Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program - SAREP

Save the Date for the 2026 California Agritourism Summit!

Join us in San Luis Obispo County, September 23-25, 2026.
https://mailchi.mp/a52419196ce8/savethedateagtoursummit2026

Save the Date for the 2026 California Agritourism Summit!

The California Agritourism Summit brings together leaders, experts, and practitioners to connect, learn, and engage. Through keynote speakers, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and farm tours, participants will gain practical tools and inspiration to strengthen agritourism in California.
Join us in San Luis Obispo County, September 23-25, 2026.

https://mailchi.mp/a52419196ce8/savethedateagtoursummit2026

Join UC SAREP team members and partners at the upcoming Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) California Small Farm Conference! This week of learning, inspiration and community features over 60 events, both online and in-person!

Presentations from UC SAREP and partners:
• Is There a “Right” kind of Agritourism? – Rachael Callahan (UC SAREP) Sunday, February 22, 3:00-4:15pm
• Groundwater Roundtable with Farmers – Carly Deitsch (UC Small Farms Network SGMA team) Monday, February 23, 11:30 am-12:45 pm
• Organic w**d management for mixed vegetable farms – Katharina Ullmann (UC Organic Agriculture Institute) Wednesday, February 25, 8:00-9:15 am
• Starting a Food Hub: Stories from the Ground – Alicia Baddorf (UC SAREP) Wednesday, February 25, 11:30 am-12:45 pm.

Join us!

2026 CA Small Farm Conference Join us for our 38th annual gathering, a week of learning, inspiration and community featuring over 60 events, both online and in-person. Whether you’re a beginning farmer or a seasoned grower…

Great to see collaboration in action and connect with leaders across the California Department of Food and Agriculture! Thank you to CDFA for hosting UC SAREP today! We look forward to continuing our partnership in support of California’s small-scale producers and healthy, local food systems.

CDFA Hosts 🌱 UC SAREP for Small Farm Program Discussion 🚜

Led by Interim Director Ruth Dahlquist-Willard (pictured presenting), the UC Agriculture & Natural Resources Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program - SAREP (UC SAREP) staff joined CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (front row, giving the “thumbs up” sign), CDFA Farm Equity Advisor Thea Rittenhouse, and staff and leaders representing programs across the department today.

The gathering provided staff with a reintroduction to the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program Small Farm Program, which has recently been reorganized and expanded to better serve California’s small-scale producers.

The UC SAREP program — now celebrating 40 years of service — includes the UC Organic Agriculture Institute, the Master Food Preservers Program, and the Small Farms Network. The changes mean more inclusive programming and technical assistance that are crucial to supporting healthy, local food systems.

The reorganization also expands support for research, agritourism, food safety, and tailored support for small-scale operations.
https://sarep.ucdavis.edu/

Grateful for the CDFA State Organic Program and county ag inspectors working together across CA to uphold organic standards — and for SOP’s support that strengthens organic agriculture statewide.

CDFA’s State Organic Program’s (SOP) mission is to protect the organic label through education, outreach and, when necessary, enforcement, in California, under the authority of the USDA’s National Organic Program. California is the only state in the nation with a USDA-approved State Organic Program.

The SOP upholds state laws and USDA organic regulations by overseeing requirements for the production and handling of organic products within California as well as those entering the state. This includes partnering with counties to perform SOP inspections.

Following are recent examples of this important partnership:

-- Riverside County agricultural inspectors joined the SOP for an agave farm tour to deepen their understanding of organic production practices and strengthen inter­agency collaboration.

-- San Luis Obispo County agricultural inspectors joined SOP to conduct organic enforcement inspections at local farmers’ markets to verify compliance with state and federal organic standards and ensure transparency for consumers.

-- Imperial County agricultural inspectors joined SOP for an on-site organic inspection. The visit included a compre­hensive review of production and handling prac­tices to ensure full compliance with both state and federal organic regulations.

-- Santa Barbara County conducted an inspection to verify compliance with both state and federal organic standards. The visit included a thorough review of production, handling and documentation practices to ensure the opera­tion met all regulatory requirements.

Visit the California State Organic Program webpage for more information: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/organicprogram/

https://blogs.cdfa.ca.gov/CDFAInspectionServicesBlog/index.php/2026/01/22/cdfa-state-organic-program-collaborates-with-county-agricultural-inspectors-across-california/

Grateful to be part of EcoFarm 2026! UC SAREP’s programs appreciate the shared learning, the networking opportunities, and the community that keeps this work moving forward! UC Organic Agriculture Institute, UCCE Central Coast Small Farm Program, UC Master Food Preserver.

The EcoFarm conference is underway and we’re appreciating the energy! Looking forward to the discussions and sessions today! Stop by to see us - UC SAREP, UC Organic Agriculture Institute, UCCE Central Coast Small Farm Program, and UC ANR Climate Smart Agriculture.

Check out the UC SAREP California Agritourism newsletter for the latest news and updates you won’t want to miss!

2025 Was a Big Year for Agritourism in California! - https://mailchi.mp/c0dbf35b6b4d/ca-agritourism-news-feb2024-12852889

Two seminar series for organic growers are starting this week! Organized by UC Organic Agriculture Institute, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), and UC Cooperative Extension, Capitol Corridor, check out all the details below!

Check out the great work of the California Organic, Agroecological, and Regenerative Transitions (COAR) project team!

Policy-Informed Research to Advance Organic, Agroecological, and Regenerative Agriculture in California - Berkeley Food Institute Photo Caption: The California Organic, Agroecological, and Regenerative Transitions (COAR) Team at the University of California, Merced.

Join UC SAREP at EcoFarm for their 46th Annual Conference January 21-24, 2026 at Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds to connect with 1,500+ organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farmers, ranchers, and industry leaders.

The conference features over 65 skill-building workshops, keynotes, pre-conference events, farm tours, seed swaps, tastings, networking, Spanish programming, and of course the EcoFarm dance!

Active farmers and ranchers are encouraged to apply for discounted registration. Space is limited, so apply early. Early bird registration is available until December 5, 2025—save $100 by registering today.

Register at www.eco-farm.org!

On , show your support for the SAREP Small Grants Program – a program that makes BIG IMPACTS as our grant recipients work to promote sustainability in agricultural practices and strengthen local food systems in the California communities they serve. A small investment can go a long way in producing meaningful impacts!! https://give.ucanr.edu/pages/sustainable-agriculture-research-and-education-program