Issues
Agriculture
Agriculture is the foundation of California’s economy – our state produces more value in agricultural products than any other in the nation. California is home to 88,000 farms and ranches and an agricultural industry that generates up to $100 billion in related economic activity.
Today, the state must make a concerted effort to support the continued growth of the farming industry, preserve farm land, and promote sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices.
The prosperity and production of California’s farms are under threat. Several successive drought years, the rapid conversion of prime farmland into housing tracts, the growing effects of climate change and rising costs of farming products are threatening the productivity of California farms. Sensible urban planning, sustainable farming practices, protecting family-owned farms, localizing food distribution, increasing the use of emerging technologies such as moisture sensors and aerial imaging and decreasing our fertilizer and water usage are all steps that will help sustain agriculture as California’s bedrock industry.
In San Francisco, Gavin Newsom has supported sustainability in farming, brought fresh and wholesome foods to San Francisco’s schools and markets, helped to protect local and family farms and worked with neighboring rural communities to support farming in the greater San Francisco region.
Regional Agricultural Cooperation: In 2008, Mayor Newsom convened the Urban-Rural Roundtable, a food policy group made up of state and regional agriculture leaders, farmers, food distributors and public health officials to further regional market development and food access plans for the city and its rural neighbors. The roundtable also discussed how to decrease dependence on imported food and promote more of a connection between local farms and their market. Mayor Newsom believes the Bay Area can be a model for all of California in localizing sustainable food distribution and maximizing regional agricultural and economic capacity.
Fresh, Local Produce for San Francisco Schools: In San Francisco, Mayor Newsom worked with the San Francisco school system to open salad bars at 25 public school cafeterias. By featuring a variety of organic and locally-sourced vegetables, the salad bars encourage healthy eating among our youth and provide economic benefit to local farmers.
Urban Gardens: To promote agricultural sustainability and heighten awareness of the food-to-consumer process, Mayor Newsom created Victory Gardens 2008 in which over 15 urban organic food gardens were planted in San Francisco. The Victory Gardens promote growing food at home for increased food security and reducing the food miles associated with the average American meal. Over 1,000 pounds of food were harvested and donated through Slow Food Nation’s Victory Garden in San Francisco’s Civic Center to those with limited access to healthy organic produce through a partnership with the San Francisco Food Bank.
Join Our Policy Team: Gavin Newsom believes that the best plan is a better idea. If you would like to share your ideas and insights on how to reshape California's Agriculture policy, please email us at issues@gavinnewsom.com.
