CAMARILLO — The Meadowlark Service League is hosting A Taste of Camarillo Wine, Brew & Food Festival this year on Sunday, July 28, from Noon – 4:30 pm, at the Camarillo Ranch. Exhibitor & Vendor spaces are already filling up for the region’s longest-running Wine, Food, and Brew Festival.
eet the talented individuals who make up our Agri Tech Fair speaker lineup. Each speaker brings a unique set of skills and expertise to the table, working together to create an exceptional event experience for our attendees.
SANTA BARBARA — Rooted Santa Barbara County presents Rooted in Community, the second annual bilingual plant-powered fall festival on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 2-7 pm at the Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden Street in Santa Barbara. Featuring a food court, live music, story-telling, art projects, trivia, giveaways, and a “Chopped”-like competition, the event celebrates the role of plant-centered nutrition in equipping our community with more health-care options. Attendees can enjoy this event in either English or Spanish, thanks to simultaneous interpretation by Bridging Voices-Uniendo Voces.
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi on Monday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. Spend a delicious evening with world-renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi as he discusses his new book, Comfort, and prepares one of his dishes live on stage.
“We are pleased that Ventura Potters’ Guild is bringing this year’s Ventura Pottery Market and Bowl of Thanks back to Ventura Harbor Village with its serene seaside village with stunning Pacific views,” said President of the Ventura County Potter’s Guild Stacy Rowe.
VENTURA — Rocks & Drams, a celebrated downtown Ventura cocktail bar renowned for its exceptional dining and craft cocktails, is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved holiday pop-up, Miracle at Rocks & Drams, for the second consecutive year. This seasonal event, running from November 20th to January 5th, continues its partnership with Miracle and Sippin’ Santa, bringing back the internationally renowned holiday-themed experience with an even more festive twist for 2024.
VENTURA — Kaiser Permanente presented Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) a $10,000 community health grant during SEEAG’s annual Ventura County Farm Day on November 4. The donation will help fund SEEAG’s Ventura County Youth Wellness Initiative.
SEEAG’s Youth Wellness Initiative addresses the nutrition knowledge gaps and food insecurity among a diverse socioeconomic demographic of students in Ventura County, with a focus on Title 1 elementary schools. SEEAG’s program is designed to inspire and empower students to increase the amount of locally-grown fruits and vegetables they eat while improving overall healthy eating habits and increasing physical activity. Since the program began in 2020, SEEAG has reached 15,500 third graders who participated in hands-on nutrition education during in-class learning and monthly Farm Fresh Wellness Fairs.
CENTRAL COAST — In an inspiring act of community service and holiday spirit, Central Coast Moving & Storage, a prominent local and long-distance moving company with headquarters in Paso Robles and a satellite location in Santa Maria, has once again exemplified their commitment to the North County of San Luis Obispo. Following the success of last year’s initiative, the company has escalated its impact by generously donating 200 turkeys to families in need for the holiday season.
This significant contribution was made possible in partnership with People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) and the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO). The turkey distribution event, conducted on November 17th, marked a high point in the collaborative efforts to support local communities during the festive season.
LOMPOC — Seeking a a new adventure in wine tasting? Something more exciting than simply popping into a tasting room for a flight? Look no further, because two Lompoc wineries now offer a rugged, off-the-beaten-path way to learn about their wines, experience their land and understand more about the winemaking process – All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) Tours!
OXNARD — In a heartwarming display of community commitment, Cooper Kupp, the celebrated wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, took center stage at Food Share’s Thanksgiving Turkey n’ Trimmings giveaway in College Park, Oxnard, yesterday, Tuesday, 11/21. The event saw 1,800 families receive packages containing turkeys, seasonal fresh produce, and Thanksgiving trimmings, along with essential shelf-stable food items.
Kupp was joined by an impressive cohort of 45 student volunteers from Simi Valley’s Royal High School football team. Kupp has been actively mentoring these young athletes as part of the Rams’ partnership with the school.
Passionate about combating food insecurity, Kupp has championed various initiatives in Southern California, alongside fellow Rams players and staff. His commitment also reaches beyond state lines, as he has supported food banks in the Yakima and Richland areas in his home state of Washington.
OXNARD — Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, is bringing its most popular community event back for the holidays! The 12th Annual CAN-tree food drive will take place in Figueroa Plaza from Thursday, November 30 when the trees will be built, through Sunday, December 3, 2022, when they will be dismantled.
