June E-News

Dear Readers,

There is no better way to embrace the summer than by eating juicy, ripe, drip-down-your-cheek stone fruit. With over 60 varieties of organic peaches, plums, nectarines, pluots, and apricots, the Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee is an experience not to be missed!

Held in the beautiful orchard at the Mokichi Okada Association's Oasis Garden, you can enjoy fruit tasting and sales, a Japanese Tea Ceremony, jam making demos, fresh fruit pies, workshops, flower arranging, live music, farm tours, local food vendors, and a kids craft corner. This year's jubilee will be highlighted by keynote speaker Jesse Cool of CoolEatz and Flea Street Cafe.

So come join us in celebration of ecological food and farming, and bring home a bounty of fruit to make your favorite treats, pies and jams so you can savor the sweetness of summer, all year long.

Event Details:
June 21, 2014
4:30 - 8:30pm

Adult Admission $5
Children under 12 Free

Mokichi Okada Association's Oasis Garden
5790 N, Indianola Avenue
Clovis, CA 93619
Please click here for a map

Visit the event webpage to find out more about the farmers of this fine fruit.

See you at the Jubilee!

- The EFA Team

Pajaro Valley Community Responds to Drought, Promotes Resilient Basin

This year’s unprecedented drought has added pressure to already stressed aquifers in California and put agriculture at risk. On April 10, 2014 the Community Water Dialogue (CWD), responded to community concern over the drought by providing a forum for growers and other experts to share best practices, and vendors to show the latest technological advances in water management. Over 120 people attended, showing broad community concern and support, and demonstrating the value of the CWD as a community-driven mechanism for developing and implementing pro-active solutions to improve the resiliency of the Pajaro Valley basin over the long term. For more information or to get involved contact pvwatercommitment@yahoo.com

CalFresh Toolkit for Farmers

No one can deny that everyone should have access to healthy, locally-grown food and that more CalFresh dollars could be spent at farmers' markets. From now until September 30, 2014, farmers can take advantage of a State program that provides them with a FREE wireless EBT device (valued at $1000) to accept CalFresh payments. Check out the "CalFresh/EBT Toolkit for CSA Farmers and Farm Stands" - a two page toolkit developed by Petaluma Bounty to facilitate the process. What a win-win for eaters and farmers alike!

'Toolbox' a Cornucopia for Small Ruminant Producers

Raising sheep and goats can be a fruitful way for small and limited-resource producers to diversify their operations. They just need the tools to make the enterprise successful. A new Small Ruminant Toolbox developed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) with the help of a number of collaborators fits that bill nicely. The free toolbox, which was funded by USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), is a well-organized collection of some of the best information available on small ruminants. The toolbox is also a great resource for Extension agents and other educators. Most of the materials can be freely shared. The Small Ruminant Toolbox is available at no cost on the ATTRA website at https://attra.ncat.org/ruminant/ 

USDA Announces Rural Energy for America Funds

The USDA recently announced new funding available for rural small businesses and agricultural producers who want to make energy efficiency improvements or install renewable energy systems. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is one of many USDA programs that supports an expanded domestic energy economy, recently reauthorized by 2014 Farm Bill. Applications are now being accepted for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvement loan guarantee, and grants. Application deadlines are in July and are dependent on project type. Information on how to apply for REAP funding and on the application deadlines is available here.

Tell Congress to Suspend Bee-Toxic Pesticides

Bees are responsible for pollinating a third of a food, and they are in serious trouble, largely because of bee-toxic pesticides called “neonics." We need to take swift action by suspending the use of these chemicals until proven safe to our critical pollinators. The Saving America's Pollinators Act calls for the suspension of neonics on plants attractive to bees until a full review of scientific evidence indicates they are safe and a field study demonstrates no harmful impacts to pollinators. This legislation also requires our government agencies to monitor the health of native bee populations, and to identify and publicly report the likely causes of unusual bee kills. Tell your Representative to support the Saving America's Pollinators Act and protect our bees!

CDFA announces available funding for state water efficiency and enhancement program

Agricultural operators are encouraged to apply for funding of projects involving improved water savings and energy reductions in irrigation systems. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting applications for the State Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP), authorized by emergency drought legislation (Senate Bill 103). An estimated $10 million in competitive grant funding will be awarded to provide financial assistance to agricultural operations for implementation of water conservation measures that result in increased water efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. All applicants must register for a FAAST account at https://faast.waterboards.ca.gov and applications must be submitted electronically byTuesday, July 15, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. PST. For detailed information and program requirements go to www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/WEEP