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Issue 14Division of Inspection Services

Quarterly QuipsOctober-December 2017October-December 2017

Issue 14

Office of Farm to ForkThis past quarter marked a busy and productive time for the Office of Farm to Fork (Office). Continuing with its goals to decrease food insecurity, support farm to school efforts, and offer statewide coordination and communication, the Office continued to support the State Employees Food Drive, and released the 2016/2017 Annual Report, a redesigned website, and new Strategic Plan.

Each year the Office leads the State Employees Food Drive, which works to raise monetary and food donations for individuals faced with food insecurity throughout California. Employees are well on their way to reaching the 2017/18 goal of raising 800,000 pounds of food. Over the past several months California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) employees have shown the Department’s commitment to giving back through a series of events

that celebrated the spirit of the holidays and the Sacramento community. CDFA staff hosted its 21st Annual Golf Tournament at Dry Creek Golf Course in Galt, CA. This year’s tournament partnered with CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork to help benefit the State Employees Food Drive. As a result of the generous donations made by Golf Tournament sponsors, the California Strawberry Commission, Olive Oil Commission, California Cherries, California Pears, and California Grain and Feed Association, the event raised $3,200. Prior to Thanksgiving over 1,100 pounds of turkeys were donated during the annual turkey drive, over $500 was raised through the Run to Feed the Hungry Drive, and Coffee with the Secretary events at CDFA Headquarters and Gateway Oaks raised over $600 for the Food Drive. The Office of Farm to Fork will release final totals in the New Year.

Following months of collaboration, the Office was pleased to release their 2016/2017 Annual Report, a redesigned website, and new Strategic Plan. The report reflects the direction the Office has taken and will follow going forward. Materials can be found on the www.CAFarmtoFork.com, along with various resources arranged according to Office goals.

As 2017 comes to a close, the Office of Farm to Fork reflects on its accomplishments and challenges. This year helped strengthen the Office of Farm to Fork’s commitment to improving all Californians’ access to California-grown foods through reducing food insecurity, advancing farm to school, and statewide coordination and communication efforts. The Office looks forward to continuing their work in 2018.

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Above: Toby O’Geen speaking about Nitrate Leaching Hazard Index Tool.

Right: Panel discussion on nitrogen reporting in the Central Valley.

Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) Conference On November 1st and 2nd, FREP and the Western Plant Health Association (WPHA) hosted the 25th annual Nutrient Management Conference in Modesto. Approximately 250 industry professionals and researchers attended the conference, with an agenda filled with presentations that addressed the challenges and opportunities of nutrient management. Attendees appreciated the panel discussion and the presentations discussing the importance of a systems approach for management practices. The event was a succesful celebration of 25 years of FREP conferences.

Request for Proposals In December 2017, FREP released its annual request for proposals (RFP) for grants. The RFP is open for submission of concept proposals until January 31st, 2018. FREP invites research, demonstration and education project proposals in three major priority areas: improving input management, understanding soil-plant processes, and loss pathways. For more information on FREP’s research and education project priorities, go to www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/frep/CompetitiveGrantProgram.html.

Reaching Out to Industry FREP’s effective outreach and communication with industry helps to deliver information about FREP research and resources. In 2015, FREP started a blog to communicate more effectively with stakeholders and industry professionals. On the blog, an events calendar provides information about professional trainings for farm practitioners, at all levels, related to irrigation and nutrient management. Additionally, FREP distributes materials at conferences and industry meetings. In the last quarter, FREP attended and tabled at several events, and distributed over 1,000 pieces of outreach materials on fertilizer and irrigation management practices.

The 2017 Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program (FMIP) annual workshop was held in Seaside, California on October 24th and 25th. Over the course of two days, registration staff and field staff gave presentations, addressed questions from industry, and provided one-on-one support to assist firms in achieving compliance with the Fertilizing Materials Law and Regulations. The workshop had over 75 attendees who had the opportunity to learn about various topics such as licensing, registration, inspections, mill and tonnage, and the ExtraView database. The fertilizing materials registration program also had the opportunity to release new registration labeling aids, which were included in the informational binder provided to attendees. The labeling aids were created as an additional resource for industry to reference when executing the registration process. The labeling aids can be accessed at

www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/Fertilizer_RegLabelingAids.html. The FMIP plans to release additional labeling aids in 2018 due to positive feedback.

