More than 300 agricultural organizations support reforming nation’s guestworker program [Capital Public Radio, Sacramento]
More than 300 agricultural organizations have come out in support of reforming the nation’s guestworker program, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Advocates say it would help ease chronic shortages of farmworkers and give them legal status. … California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson grows olives and citrus fruit in Oroville. He says the bureau is committed to work for the bill’s passage. “It does create 60,000 additional visas to start off with for the first three years that can be used for year-round agricultural needs such as our dairies and our horticultural needs in our nurseries,” he said.
California pushes forward with statewide pesticide notification system as Shafter project stalls [Bakersfield Californian]
What began as a Shafter initiative aimed at notifying local residents about farmers’ plans to apply pesticides nearby is increasingly shaping up to be a statewide project that may or may not have a separate Kern County parallel activists are fighting for. A spokeswoman for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation said by email Tuesday the agency is in the beginning stages of a rule-making process that could begin gathering public input this summer. … An association of county agricultural commissioners says a statewide approach is preferable, mainly because it avoids DPR’s “unprecedented” attempt to force a county official to turn over local notices.
Yolo County uses pop-up clinics to vaccinate its large agricultural workforce [KTXL Fox 40, Sacramento]
… While there is still a vaccine shortage, Yolo County is making a big effort to vaccinate agricultural workers. … But it has not been easy, even as the approaching growing season places demands on a healthy workforce. … One strategy is to bring vaccination clinics to where the workers are. At the Center for Land-Based Learning just outside of Woodland, a drive-thru vaccination clinic was set up. … Employers, migrant service groups and farm organizations got the word out for those confused about how to get vaccinated.
State fines Grimmway $5,850 over COVID-19 reporting allegations [Bakersfield Californian]
Local carrots grower Grimmway Farms faces $5,850 in state fines over accusations it failed to promptly report an employee’s illness related to COVID-19. Late last month the California Department of Industrial Relations levied three penalties against Grimmway, the most serious of which is a $5,000 fine accusing the company of failing to immediately inform Cal-OSHA an employee in the company’s shipping department suffered a serious illness related to COVID-19 on or about Aug. 12. State rules give companies eight hours to report such illnesses after it becomes aware of them.
Proposed bond measure seeks to improve state’s food system [Bay City News Service]
Two state assemblymembers on Tuesday announced a new $3 billion bond measure that aims to spur Covid-19 economic recovery while combating climate change and food insecurity. … If passed by the state Legislature, the general obligation bond would go on the November 2022 ballot for voter approval. … Kalra and Rivas, who were joined by a broad coalition of agriculture, labor, food and environmental advocates, are pushing for major investments to transform the state’s food system by supporting farmworkers, providing more access to healthy food for state residents and promoting healthy, sustainable agricultural practices by farmers.
https://morganhilltimes.com/proposed-bond-measure-seeks-to-improve-states-food-system/
Opinion: Transform school meals to nourish kids and create opportunities for farmers [CalMatters]
… One measure, Senate Bill 364, would make California the first state to provide universal access to school meals. The other, Assembly Bill 558, would provide incentives for healthier plant-based meals. … This glut of factory farm meat and dairy in school meals may carry a low sticker price, but the costs for public health are unacceptable – especially for low-income and children of color who rely on school lunch as a main source of nutrition. … Let’s transform school food so that it nourishes kids’ health and creates new opportunities for farmers and a better climate future.
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