Category: Food

County of Ventura District 2 Supervisor Jeff Gorell — 211 Ventura County is an incredible resource

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Amigos805 editor’s note: Please keep checking with vcemergency.com and other local officials/organizations for the latest fire/weather updates….

As we continue to recover and rebuild from the Mountain Fire and face power outages from other So Cal Fires, I want to make sure you know that help is available, especially for those still without power or dealing with other challenges.

? 211 Ventura County is an incredible resource that connects people with assistance for a wide range of needs, including:

? Shelter and housing support
? Food assistance
? Transportation services
? Utility assistance
? Health care resources
? Mental health support
…and much more.

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Bilingual commentary — Immigration Triggers a Civil War

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One of the major reasons that got Donald Trump elected to the U.S. presidency for the second time was his thundering promise to conduct a mass deportation of all illegal immigrants. For many of his supporters, this promise was all they needed to reinforce their commitment to their fearless leader. 

Meanwhile, “co-president” Elon Musk ignited a civil war within MAGA world well before Trump’s inauguration when he declared that immigrant labor is essential for the engineering talent required to keep America great. This outlook flies in the face of those who strongly support the view that Americans are quite capable of providing that expertise. Some among the MAGA faithful were triggered, resulting in even more racist rhetoric that hinted at the tainting of our white American blood.

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Farmworker communities protest regulation of cancer-causing pesticide as unscientific and racist

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VISALIA — More than 100 people (on Jan. 8) attended the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) public hearing at the Visalia Veterans’ Memorial Building on its draft regulation of cancer-causing 1,3-dichloropropene (aka 1,3-D, brand name Telone) that addresses only “occupational bystanders” and relies on completely different assumptions of lifetime cancer risk exposure than the law regulating the same pesticide towards children and residents near agricultural fields. 

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39th Annual California Strawberry Festival call for applicants: Makers of unique, quality handcrafted artwork and craft items

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VENTURA — The 39th 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 17 and 18 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The deadline to apply is Feb. 10.

The festival, which attracts more than 60,000 visitors, features dozens of different kinds of foods and beverages made from fresh strawberries. About 150 artisans from throughout California showcase their original works including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, children’s toys, accessories, photography, textiles, outdoor furniture, jewelry and specialty foods

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Entry Deadline is Jan. 24 for California Strawberry Festival Artwork Contest

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OXNARD — January 24, 2025 is the deadline to enter and submit artwork for the 39th Annual California Strawberry Festival Artwork Contest. The artist with the winning strawberry-themed design will receive $2,000 and VIP tickets to the Festival, which takes place May 17-18, 2025 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Entries will be evaluated by a judging panel looking for creativity and the best use of a strawberry design. The winning design may be used in printed and digital advertising collateral as well as on souvenir merchandise. Artists should keep in mind that judges may give preference to artwork that will print well on promotional items like t-shirts.

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SEEAG Reaches 9,796 Students And Over 16,000 Community Members With Free Ag Education Programs And Events In 2024

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VENTURA COUNTY — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) provided free agricultural education to nearly 26,000 students and community members in Southern California in 2024.

The nonprofit organization delivered hands-on agricultural education to 9,796 students from 87 schools across 26 school districts stretching from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara counties. Third-grade students participated in free field trips to SEEAG’s Farm Labs at working farms in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. They learned about nutrition, wellness and healthy eating during in-classroom instruction. Older students received STEM education and explored agricultural career opportunities.

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Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Seniors receive holiday gifts courtesy of Unity Shoppe

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SANTA BARBARA — Many Seniors who live in the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s housing will receive holiday gifts through the Unity Shoppe’s Seniors Helping Seniors program. 

A total of 365 gifts will be distributed to senior residents to add some additional cheer to their holidays, through the Housing Authority’s supportive housing program.

Hundreds of Unity Shoppe senior volunteers work throughout the year – knitting, sewing, quilting, painting, woodworking, and assembling – to bring warmth and joy to our most vulnerable residents.

“We are grateful to Unity Shoppe for ensuring that our senior residents receive a special gift this holiday season. it means so much to them,” said Alice Villareal Redit,  Resident Programs Supervisor.

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Support Our Resilient Local Food System

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When you support SBCFAN, you’re supporting programs that make a tangible impact—programs like our Emergency Aid and Food Justice Program.

This year, we awarded $40,000 to 9 recipients across Santa Barbara County, providing critical funding to students, local food producers, small businesses, and community organizations addressing food inequity. These grants helped recipients plan, grow, experiment, strengthen, and ultimately build a more resilient local food system.

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Last Chance to Make a Difference in 2024!

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The clock is ticking! This is your last chance to donate in 2024 and support SBCFAN’s vital work to strengthen Santa Barbara County’s food system.

Every dollar counts, and your contribution goes directly toward building programs that empower our local food producers, tackle food inequity, and create a more resilient, sustainable future. With your help, we’ve already accomplished so much this year, and with your continued support, 2025 will be even brighter.

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Amigos805 taking a break for the holiday season

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Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday Season. 

Amigos805.com will be taking a holiday vacation, off Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 and returning to work Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Please submit all your news and events by 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 for the last newsletter of the year.