The event, which brings thousands of individuals, families, and local businesses together to collect and build hundreds of canned food “trees” is Food Share’s biggest food and fund drive of the year and is a critical source of food for the thousands of people still struggling with food insecurity in Ventura County.
VENTURA COUNTY — CDFA has declared a quarantine in Ventura County following the detection of the citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in two citrus trees on one residential property in the city of Santa Paula. These detections are the first HLB-positive trees in Ventura County. CDFA is working with the USDA and the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner on this cooperative project.
The detection will require a mandatory five-mile-radius quarantine area around the find site to restrict the movement of citrus fruit, trees, and related plant material. The quarantine area is bordered on the north by Ojai Road; on the south by E Los Angeles Avenue; on the west by Wells Road; and on the east by Balcom Canyon Road. HLB quarantine maps for Ventura County are available online at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/citrus/pests_diseases/hlb/regulation.html.
VENTURA — Jiffy Lube and Meals on Wheels have created a partnership that will benefit the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s meal-delivery programs to homebound older adults during the month of October.
From now until October 31, Jiffy Lube customers who receive oil changes, tire rotations, or other vehicle maintenance will have the opportunity to donate $1, $3, $5 or more to Meals on Wheels at checkout. Those funds will be used to support the meal-delivery efforts of the VCAAA, which is a division of the County of Ventura’s Human Services Agency.
Participating Jiffy Lube locations in Ventura County include:
LOMPOC — Lompoc may seem like your typical charming Central Coast town at first glance, but for those with an eye for the unconventional and a taste for the eccentric, Lompoc holds a treasure trove of quirky and unique attractions. From intergalactic exploration to a ghostly mission, here’s your comprehensive guide to the quirky and unique in Lompoc.
VENTURA COUNTY — A Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)-positive Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample has been collected from a residential property in Ventura County in the Santa Paula area and has been confirmed by the Citrus Research Board’s Jerry Dimitman Laboratory. The positive sample – comprised of 12 adult psyllids from a residential citrus tree in the Southwest area of Santa Paula – was collected on Sept. 6 as part of the Multi-Pest Risk Survey and confirmed positive for CLas on Sept. 19. This is the first confirmed CLas-positive ACP found in Ventura County.
An HLB quarantine zone will not be established as a result of this CLas-positive ACP detection and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) staff are swiftly conducting surveys and collecting samples from the property and all HLB host plants that are located within a 250-meter radius around the find, per the ACP/HLB Action Plan.
VENTURA — On Tuesday, September 12, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, through unanimous vote, appointed Korinne Bell to the position of Agricultural Commissioner. Bell’s appointment was made following the retirement of the previous Agricultural Commissioner, Ed Williams, in August.…
Friendship Center is looking forward to our 11th Annual Wine Down to be held Thursday, September 14th, 2023, from 4 to 7pm outdoors at our Montecito Center’s courtyard. This delicious and delightful event brings us together to enjoy an evening of great local wines and beer, along with hearty hors d’oeuvres and live music, all for a good cause!
CAMARILLO — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the world of agriculture in general need workers, and not always in a field of crops or livestock. Workers are needed in scores of other areas outside of the farm, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture itself.
“You don’t have to be a scientist or a farmer,” said CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Success & Equity Initiatives Michelle Hasendonckx. “The USDA needs people with experience in human resources, communication specialists, accountants, project managers—people from a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds make up this huge department. And these are career opportunities nationwide.”
SANTA BARBARA — Recently, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) awarded a nearly $2 million grant through its Pollinator Habitat Program to the Cachuma Resource Conservation District and its partners (Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, and Ventura County Resource Conservation District), to boost pollinator habitat on agricultural lands along California’s Central Coast.
California produces more than one-third of the nation’s vegetables and two-thirds of the nation’s fruit and nuts, of which an estimated $11.7 billion are dependent on pollinators. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction, pesticides, disease, and climate change, pollinator populations have dramatically declined. The loss of pollinators in California affects both agricultural and natural ecosystems.
SACRAMENTO — Continuing with her commitment to reduce food waste, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin announced that she has requested California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to promulgate regulations requiring packaged food sold in California be labeled with clear and consistent expiration dates. The proposal aligns with Assembly Bill (AB) 660, which would assist consumers in understanding how long they can safely keep and consume products before discarding them.
VENTURA COUNTY — Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, has been honored with a multitude of prestigious awards, solidifying its position as one of the county’s leading nonprofits.