The workshop participants were given evaluation forms to provide feedback, which allowed the program to determine how effective the event was at meeting the needs of industry. The workshop evaluations were overwhelmingly positive. Attendees stated the presentations were educational, and that the open clinics were a great opportunity to receive one-on-one support. Attendees expressed that each topic was adequately addressed by staff presentations. The pie chart on the next page summarizes the survey results.

Noted herein are some sample comments regarding the workshop experience:

“Everyone was very friendly and very open to answering questions. So thank-ful for this conference”.

Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drug Regulatory Services Branch

Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program Workshop

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“Very useful and interesting workshop. Gives great overview while allowing for general and detailed questions. Com-bined with the clinic one-on-one time, it is an ideal setting to learn/update/refresh on California regulations”.

“Very informative. Wish other states would hold similar workshops. Staff were customer service oriented, infor-mative, and helpful. Will recommend workshop”.

“Well presented – speakers were knowledgeable. Thank you CDFA for presenting”.

Inspection and Compliance Branch

Produce Safety ProgramUnder the supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), Shelley Phillips, the Produce Safety Program (PSP) (formerly known as the Environmental Auditing Unit) has hired Senior Environmental Scientist and Lead Inspector: Bryce Praditkul; three Environmental Scientists: Central Coast Region Inspector, Avery Cromwell; Central Valley Region Inspector, Eric Schwab; and Sacramento /San Juaquin Valley Region Inspector, DeLarian Dyson; an Associate Government Program Analyst, Laurel Rudolph; and an Office Technician, Dominic Hickman.

The PSP’s inspectors will conduct environmental assessments and enforcements to ensure compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and the Produce Safety

Rule (PSR). They will perform work throughout California concerning present and future environmental issues relating to food safety, and will also work with industry to bring farms into compliance with FSMA requirements.

The inspectors will conduct on-farm visits to help farmers prepare for the upcoming enforcement of the PSR. These on-farm visits will educate farmers on expectations and standards that inspectors will be looking for when enforcement starts.

The PSP has also partnered with Farmers Communication Exchange to help develop consistent, understandable outreach materials and delivery mechanisms that are focused to targeted audiences. As part of the outreach campaign, the PSP is developing a website and expects to have it available soon. The PSP has also started working with Ag Safe and The Safe Food Alliance to assist in facilitating and conducting the Standardized Grower Training course for California’s produce industry.

PSP staff have attended and presented at several farm conferences, such as the Hmong Conference in Fresno, the Small Farm Conference in Stockton, and the Latino Farm Conference in Palm Desert. Staff will also attend the upcoming World-Ag Expo in Tulare and the Eco-Farm Conference in Monterey.

Joining the State Organic Program’s

(SOP) team in October 2017 was Pamela Rodriguez. Based out of the Fresno Office, Pamela will primarily conduct enforcement, outreach and education in the Central Valley. Pamela is new to state service as she comes

to us from the Fresno County Office of Probation with over 10 years of experience working in enforcement based programs. Join us in welcoming Pamela to the SOP. The SOP is also in the process of filling the Southern California Special Investigator position which we hope to fill soon.

AB 1826, Chapter 403, Stats. of 2016 added an education and outreach component to the State Organic Program and the SOP executed a contract with JP Marketing out of Fresno to help with coordinating the this new component. Efforts will include a monthly blog piece, social media exposure and other outward exposure to help to educate the organic community.

California Citrus Program

The Citrus Program is responsible for protecting the industry and general public from substandard products and ensuring that the established minimum maturity and quality standards are met. In addition, the Citrus Program is responsible for providing industry members with current and accurate data regarding the state’s citrus acreage and citrus crop.

The 2017/18 harvest of Central Valley navel oranges started in the beginning of October with early maturing fruit and minimal rejections. Mother Nature presented the industry with some below freezing temperatures that required monitoring and assessing by county personnel. However, the cold temperatures did not warrant a statewide freeze inspection program.

Assessments changed, beginning October 1st, to a lower mil fee. The program has been working with industry to amend the regulations of standard containers for mandarins to allow for a particular standard export container to be utilized. Currently those containers are allowed to be utilized under the experimental pack/container permit process.

Subject was overly addressed

1%

Subject was not sufficiently addressed

2%

Subject was sufficiently addressed

97%

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Shipping Point InspectionShipping Point Inspection (SPI) has wrapped up most work on Almonds, Kiwi and Olives in December. Overall, 2017 was a much better year than 2016. SPI will begin work for next season and continue working on the new incoming Almond Database that is expected to roll out in July 2018.

