California Department of Food & Agriculture

04/22/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/22/2025 16:34

Earth Day — Secretary Ross joins Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom for event in Chico

[Link]CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (left) at Earth Day festivities today at CSU Chico. California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot is next to Secretary Ross, and Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom are in the foreground, taking in a panel discussion that included farm-to-school programs and climate-smart agriculture.

Earth Day 2025 came alive today at Chico State University, where CDFA Secretary Karen Ross joined Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, along with other state leaders, educators, and local champions, to spotlight the power of farm to school programs, regenerative, and organic agriculture, and climate-smart agriculture.

With over $85 million invested in California's Farm to School efforts, the impact is already evident - nutrition directors across the state are sourcing locally, building resilient food systems, and feeding the next generation with a focus on nutrition initiatives. As Secretary Ross noted, 49 percent of California schools now participate in farm to school programs.

From regenerative agriculture to experiential learning, speakers today in Chico emphasized the importance of hands-on, values-based education. One panelist, Marissa Stevens, Director of Nutrition Services at Red Bluff Joint Union High School District, proudly shared how their school has gone from serving 350 daily lunches to more than 900-a sign of real, scalable change.

Today's Earth Day event was more than a celebration - it was a clear signal that this is an area where growth will occur, with schools, farms and communities coming together to steward the land and invest in California's future.

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