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific)

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As states expand SNAP time limits due to H.R. 1, agencies and partners are working to help eligible individuals understand their options and access food assistance. One federal tool is the SNAP Volunteer Provision, which allows qualifying volunteer service to satisfy time limits. But how is this working in practice? What lessons have been learned? What challenges and promising practices are emerging?

Join a solutions-focused webinar to explore the role of the volunteer provision for SNAP participants, agencies, community organizations, and volunteers nationwide. Participants will get a national overview of SNAP time limits, a 50-state view of volunteer opportunities, and insights from leaders implementing these policies. Speakers include a state SNAP agency sharing its experience, a community organization discussing developing volunteer opportunities and challenges, AARP on older adults affected by expanded limits and community support, and national policy experts highlighting trends, innovations, and best practices.

Whether you are a state administrator, community organization, volunteer provider, advocate, or policy professional, this webinar will provide practical strategies, lessons learned, and opportunities to strengthen partnerships that support eligible SNAP participants.

REGISTER

Summer is here, and so is one of our favorite evenings of the year.

CAFF's Summer Soiree returns on July 25, 2026. And this year, we're celebrating in a big way.

Nestled in the heart of the Capay Valley, Full Belly Farm will be our backdrop for a farm-to-table benefit dinner honoring the women at the center of California's food and farming systems. The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, and we're bringing that recognition to life under the open sky.

Expect a beautiful summer evening filled with:

• Farm-fresh food sourced from local family farms and ranches

• Wine, beer and seasonal libations

• Live music from women artists

• Inspiring words from women leaders in agriculture

Every ticket purchased is a direct investment in CAFF's advocacy and programs supporting women-led farms across California–and all family farms–work that has never mattered more than it does now.

Seats are limited.

Title: The Growing Landscape of Statewide Local Food Solicitations 

Date & Time: July 23, 2026 2-3:15pm ET (11-12:15pm PT)

Registration Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ay81cz6UTZW-K35D26217g#/registration 

Description:

Across the country, states are exploring new ways to make local food purchasing easier and more efficient for schools. One promising approach is the use of statewide or regional solicitations that allow multiple school districts to purchase local products through one streamlined bid. These coordinated models help scale up local procurement, but they also require strong partnerships, legal expertise, and dependable supply chains to succeed.

This webinar will provide an overview of the different approaches states are using to develop and manage statewide solicitations for local food purchasing. Participants will learn about a range of models, including both state agency-led and public-private partnership-led programs and programs that leverage existing USDA distribution systems and online procurement platforms. Following the overview, a panel of state leaders will share their experiences developing and implementing these programs, discuss lessons learned, and reflect on the factors that have contributed to their success.

Featuring:

• Walter Beal - North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

• Kanika Campbell - Maryland Department of Education

• Simca Horwitz - Massachusetts Farm to School Network

• Dani Perez - Utah State Board of Education

• Leanne Eko - Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

This session is a part of the National Farm to School Procurement Community of Practice project, which is co-facilitated by National Farm to School Network, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest New York, and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.

Join the Center for Science in the Public Interest and Environmental Working Group for a webinar titled "Our States, Our Plates: How Federal Preemption Threatens Local Food Movements" at 3pmET. View Invite here.

When: July 22nd, 3-3:50pm
Where: Virtual, register here.

Description: Join us for an eye-opening webinar on a looming threat to public health: federal preemption of state and local food policies. State and local governments are at the forefront of efforts to transform the food system through better labeling and enhanced safety. Major food and beverage companies are responding to this threat to their bottom line by turning to federal lawmakers to block state laws. Advocates and policymakers need to understand what's at stake — and how to fight back.

Speakers: Melanie Benesh (EWG), Sarah Sorscher (CSPI), Emily Broad Leib (Harvard Law and Policy Clinic)

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The Community Food Projects Community of Practice is a space for monthly discussions on a variety of community food systems-related topics - both around organizational development & management (like evaluation, community engagement, etc.) as well as programmatic / thematic areas (think cooperative development, community kitchens, etc.).

It is co-hosted and facilitated by the Food Systems Leadership Network and the Institute for Social and Economic Development.

The community is open to all, but is designed for CFP grantees, applicants, potential applicants, and anyone implementing food system change projects in urban or rural communities. Participation is free and you can attend as you're able.

Addressing ICE Activity in Farm Country

How are farmers fairing in these times of stress around the things that sustain them: community, labor and financing? So much has changed, just as the fundamental challenges of agriculture and our food system remain the same. Join us to explore what we're seeing from the ground - in our communities and around the countryside - to the "grasstops". This informational session will be led by Rachel Armstrong with Farm Commons.

Industrial Fish Farms: Coming Soon to the Gulf Coast?