The 73rd annual Oxnard Community & Business Awards, hosted by the West Ventura County Business Alliance, recognizes remarkable individuals, businesses, and organizations that contribute to making Oxnard a thriving place to live, work and play. Food Share was honored with the NonProfit of the Year award for its work in tackling food insecurity within the city, exemplified by the ongoing drive-thru food distributions that take place at College Park, Oxnard. Starting in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, the distributions are now in their third year and continue to draw large numbers, serving an estimated 4,000 people each week.
The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) is pleased to welcome Ashley Lopez Estrada as its first Community Liaison.
Lopez brings deep, bilingual customer service and administrative experience to the team, as well as passion and desire to help make food more accessible in our region. While still in college, she distinguished herself with a sociological research project on privilege discrepancy for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students.
Wild Oaks Country Music Festival, taking place June 3, is seeking nonprofit organizations to exhibit at the festival at no charge. The festival will be held at Conejo Creek Park South in Thousand Oaks.
“We’re setting aside 10 booth spaces for nonprofit organizations at the festival,” says Mary-Catherine McBride, Wild Oaks co-chair. “The booths are 10×10 and are at no cost. It’s a great opportunity to reach festivalgoers with your organization’s message.”
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) hosted its monthly Healthy Food Pantry event on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Presidio Springs Community Room located at 721 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA. The Healthy Food Pantry events are a collaboration between HACSB, 2nd Story Associates, and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, who provides the supply of food.
Every third Wednesday of the month, the Housing Authority and Foodbank of Santa Barbara County provide local community members with a bag of fresh produce and nonperishables. Approximately 145 bags of food are given out at each event.
??”Food insecurity is still prevalent in our community and it is a fundamental need in Santa Barbara. The Housing Authority’s monthly food distribution aims to fill that necessity and continue to provide this important resource to those experiencing a hardship,” said Leticia Zuniga, HACSB Resident Programs Specialist.
Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) has introduced AB 552 which would create a new program to increase equipment access for small and mid-scale growers. The program will increase access to necessary farm equipment for health soil practices, on-farm conservation practices, storage, and processing. The program will also offer essential technical assistance to farmers around the maintenance of tools, tool demonstrations, and developing farm cooperatives. The bill is co-sponsored by the California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN) and Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF).
Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) announced legislation (on Feb. 21) to strengthen the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and protect drinking water supplies for communities.
AB 1563 would require agencies that issue water well permits, generally county governments, to acquire sign off from the local groundwater sustainability agency prior to issuing the permit.
“There is a loophole in our system. Groundwater Sustainability Agencies are responsible for managing their basins and reaching sustainable pumping levels by 2040. However, those agencies do not have the authority to determine if new wells in their basin are consistent with the sustainability plans. Counties and other permitting agencies typically issue ministerial “over the counter” permits without reviewing for consistency with the plan,” said Assemblymember Bennett.
The super sweet time of the year is almost upon us. If you’re feeling the love this Valentine’s Day, head to Lompoc, California for a romantic getaway! Take a scenic drive through the beautiful flower fields, spend a cozy evening at a nearby winery sipping on local wines, indulge in a delicious dinner for two at one of our top restaurants, and more!
If you’re in or around Lompoc on Feb. 14, 2023, you might want to consider taking your special sweetheart to one of the area’s Valentine’s Day events.
No matter what you end up doing, enjoy it—and one another! Here’s to you. Here’s to love.
Was your farm, ranch, fishery, or food business impacted by the January 2023 floods in Santa Barbara County? We have compiled a list of resources for financial support below to help ensure our local food system makes it through this crisis.
SBCFAN is also tracking and monitoring the impacts of natural disasters, such as the recent floods in our local food community, and would like to hear from you. Please complete our brief survey. This data will help support advocacy for more emergency relief and inform how we can best support you. Together, we can build a resilient food system.
Susana Cruickshank
President of the Centre for International Cooperation and Public Management Studies (CECIG)
Susana Cruickshank currently directs the civil society organization Centre for International Cooperation and Public Management Studies (CECIG), where she works on projects that accompany the day laborer population in the states of Morelos and San Luis Potosí and, as part of the “National Network of Day Labourers and Agricultural Day Labourers,” in Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Guanajuato, Chiapas, Guerrero, and other states. Her work at CECIG includes extensive research to produce comprehensive diagnoses and proposals on agricultural day laborers’ living, working, and wage conditions.
