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24th Annual Envisioning California Conference
Food for Thought: Current Food Trends
and Policies in the Golden State
C o n fe r e n ce P r o g r a m
Friday, October 11, 2013 | 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sacramento Public Library Tsakopoulos Galleria
24th Annual Envisioning California Conference
Food for Thought: Current Food Trends and Policies in the Golden State
Following the dictum “you are what you eat,” the 24th Annual Envisioning California
Conference will explore California’s character by examining its food products and practices.
More specifically, we are seeking to better understand the relationship between California’s
food and its identity – not just as the world’s breadbasket, but also as a leader in food
trends and agricultural and environmental policies. Food production and consumption has
figured prominently in California’s identity, from Steinbeck’s stories about Salinas farmers
and Monterey canners to the celebrated ethnic restaurants tucked into neighborhoods
throughout San Francisco, Los Angeles and elsewhere, to Cesar Chavez’s grape boycott of the
1960s and Governor Jerry Brown’s war on the Medfly in the 1980s. So much of California – its
immigration patterns, water infrastructure, land use patterns, transportation systems, and
labor issues – are fundamentally shaped by its relationship to food.
We invite you to join us on October 11th at the Sacramento Public Library Tsakopoulos
Galleria for a full day of exploring California through its food trends and policies. In addition
to engaging panel discussions, we will enjoy California foods, wines and beers; discuss
community supported agriculture and the Farm-to-Fork movement; and celebrate journalistic
contributions on California’s food landscape. The Envisioning California
Conference is organized by the Center for California Studies at California State
University, Sacramento.
24 th Annual Envisioning California Conference | Friday, October 11, 2013
Conference Schedule and Panels, Friday, October 11, 2013
8:30–9:15 am Coffee and Registration 9:15 - 9:30 am
Conference Welcome
MORNING PANEL OPTIONS:
9:30–11:00 am Panel 1: Stewardship of the Land that Sustains Us: The Future of Farming in California
East Meeting Room
California agriculture is a $37.5 billion industry with the golden state being home to nine of the nation’s top ten producing counties. Agriculture isn’t just about tilling the soil; it’s about finding solutions to modern problems facing our food supply. With farmland shrinking and
the population growing, what are we doing to ensure an abundant food supply that is both healthy and affordable? What policies can help
California protect its agricultural resources in the face of urban growth? Can California sustain a vibrant farming industry without depleting
California’s natural resources? What innovative practices can help California produce more, with less? This panel explores the challenges facing
California farms and how we can innovate and adapt to the changing landscape.
Moderator: Jeanne Merrill, Policy Director, California Climate and Agriculture Network
Panelists: Michael Dimock, President, Roots of Change; Mary Kimball, Executive Director, Center for Land-Based Learning; Karen Ross,
Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture; and Paul Wenger, President, California Farm Bureau Federation
9:30–11:00 am West Meeting Room
Panel 2: California’s Farm Labor Shortages and the Impact of Immigration Reform
California’s dependence on immigrant farm workers has deep roots. Since the 1800s, California’s labor intensive crops have been dependent on
immigrant farm workers from across the globe, including the Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Mexicans, Central Americans, Dust Bowl migrants,
and many others. According to a survey taken by the California Farm Bureau Federation in 2012, nearly 2/3 of farmers from every growing
region of California have struggled to find enough employees to help tend and harvest crops. For those farmers who grow labor-intensive crops
such as tree fruits, vegetables, table grapes and berries, 71% reported employee shortages. This panel will consider what is currently occurring
with immigration reform policies and the potential impact on California’s farmers, ranchers and workers. Will California’s agricultural industry
have to produce less labor intensive crops and will farmers be able to secure a reliable and competent workforce for the future?
Moderator: Manuel Barajas, Interim Director, Serna Center and Professor of Sociology, Sacramento State
Panelists: Barbara Cecchini, Farmer, Cecchini & Cecchini Farm; Jason Resnick, Vice President and General Counsel, Western Growers; Guadalupe (Lupe) Sandoval, Executive Director, California Farm Labor Contractor Association; Genevieve Shiroma, Chairwoman, California Agricultural Labor Relations Board
11:15 am –1:15 pm Buffet Lunch , 19th Annual California Journalism Awards presentation and
Galleria
Keynote Address by Mas Masumoto, Renowned Author and Organic Farmer
Food for Thought: Current Food Trends and Policies in the Golden State
24th Annual Envisioning California Conference
Food for Thought: Current Food Trends and Policies in the Golden State
AFTERNOON PANEL OPTIONS:
1:30–3:00 pm
East Meeting Room
Panel 3: Food Poverty in an Agriculturally Rich State: How to Address Food Access
Inequalities Across California
California’s unique climate and fertile land has distinguished the state as a global, agricultural industry. Despite our ability to affect billions
worldwide, millions of residents lack access to our own commodities and are hungry not just for consumable goods, but for better, more
nutrient-rich food. Whether the challenges involve urban residents lacking access to fresh produce, or low-income communities lacking the
financial access to greater, if any, food options, remedies to improve the availability and increase the awareness of nutritious foods should be
made available throughout our state. In this discussion, panelists will address the challenges and strategies involved in addressing the wellbeing of children, adults, and families regarding equitable access to good food across communities.
Moderator: Gail Feenstra, Food Systems Analyst, California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, UC Davis
Panelists: Keri Askew Bailey, Vice President of Government Relations, California Grocers Association; Cory Clift, Executive Director, Freedom Farms; Clare Fox, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, LA Food Policy Council; Charles L. Mason, Jr., President and CEO, Ubuntu Green
1:30–3:00 pm Panel 4: Farm to Fork: Future or Fad?
West Meeting Room
The proliferation of fast food and culture of unhealthy eating of the past decade has led to an alarming rate of obesity and related diseases.
What’s on your fork? Why aren’t we eating the way we should and how that can change? The emergence of healthy eating initiatives, from
food labeling to salad bars in school cafeterias, is shifting our food dialogue and lifestyle. This panel will feature leaders from different sectors who are finding ways to transform California’s food culture through education, providing better options for kids, forging community
partnerships, and leading the farm-to-fork movement. Learn what schools, health providers, and local chefs are doing to change the way we
think about food and make smarter choices. Can healthy eating initiatives grow and be sustained? And will farm-to-fork become a lasting
part of the food landscape or another food fad? Moderator: Lynn Hanna, Professor, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Sacramento State Panelists: Cathy Carmichael, Nutrition Consultant, McDonald’s; Randall Selland, Chef, Owner and Founder, Selland Family Restaurants;
John Struthers, Pediatrician and Medical Director, Kaiser Permanente; and Rodney Taylor, Director of Nutritional Services, Riverside Unified School District
3:15–4:45 pm Afternoon Plenary: A Cornucopia of Food and Fun - Galleria
A Taste of California Food Products and Ideas
Demonstrations by: Paulette Bruce, Cook, Gardener and Teacher, Good Eats Cooking Classes; Tracy Sellers, Host and Producer, “California Bountiful”; Geoffrey Wood, UC Master Gardener, Sacramento County
Displays: Food vendors, local organizations and more!
4:45 - 5:30 pm Reception in the Galleria
California State University, Sacramento
Center for California Studies
6000 J Street | Sacramento, CA 95819-6081
(916) 278-6906 | www.csus.edu/calst