Community Alliance with Family Farmers - August 2016                 
CAFF's e-newsletter for farmers and community members
CAFF in the Legislature
by Pete Price

As this newsletter goes to press, the state legislature is hours away from adjourning its two-year session at the end of August.

As noted on our 'Policy Update' webpage, the fate of some of the bills followed by CAFF has been settled. Several key bills, however, still await key votes.

This article and CAFF's CA State Legislation webpage will be updated in early September to reflect final legislative actions.

By Sayla Elsbree-Kraft 
 
Buttercup Farms started out in 1986 breeding Arabian Racehorses and later concentrated its efforts on a bountiful one-acre raised bed garden.

All the while they have been committed helping people in difficult times by providing folks with a space to live and work.

Find out more in this interview with new CAFF member Jorie Hanson, manager of Buttercup Farms Garden!

  Continue reading...
Bi-Rite
By Sayla Elsbree-Kraft  
 
Bi-Rite is a family of independent food businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their five businesses consist of two grocery markets, a kitchen and tutoring center, a market garden in Sonoma, and a creamery.

Bi-Rite is a long-term CAFF supporter; and CAFF and Bi-Rite have partnered in the past to tackle agricultural legislation among other collaborative efforts. 

Shakirah Simley (pictured above) is the Community Programs Manager and is responsible for their community outreach, philanthropy, and general outreach tasks. 

Bi-Rite has been cultivating relationships with and supporting over 60 local organic small producers for over 15 years.
 

   
 
 
This 5- minute film highlights CAFF's work, including Farm to Market, Farm to School/Hospital, Food Safety, Climate Smart Farming, and Policy. 

Thank you to all the participating farms, partners, and to the The Bay Area Video Coalition.
  
In This Issue
News and Events

CAFF's Annual Report (pdf)

Check out
CAFF's Event Calendar UC ANR's updated California Agricultural Tourism Directory with California food and farming events

Next month is Local Food Month! 

Sept 22-23: Inaugural Farm Tank Summit - Sacramento

   
March 2017: CA Farm to School Conference

Resources for Farmers

eOrganic articles, videos and webinars

Alameda County StopWaste has grants of up to $5,000 to buy reusables

Buying From Farm Marketers Really Does Help The Local Economy - Growing Produce

UC research reveals effective marketing strategies