The 37th Annual California Strawberry Festival is accepting applications from individual makers of quality, handcrafted works by artists and crafters for this year’s festival taking place May 20 and 21 at the festival’s new location, the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The deadline to submit an application is February 13.
State leaders on Jan. 26 unveiled a roadmap of ambitious goals and actions to accelerate California’s transition to sustainable pest management and eliminate prioritized high-risk pesticides by 2050. The Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California (SPM Roadmap) was developed by a cross-sector Work Group of stakeholders facilitated by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CALEPA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). It charts a course toward sustainable pest management in agricultural and urban settings. Documents available at https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/sustainable_pest_management_roadmap/
After a three-year hiatus due to challenges brought on by the pandemic, the 2023 California Strawberry Festival will take place May 20-21. For the first time ever, the event will be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
“We are thrilled to relaunch the California Strawberry Festival in 2023 at the Fairgrounds,” says Dean Kato, Chairman of the California Strawberry Festival Board of Directors. “We realized that the event had outgrown the available space at our longtime venue, Oxnard’s College Park. It’s our ‘comeback’ year – and we want to come out bigger and better than ever.”
The Safety Net for All Coalition is deeply disappointed to see that Governor Newsom’s proposed budget does not include unemployment benefits for excluded immigrant workers. An Excluded Workers Program is an essential step to creating a more equitable and resilient economy that works for all Californians.
California’s immigrant workers are the foundation of our economy, contributing to its standing as the 4th largest economy in the world. Seventy-eight percent of California’s undocumented immigrants work in industries that are “essential and critical” to the economy, such as agriculture, construction, and domestic work. Yet, due to historic racist exclusions from our safety net, California’s undocumented workers are not able to access economic support when they face unexpected job loss. Despite the fact that California employers pay an estimated $485 million annually into the Unemployment Insurance system on behalf of these workers, these workers are prohibited from accessing these benefits.
After a three-year hiatus due to challenges brought on by the pandemic, the 37thAnnual California Strawberry Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21. For the first time, the event will be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001). Festivalgoers can indulge in strawberry treats from over 50 food and beverage booths. The festival features artists and crafters, a Ninja Nation obstacle course, live entertainment on two stages, Strawberryland for kids and “build-your-own” strawberry shortcake.
“Feast or Flop” is an engaging online cooking show that combines the culinary world with the treasures of the Museum of Ventura County’s archives. Each episode takes viewers on a journey through our county’s history as MVC Collections Manager Renee Tallent uncovers recipes that have been tucked away for years. Working with regional chefs, Renee attempts to recreate these dishes to see if they are a delicious Feast or a disastrous Flop.
MVC’s 150th Anniversary cooking show will launch with Episode 1 Tuesday, September 19, and a new episode will follow every second week after through November 28. Along with each episode, viewers can look over the vintage recipe to try it out in the comfort of their own kitchen!
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated return of the 10th Annual Mariachi Dinner, a captivating evening of cultural celebration, live music, and dining. Hosted by the City of Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department, this event promises a memorable experience for all attendees, young and old.
The 10th Annual Mariachi Dinner is an opportunity for the community to come together, show support for a noble cause, and revel in the joy of shared moments. This year’s event will be held at the Parks and Recreation Community Center Auditorium located at 530 West Main St., Santa Paula, CA 93060 on Saturday, September 23rd, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Forward Together Webinar Series presents…
Producing Film and Television in a Time of Disruption in the
Entertainment Business
Wednesday, November 15 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm (PT) | Zoom Webinar
Chris Lytton is the President and COO of The Jim Henson Company. The Jim Henson Company has remained a leader and an iconic brand in family entertainment for over 60 years and is recognized as a top creator of television and film programming and as an innovator in puppetry and animatronics. Mr. Lytton is an experienced manager of film and television companies, a seasoned deal maker and an entertainment industry expert.
Our annual Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held on Tuesday, November 21st, at 7:00 p.m. at the historic, downtown First United Methodist Church.
The Greater Santa Barbara Area Clergy Association, sponsor of this event, includes clergy and religious leaders from over 100 local faith communities. We come together to celebrate and reflect upon unity, peace, hope, prayers and blessings from our diverse religious traditions.