Monday, July 20  | 6:30 pm CDT / 7:30 pm EDT

The Federal government and private companies are proposing multiple industrial fish farms off the Gulf coasts of Florida and Texas -- threatening the health of the Gulf's public waters and stocks of wild fish that coastal communities depend on. Join us as we learn more about these proposed fish farms, work to protect and uplift sustainable local seafood, and how you can help stop the further industrialization of the Gulf. We’ll also hear a firsthand account of the impacts of industrial aquaculture from a Canadian advocate fighting against pollution from salmon farms in Newfoundland, bringing a cautionary tale for the Gulf.

Our guests include:

• James Mitchell, legislative director, North American Marine Alliance 

• Melvin Jackman, coastal advocate, Hermitage Bay, Newfoundland

• Matt Depaolis, environmental policy director, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation

• Christian Wagley, Florida-Alabama coastal organizer, Healthy Gulf

  Click here to register

Three years ago, Roaming Bean Coffee started as a tent and a cart at the Berkeley Marina. Somehow that turned into a container cafe, a lot of espresso, and a community we genuinely love being part of!

They’re celebrating on Saturday, July 18th from 9am to 3pm at the cafe (124 University Ave, Berkeley, CA).

One of our favorite traditions is the banner signing. Last year, you filled it with beautiful messages in over 13 languages. Come leave your mark on this year's!

There will be affogatos, new merch, cookies & some fun drinks! Mostly, come celebrate with the people who made these three years possible.

Join Come to the Table and the Closing the Hunger Gap leadership team for a presentation about the Be, Build, Block strategies. After a brief overview of the theory of change and Be, Build, Block strategies, we will discuss how food pantries and food banks are creating new policies, procedures, and resources. Together, we will practice resource-sharing by offering practical tactics that were successful. Lastly, small groups will develop narratives that help reframe how we talk about food insecurity in a way that addresses the root causes and enables the food justice community to organize around.

When: July 16 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST

Where: Zoom Webinar

Zoom Link will be sent to your listed email upon registering.

REGISTER HERE

Join Food & Solidarity with Come to the Table and the Closing the Hunger Gap leadership team on July 16 from 12 – 1 p.m. EST for a presentation about the Be, Build, Block strategies.

After a brief overview of the theory of change, developed over 10 years of shared analysis, and the strategies, we will discuss how food pantries and banks are creating new policies, procedures, and/or resources. Together, we will practice resource sharing by offering practical tactics that were successful or lessons learned.

Lastly, small groups will develop narratives that help reframe how we talk about hunger/food insecurity in a way that addresses the root causes and enables the food justice community to organize around.

Register today HERE 

Building truly healthy soils can unlock tremendous symbiotic benefits from the relationship between plants and microbes, including highly nutrient-dense produce, carbon sequestration, water retention, and resilience in the face of stress, extreme weather, and pest and disease pressure. The use of compost extracts, compost teas, and other low-cost amendments to inoculate soils with beneficial microbes is a growing soil health practice with incredible potential. Backed by fascinating emerging science and proven through remarkable in-field results, these practices can be done at any scale and in any context, from backyard gardens to large commercial pastures, orchards, and vineyards.

This webinar series will explore the science behind the workings of soil microbes, and why microbial inoculants are so effective in plant and soil health; describe and / or demonstrate practical, low-cost methods of creating quality composts and extracts; and share case studies and success stories of farmers using microbial inoculants on their farms.

How do we bridge the gap between complex nutrition science and the daily reality of a food pantry?

This 60-minute webinar is designed specifically for food bankers, SNAP-Ed staff, and pantry volunteers without formal nutrition backgrounds who support community health every day. We’ll begin by establishing a shared language, breaking down basics like macronutrients and food groups to ensure everyone feels confident with the terminology.

From there, we’ll take a "virtual tour" of a food distribution site. Together, we’ll explore common pantry items to discuss their health benefits and best practices for storage and food safety. We’ll also spend time busting common myths and navigating special dietary needs. You’ll walk away with a robust list of resources and the clarity to effectively communicate essential nutrition concepts to your guests.

Note: This is a repeat of the webinar held in February, 2026

Methodology of a Rural Colorado Food System Plan 
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Register here

This session will walk through how the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition moved from community input and assessment findings into a regional Food & Agriculture Action Plan, covering how ideas were gathered, organized into goals and objectives, and shaped into an actionable plan. Program Director, Jae Sanders will also reflect on lessons learned that may be useful for other rural and frontier communities.

The session is co-hosted by Food Policy Networks (FPN) and the Statewide and Regional National Community of Practice (NCoP) through MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.

Join Marin DSA to hear directly from Bay Area activists who recently traveled to the village of Burin in the West Bank to support Palestinian farmers with the 2025 olive harvest. The evening will consist of:

• Food provided by a Palestinian chef

• Screening a short documentary "Burin Under Fire"

• Presentations

• Mingling + Q&A

This will be a powerful opportunity to learn about the struggle of the community in the face of military rule and see how a Palestinian agricultural collective is working to care for their land and livelihood.

The Burin Land and Farming Cooperative is committed to developing agroecology as a means of actualizing food sovereignty, environmental justice, and mutual aid in the face of both Israeli military occupation and the privatization of communal resources.