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Guest contribution — American Immigration Council — This Week in Immigration

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Biden makes critical last-minute change to help combat USCIS backlogs. More options available. Immigrant farmworkers make our holiday meals possible

***

President Biden has just over one month left in office. He can still take decisive action to protect people at risk of indiscriminate immigration enforcement.

Among other priorities, the Council encourages the administration to protect DACA recipients; extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status for certain countries; and rescind remaining Trump-era immigration regulations.

Read more: Urgent Last Requests for the Biden Administration

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State announces new rule requiring advance notice of agricultural pesticide use

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“We’ve been fighting for better protections from hazardous pesticides for many years, including the simple right to know about planned chemical use in our neighborhoods,” said Noemi Chico, a teacher’s assistant in Salinas. “California has taken a step in the right direction, but what we really need to know is whether an application is planned for next door or a mile across town.”

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Bilingual report — City of Ventura announces Ventura’s Spring 2025 Activity Guide is live!

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VENTURA — The Spring 2025 Parks and Recreation Activity Guide is now available. Explore 300+ upcoming classes, programs, and events slated February through May 2025 at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ActivityGuide.  

Registration opens on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 12 p.m. and is available online, by mail, or in person at City Hall in Room 226, located at 501 Poli Street. Find registration information and policies on page 45 of the guide.  

Every Ventura resident will receive a printed copy of the Activity Guide in the mail. Additional copies are available for pick-up at City Hall and other City facilities during business hours, including the Westpark Community Center, Barranca Vista Community Center, Ventura Aquatics Center, and Ventura Avenue Adult Center.  

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Hope for One: A Heartwarming Collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo and SLO City Church

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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Beginning Dec. 18th, a special holiday initiative is bringing joy to 24 local families in need. The collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo and SLO City Church has culminated in the Hope for One campaign, a heartfelt effort to fulfill the Christmas wishes of children and their families who are part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship program. 

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UCSB — The Current — ‘Apparel industry leaks millions of tons of plastic into environment each year’ and more news, events

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Global apparel consumption resulted in over 20 million tons of plastic waste in 2019, creating an economic and environmental burden that “falls disproportionately upon the developing economies of the world.”

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Build Resilience: Support Community Kitchens & Local Meat Processing

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At SBCFAN, we’re building a stronger local food system through programs like the Community Kitchen Online Hub and the Meat Processing Social Enterprise. These initiatives empower food entrepreneurs, reduce waste, and ensure families across Santa Barbara County have access to nutritious, locally-sourced food.

The Community Kitchen Online Hub provides centralized information for affordable, shared spaces for local food entrepreneurs, small-scale producers, and community organizations to create and distribute nutritious meals. These kitchens foster economic opportunity, reduce food waste, and ensure more people have access to healthy, locally-sourced food. Visit the Hub >>

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Rain or Shine, the Port of Hueneme continues ‘Committed to Community’ With Turkey and Food Drives

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PORT HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme hosted a food drive at Southwinds Park alongside community partners Lujan Transportation Services, Lucha Inc., Southwinds Neighborhood Council, and others. For the fifth year in a row, the Port joined local community efforts to provide residents of the Southwinds neighborhood, and surrounding communities, with food for the holidays. With Thanksgiving Day fast approaching, families were given a variety of food items for their holiday celebrations. The event occurred in “rain or shine” fashion and many folks brought their umbrellas and rain covers. With musical performances by the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center, community volunteers organized by the Port of Hueneme provided 300 local families with turkeys and bundles of food. Residents took home food items, cooking oil, and lettuce. The bundles of food also included items such as rice, beans, the Port’s signature bananas, and more.

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First District Supervisor Das Williams — Giving Thanks

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Happy Thanksgiving, from my family to yours!

This year, I hope we can all reflect on why we celebrate this holiday. It’s the celebration of the first harvest in the New World by the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims settled in America to escape religious persecution and seek opportunity. The story of Native Americans welcoming them with open arms is a vital part of our history that we should not forget. Understandably, given the Navajo half of my family, what happened next also leaves us with many mixed feelings. But the symbol of Thanksgiving nevertheless defines who we strive to be.

Just as America has been the destination of people all over the world who seek refuge from danger and to build a better life, intolerance towards those people has also always been a part of American history. We have to remember that no American unless you are purely Native, belongs here more than any other one. At our best, we are the country where people go to escape persecution, not the country that persecutes people for originating somewhere else. May our arms stay open, as the Pilgrims encountered some 400 years ago.

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UCSB — The Current — ‘Prof. Meghan Morrissey honored by the American Cancer Society for her work on cancer immunotherapy’ and more news, events

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Morrissey is among those pioneering a new kind of immunotherapy, and her efforts have earned her the recognition of the American Cancer Society.

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Celebrating the Season of Gratitude

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As we reflect on this season of gratitude, we are deeply thankful for the incredible support of people like you. Your generosity helps build a food system that empowers communities, uplifts local producers, and ensures families across Santa Barbara County can enjoy healthy, locally-sourced meals on Thanksgiving AND year-round.