Last month, food systems took the global stage as a legitimate solution to the climate crisis. For the first time ever, COP27 hosted a Food and Agriculture Pavilion where local, national, and global farmers and food system stakeholders convened to develop solutions for how we can ensure the path from farm to table is more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
Top line solutions included funding and financing, inclusive policy-making, and innovative approaches implemented by a diverse group of food producers. While global leaders play catch-up, SBCFAN is already helping implement these solutions by:
connecting food system projects to accessible, affordable, and equitable funding and financing opportunities
facilitating food policy coordination, navigation, and advocacy
supporting the development of new and innovative food system projects by a diverse group of stakeholders
Registration is now open for the inaugural World AIDS Day Program & Candlelight Vigil in Santa Paula from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula, 740 E. Main St., Santa Paula.
Presented by the HIV/AIDS Coalition of Ventura County and sponsored by Caliber Home Loans, Diversity Collective Ventura County and GILEAD.
The annual MFA open studios at Harder Stadium offer a unique opportunity to see where artists work — and what they’re working on.
Results of a clinical feasibility study suggest ketogenic diet and periodic fasting may have benefits against polycystic kidney disease.
Dozens of farmworkers and their allies were scheduled to hold a news conference and rally prior to Monday’s California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) “workshop” on plans for a statewide pesticide notification system. The news conference, sponsored by the Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety 805 (CAPS 805), was held outside the site of the DPR workshop, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (800 Hobson Way, Oxnard). CAPS 805 and allies are concerned that the County’s pilot notification system and DPR’s current draft plans will not serve the community without the address or farm location of the pesticide application, among other issues.
OPAC celebrates the return of its annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration which will be held this year on Saturday, November 5th from 4 to 10 pm at the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center. Admission is free and open to the public. The event will once again recognize Araw Ng Mga Patay, a Filipino holiday during which people pay homage to their deceased family members and loved ones by visiting their burial sites and making offerings such as food, flowers and prayers.
Guests will enjoy:
Opening remarks from The Mexican Consulate and Oxnard’s Mayor
Aztec Blessing and Ceremonial Dance by Kalpulli Huitzilin Ihuan Xochitl
Displays by local artists Checkos, BlotCamp, Erendira, CreationsByLoops, Carlos Heredia, Veggiecide, Melina Dominguez, Ambzy
Free Dia de los Muertos printmaking by SketchCrow and OPAC’s Teen Art Program students
Performances by Poets Jesus + Sarahi Noyola, Chinas Niñas, Chinas Oaxaqueñas, Ballet Folklorico Mestizo of Oxnard College, Los Chinelos, Grupo Folklorico Fusión Mexicano, Los Diablitos
Community altars
Music provided by Radio Lazer DJs and local musicians
Family-friendly activities including face painting, a storytime corner, arts & crafts, complimentary photo booth, etc
Food representing cultures that celebrate Dia de los Muertos, including Filipino, Mexican and more
Vendors specializing in artesanias, crafts, and more!
A Renewed Focus
A water purification collaboration involving UC Santa Barbara researchers receives a $12 million grant from the Department of Energy.
Fall is in the air across Santa Barbara County. Winter squash’s orange and yellow hues abound at farmers’ markets, farm stands, and local food retailers. Farmers are milling locally-grown grains harvested in the summer, and local ranchers are raising turkeys for the holidays. Fishermen recently showcased the abundance of sustainably harvested, high-quality seafood at the 19th Annual Harbor and Seafood Festival.
From the mobile farmers’ market to shared agricultural equipment, food system changemakers across the Lompoc Valley are addressing critical needs by fostering community and developing food system infrastructure. As you’ll read in our latest regional highlight on the Lompoc Valley, farmers, ranchers, farmers’ market managers, food business owners, and educators alike are accelerating community-led solutions to build a more equitable, closed-loop food system.
As the seasons change, there are a number of opportunities to get involved in the Santa Barbara County food system. See below for more updates on how our region is building resilience, upcoming events to make new connections, and funding for your next project.
Researchers map the environmental pressures of global production for all foods on land and ocean.
The County of Ventura’s Environmental Health Division (Division) advises the public against consuming food and beverages made or sold by street vendors that do not possess a valid health permit.
Informational Flyer
Food trucks and food carts that operate with a health permit are expected to follow food safety laws and are subject to routine health inspections by the Division. These vendors will have an identifying sticker issued by the County of Ventura on the vehicle or cart that looks like this:
The Division is seeing an increase in unpermitted food sales from food carts and pop-up food stands throughout the county. Many unpermitted vendors are coming from areas outside of Ventura County. These vendors are unfairly impacting local vendors who have obtained their licenses and training to do business in Ventura County.