Other relevant topics that we'll be touching on include:

• Palestinian Food Sovereignty Work

• Settler Violence & State Oppression

• On the ground co-resistance work

• Solidarity work abroad

Please consider adding a donation which will go to support folks in dire need in Gaza as well as Palestinian farmers: Burin Needs a Tractor!

If you want to support more events like this in the future, please also consider making a donation to Marin DSA: Donate to Marin DSA!

Hosted by Marin DSA

Presented by the Burin Land and Farming Cooperative

Organized by the Center for Jewish Nonviolence

The 18th Annual Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee and Small Farm Expo is coming up next month on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 4–7:30 p.m. at the Kingsburg Historical Park. This event brings farmers, families, and food lovers together  for an evening celebrating the peak of Central Valley stone fruit season.

The Jubilee highlights the region’s vibrant organic agriculture community with fresh tastings from local growers who produce some of California’s most delicious peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and other stone fruit varieties. Featured farms include Blossom Bluff Orchards, D.E. Boldt Family Farms, Nicholas Boldt Farms, Olson Family Farms, and Valliwide Organics. Guests will have the opportunity to sample fruit at peak ripeness, connect directly with farmers, and purchase produce to enjoy at home.

Join us for an afternoon of fresh fruit, food, and fun at the Kingsburg Historical Park on June 27, 2026 from 4-7:30 p.m.! Tickets are $10, children under 12 are free.

By building a shared understanding of bioenergy’s collective harms—and by aligning around viable alternatives—together we can help end wasteful subsidies, support healthier and more sustainable farming systems, accelerate truly clean energy and net-zero technologies, and hold corporate polluters accountable across the supply chain.

Join Earthjustice and partners for a solutions-focused conversation about how coordinated advocacy can shift policy, unlock better investments, and move us beyond bioenergy toward real climate progress.

Speakers:

• Melina Walling, Reporter, Sentient Media

• Dan Lashof, Senior Fellow, WRI

• Dr. Krystal Martin, founder of Greater Greener Gloster

• Peter Lehner, Managing Attorney, Earthjustice Sustainable Food and Farming

Join Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) on Thursday, June 18 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET for Juneteenth: Food and Freedom, a talk with James Beard Award–winning writer and culinary historian Michael W. Twitty.

Michael Twitty is THE culinary historian for Juneteenth celebrations. He not only covers the historical significance of Juneteenth but discusses the celebration from a food and freedom lens. Michael is an award-winning author of The Cooking Gene and two times James Beard Award winner for best writing and best book. He has presented to over 1000 organizations around the globe on Black history and foodways. Michael is known for highly informative and entertaining talks – and always manages to weave in current events into his talks to increase the relevancy for participants. You’ll walk away from this talk with more history and a true sense of Black Joy.

This event is hosted as a part of CSPI’s Resource Hub Training Series. We invite organizations and community advocates to join us, as we at CSPI learn alongside our partners and community at large to build power and share knowledge across disciplines on a myriad of social, economic, and environmental justice issues.

Este seminario virtual será en inglés y lo ofreceremos con interpretación y traducción al español en tiempo real.

SIGN UP

Webinar: Oppose Harmful Proposed Changes to Federal Grantmaking, Impacting Nonprofits and Communities – What You Can DoTime: Thursday, June 18, 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET

REGISTER HERE

The Trump administration has proposed sweeping changes to federal rules governing federal grants and other funding to nonprofits as well as state and local governments. This webinar will explain what the proposed rule changes would do, including how they could expand political control over grantmaking and build administration priorities into grant terms. These rule changes would allow federal agencies to disapprove grants or even terminate funding for already approved grants if new conditions are not met. The new conditions are unclear and complex. They would disallow programming related to so-called “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion, “gender ideology” and gender transition for people younger than 19. They would discourage or disallow proven strategies to reduce discrimination by race/ethnicity, limit advocacy, communications, publications, collaboration, and other core activities, and increase uncertainty for organizations that rely on federal funding. These restrictions may be contrary to laws enacted by Congress.

These proposed restrictions could adversely affect the full range of human needs services in communities across the country. You can help build opposition to these rules by writing and joining in comments, and by helping to spread the word about how needed services would be disrupted.

Now is the time to learn how to take action: the federal deadline for comments is July 13.

You will hear from expert speakers, including:
Sarah Saadian, Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Campaigns, National Council of Nonprofits
Meghan Maury-Fox, Consultant, Maury-Fox Consulting
Moderator: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

Register here

The webinar will be recorded; all registrants will receive the recording and written materials, including sample comments.

Are you working to connect food insecure communities with free, locally grown food while also paying farmers a fair price? These types of programs exploded over the course of the pandemic, and are a powerful way to build community food security. But there is a lot to learn! Join the Food Systems Leadership Network's monthly Community of Practice calls to troubleshoot, share stories, and build skills around these efforts.