The Inspection Services Division will have a booth at the World Ag Expo in February, located in Tulare, CA, which has proven to be a great outreach tool as well as an opportunity to interact with others in the agriculture industry.

SPI closed the Salinas District Office and its functions/staff have been absorbed by the Dinuba District Office. The closure was primarily to eliminate an underutilized space and hopefully streamline the administration of our food safety operations.

Center for Analytical Chemistry Branch

2017 State Employees’ Food Drive at Center for Analytical Chemistry (CAC)CAC employees kicked off the 2017 State Employee’s Food Drive by donating 10 turkeys + $40 cash to the Turkey Drive, and filled one food bank barrel with assorted canned food donations. Other Food Drive donation activities included:

Soup Day Sampler at CAC – Collected $320.00 (equivalent to 800 lbs. of food)What a successful, fun lunchtime it was…especially when soup fans Secretary Ross, Undersecretary Masuhara, and assistant Carol Tate attended to sample the delicious variety of soups made by CAC’s own consommé aficionados…Gumbo, Split Pea, Ginger Chicken, Potato Cheese, Vegetable Barley, Vegetable Noodle, Chicken lentil, Tofu Spinach, Japanese Udon, Persian Aash, Yin Er (Dessert Soup); Chili, sourdough baguettes and olive bread.

Also joining the soup samplers was Inspection Services Division Director Natalie Krout-Greenberg.

Bake Sale at CAC – Collected $180.00 CAC had a successful sale on an incredible assortment of yummy items such as flan, baklava, cheese/butter biscuits, pumpkin muffins, banana cream pie, tiramisu, lemon meringue pie, breakfast pizza, fresh fruit, zucchini bread, Vietnamese pate’ chaud, oatmeal runaway cookies, chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip cookies, cherry turnovers, chocolate raspberry cake, and an assortment of Japanese bakery delicacies. A new addition to our bake sale this year was the Tea Sampler table. Staff brought a variety of unique hot brewed teas to share. Hmm…tea and dessert, what comfort food!

CAC Environmental Scientists Presentations -Seminar SeriesCAC Environmental Scientists Ryanne Mason (Pesticide Residue), Dinesh Chand (Environmental Safety), and Harry Welte (Animal Feed and Fertilizer) provided presentations to Inspection Services Division staff in November. Each presenter discussed their respective program activities and the relationship to the mission of the CAC in protecting the State’s food, feed and environment.

CAC bids Happy Retirement to Elaine Wong, Environmental Program Manager ICAC Environmental Program Manager I, Elaine Wong, said goodbye to the staff on December 14th, 2017, as she ended her long professional career as a chemist, manager, and mentor to enjoy her retirement from state service. Elaine began working at the CAC as a scientific aid while attending Sacramento State. She then moved on to a private chemistry lab, then returned to CAC in 2000, as manager of the environmental safety lab. CAC Staff surprised Elaine with a potluck brunch with some of her favorite foods.

CAC Welcomes Maryam Khosravifard, Environmental Program Manager IMaryam joined the CAC team on December 4, 2017, from the State Water Resources Control Board where she was a Senior Environmental Scientist, Supervisor. This is not Maryam’s first job with CDFA as she began work as a graduate student assistant in July 1987 in Inspection Services then moved on to the Feed, Fertilizer, and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services branch as an ag chemist from 1993-2007. Maryam will be managing the environmental safety lab at CAC.

Featured: Elaine Wong and CAC staff

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Feed, Fertilizer, and Livestock Drug Regulatory Services New HiresKatherine (Casey) Dykier, Environmental Scientist Jessica Valdez, Environmental Scientist

Feed, Fertilizer, and Livestock Drug Regulatory Services PromotionsMark Cady, Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) Natalie Jacuzzi, Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)

Inspection and Compliance New HiresEric Schwab, Special Investigator, Produce Safety Program Pamela Rodriguez, Special Investigator, State Organic Program Max Pone, Ag Aide, Shipping Point Inspection

Inspection and Compliance PromotionsKiley Potter, Associate Government Program Analyst

Center for Analytical Chemistry Lab New HiresMaryam Khosravifard, Environmental Program Manager I Danielle Magadia, Scientific Aid

Center for Analytical Chemistry Lab RetirementsElaine Wong Teresa Woroniecka

Featured left to right: Barzin Moradi, Maryam Khosravifard, Elaine Wong, and Tiffany Tu