Summer may be coming to an end, but The Collection at RiverPark is keeping the fun going right into fall. In the coming months, The Collection at RiverPark is offering tons of excitement for visitors with two free concerts, several grand openings, a 5K walk and more.
“Fall is full of big plans here at The Collection,” said Marketing Director Jill Almonia. “In addition to all of the amazing shopping, dining and entertainment experiences we offer year-round, we’ve got lots of excellent events coming up this season — plus several incredible new businesses getting ready to open their doors.”
The Collection’s popular concert series, Rock the Collection, continues this fall with two more free events for all ages. On Sept. 28, The Long Run, an Eagles tribute band, will get everyone singing along to classic favorites. And on Oct. 19, Bruno and the Hooligans, a Bruno Mars tribute band, will be playing crowd pleasers all evening. Grab some lawn chairs and takeout, and head over to the grass at Collection Park to join the party. The music starts at 6:30 p.m.
Join Rodale Institute for an Organic Field Day at the California Organic Center on Tuesday, August 30 from 10 AM – 3 PM. Learn more about their organic practices and research projects, watch an electric tractor demonstration, and listen to a panel presentation on “Water, Labor and International Competition.” This event is free and perfect for all farmers. Register to attend.
Assemblymember Steve Bennett has selected Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market as the 2022 Small Business of the Year for the 37th Assembly District.
Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market, located in the Ventura Harbor, is one of the oldest continually owned and operated restaurants in Ventura. Michael Wagner started the business 40 years ago for his young daughter Andria who is now heavily involved in the day to day operations of the business. Andria’s accounts for 27% of all restaurant revenue in the Ventura Harbor. This year Michael and Andria celebrated the 40th anniversary of Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market.
Giving restaurant goers something new to “rave” about, On The Alley, otherwise referred to by the Bennett family owners as “OTA,” has recently expanded its restaurant portfolio by opening its third restaurant location at Ventura Harbor Village.
The more casual sister-venue to Brophy Bros. Restaurant & Clam Bar in Ventura Harbor Village, OTA boasts a modern interior, wonderful harbor view seating, outdoor patios, surf videos and photography artwork that showcases the local landscapes. This walk-up casual-friendly restaurant dishes up delicious, quick, quality fare, and diners enjoy wallet-friendly prices.
As the wine harvest approaches next month, what better time than now to escape to Lompoc, home to some of the industry’s most creative beverage makers. From estate wineries to regional brews, this Central California city in Santa Barbara County is bursting with refreshing wine and beer choices. Below are top picks to experience the destination’s wine bar scene and new and existing craft breweries.
County Supervisors, at their Tuesday, July 26, 2022, Board meeting, proclaimed August 7 – 13, 2022, as Certified Farmers’ Market Week in Ventura County. This coincides with National Farmers’ Market Week.
There are one hundred and twenty-seven certified local farmers and ranchers that provide Ventura County consumers with access to healthy foods produced locally through fourteen certified farmers’ markets, which accommodate the demand for a diverse variety of fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, meat, cheese and other agricultural products.
3C-REN (Tri-County Regional Energy Network), a partnership between the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura that delivers energy-saving programs, is partnering with participating Santa Barbara and Ventura County libraries to provide electric-powered magnetic induction cooktops that local residents can check out and use at home. Included with the portable cooktop is an induction-compatible cooking pan, and helpful information about cooking with induction in both English and Spanish. The cooktops will be available starting August 5, 2022.
“Cooking with induction has many benefits over gas and electric ranges. It is safer, more efficient, and climate friendly. It also supports the state’s initiative toward moving to electrification to meet climate goals and reduce use of fossil fuels,” said Erica Helson, 3C-REN Portfolio Manager. “This program offers residents the opportunity to try cooking with induction at home before they decide to make a permanent switch.”
We now have a 24/7 Hotline for the Community! We are open to your comments and feedback at all times of day and night.
We will listen to this hotline’s voice messages box during our regular business hours. We look forward to hearing from you.
Feel free to call us at (805) 986-1148.
About 3,000 students experiencing homelessness in Ventura County will start the new school year off right with backpacks filled with essential-school supplies.
The backpacks were delivered to more than 200 Ventura County schools through United Way of Ventura County’s Stuff the Bus Campaign, made possible with support from the Ventura County Office of Education, the Gene Haas Foundation, community members and a $10,000 donation from Aera Energy.
“For so many of our families the little money they have may be better spent on food, paying rent or a new pair of shoes for the school year rather than backpacks and school supplies,” said Susan Englund, vice president of community impact, United Way of Ventura County. “We’re helping ease the financial burden on parents so the students can start the school year with everything they need. These supplies also promote learning, build self-esteem, and help our youth stay in school.”
The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) is pleased to announce a public call for Board Members since the organization recently obtained 501c3 public charity status. This achievement is a key milestone made possible by seed funding and capacity-building support from the Santa Barbara Foundation and fiscal sponsorship by the Community Environmental Council and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.
“This is a very exciting time for our local food network,” said SBCFAN Chair Kiah Jordan. “The Community Environmental Council, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Barbara Foundation were instrumental in providing leadership, direction, and financial and administrative support to help us achieve independent 501c3 status. The next step is to build our Board of Directors to help guide the organization for generations to come.”
SBCFAN is looking for engaged community members with knowledge in areas such as agriculture, food enterprise, legal services primarily with human resources and/or the nonprofit sector, and accounting. Board applications are open today, Monday, August 1, through Tuesday, August, 16. To apply and learn more please go to: sbcfan.org/call-for-board-members.
The County of Ventura’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures presented the 2021 Crop and Livestock Report to the Board of Supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting. Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer Ed Williams reported the value of crops for the county for 2021 was $2,085,999,000, an increase of 5% from 2020. Strawberries, lemons, and nursery stock remained the highest valued crops, followed by raspberries, avocados, and celery. For the second consecutive year, the report has been published in Spanish.
“It is good to see the gross values for Ventura County’s crops rising again compared to the bit of a slump in 2020 due to the pandemic,” said Williams. “Production costs have increased, and growers must receive a good return on their investments for farming to continue. The impact of farming and ranching goes far beyond the farm gate by providing jobs for processors, marketers, transporters, farm supply companies, and restaurants, to name a few, and especially the tens of thousands of farmworkers who provide the skill and foundation to make it all possible. I deeply appreciate the many people who play a key role in keeping Ventura County’s agriculture thriving.”
The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CabrilloEDC) and the Port of Hueneme hosted a food distribution on June 11. The event was hosted at Villa Cesar Chavez apartments that include 51 spacious apartments that house eligible low-income farmworker families.
Cabrillo EDC staff, resident volunteers and the Port came together to sort and distribute groceries tohelp local residents facing food insecurities. According to a 2020 California Association of Foodbanks report, food insecurity in California spiked to unprecedented levels statewide with more than 25% of California households experiencing food insecurity – about 10 million people, and 2.5 times higher than before COVID-19.
“Over the past two years, our residents have come together to support each other through thepandemic,” CEDC Board Member Cesar Hernandez stated. “Our Cabrillo communities are like family; they help each other and ensure the community as a whole is thriving. We are grateful for our community partners and collaboration of the Port of Hueneme allowing us to reach more families.”
VENTURA COUNTY — Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, extreme-value grocery retailer, on June 29 launched its 12th consecutive Independence from Hungerâ Food Drive to combat food insecurity. From June 29 – July 31, 2022, the campaign will collect cash donations and pre-made bags of nonperishable foods in-store at Grocery Outlet’s more than 400 locations that will be distributed to local food agencies partners. In Ventura County, donations will support The Salvation Army Oxnard Corps and Food Share of Ventura County among other nonprofit organizations.
With inflation on the rise, many more families have tuned to local food banks for help. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that as many as 30 million adults and 12 million children live in food-insecure households. In the Hispanic community, Feeding America reports that Latinos are two and a half times more likely to live food insecure households than their white counterparts. Eachindependently owned and operated Grocery Outlet store is committed to giving back to provide families in need nutritious food.
VENTURA — The 10th annual Ventura Farm Day, set for Saturday, November 5, is seeking sponsors. During Farm Day, more than 14 Ventura County farms and agricultural businesses open their doors and invite the public to learn how their food is…
Four graduating seniors and one faculty member receive Chancellor’s awards, and the Library honors six students for exemplary research.
PizzaMan Dan’s, which opened recently in The Annex Food Hall at The Collection, is now offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience with the addition of several new technological elements, including an ordering kiosk, automated full bar and pizza serving robot, as well as neon furniture and a giant LED screen.