This season, we invite you to celebrate gratitude with a gift that keeps on giving. Your donation helps us continue to amplify voices, share resources, and create solutions that uplift everyone in Santa Barbara County.

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Transform the Future of Food

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At the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network, we’re redefining the possibilities in our food system by taking on the risks few others will. We believe that real change requires bold steps, and with your support, we’re ready to go further, building lasting foundations in advocacy, shared resources, and community connections.

We’ve already demonstrated what’s possible. By connecting food producers, policymakers, advocates, technical assistance providers, and more, we’re able to channel resources to the communities that need them most. These early successes are not just local victories—they’re prototypes for sustainable, equitable change across food systems everywhere.

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The Central Coast Small Farmer, Rancher, and Fisherfolk Forum brings small producers together to effect positive change

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SANTA MARIA — EconAlliance and the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) co-produced the first Central Coast Small Farmer, Rancher, and Fisherfolk Forum, hosted at Allan Hancock College on October 25th and 26th. The event drew hundreds of small scale food producers and businesses from all over the Central Coast, as both a networking and learning event. The Forum, on October 26th, featured a robust lineup of workshops tailored to support small-scale producers, and hosted Keynote Speaker Jennifer Lester Moffit, Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs for the USDA.

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Agromin Launches ‘Healthy Soil Heroes’

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OXNARD — Agromin, California’s largest organics waste recycler and manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products, has launched its “Healthy Soil Heroes,” ambassador program by partnering with five founding members. The founding members represent a diverse range of agricultural and community-focused businesses, including a native plant nursery, flower farm, community garden, agricultural education ambassadors and an edible garden design company.

“We created Healthy Soil Heroes as a way to recognize businesses and nonprofits that are promoting sustainable gardening, farming and landscaping practices,” says Bill Camarillo, Agromin’s CEO. “They are creating healthy food, beautifying landscapes and improving our planet.”

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Port of Hueneme unites with SeaCube and community partners to support Naval Base Ventura County’s USDA Fleet Reserve Program

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PORT HUENEME — In a powerful display of community solidarity, the Port of Hueneme, alongside SeaCube Containers and several key partners, has come together to support the Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) USDA Fleet Reserve Program, which provides access to critical food resources for military families and veterans for over 40 years. Originally founded in the back of a pickup truck behind the Naval Base Chapel, the program has grown significantly since 1984, providing essential food supplies to active-duty service members, their families, and veterans throughout Ventura County.

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network announces the 2024 Food Justice Microgrant Program Awardees

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SANTA BARBARA — The 2024 Food Justice Microgrant Program seeks to address inequities and vulnerabilities in our local food system. The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN), with seed funding from our corporate partner, Clevr Blends, is awarding microgrants for projects or programs that build regional food system resiliency through the power of food justice, food sovereignty, and/or agroecology. Flexible funding of up to $5,000 per grantee, for a total of $40,000, is being awarded. 

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Farm Bureau of Ventura County announces Queensland Fruit Fly Quarantine Lifted!!

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Note from the CEO,

I am thrilled to report the completion of the Queensland Fruit Fly Eradication Program. I also want to acknowledge the CDFA Fruit Fly team for their on-the-ground efforts, our Ag Commissioner Korinne Bell for her quick and thoughtful implementation of the requirements, the citizens of Thousand Oaks for their compliance, and the farmers in the potential expansion area who went through enormous effort to protect commercial agriculture from the risk of expansion.

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Guest contribution — Communities Call for Exact Location of Pesticide Application in Statewide Pesticide Notification System

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SHAFTER, CA. — Dozens of farmworkers and their allies — Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety 805, based in Ventura County — held a news conference and rally on July 23 prior to a California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) hearing on plans for a statewide pesticide notification system.

The news conference, “It’s Not Notification Without Location,” sponsored by the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment (CRPE) and Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) was held outside the site of the DPR hearing, Shafter Youth Center. CRPE, CPR and allies are concerned that DPR’s current draft plans will not serve the community without the exact address or farm location of the pesticide application.

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Grocery Outlet Announces Fourteenth Annual Independence from Hunger Campaign

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EMERYVILLE — Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: GO) (“Grocery Outlet” or the “Company”), with stories in Ventura County, launched its 14thconsecutive Independence from Hunger Food Drive to combat food insecurity on June 26. From June 26 – July 31, the campaign will collect cash donations and pre-made bags of nonperishable foods at more than 470 Grocery Outlet locations that will be distributed to local food agency partners.

Data from the United States Department of Agriculture and Feeding America shows that inflation is causing a double squeeze in communities across the nation. As prices rise, the number of Americans who get groceries at a food bank has increased to 41 million or one in six households, but the amount of donations to food banks has gone down. In the Latino community, one in five Latinos experience food insecurity and Hispanics are twice as likely to face hunger than their white neighbors.

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Bilingual report — City of Santa Paula announce cancellation of Do Not Drink Notice

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SANTA PAULA — On June 24, 2024, Santa Paula water customers were notified as a precaution to not use the tap water for drinking or cooking until further notice. This notice did not impact all water customers but particular areas of the city which were identified in the original notice.

The City of Santa Paula Water System, in conjunction with the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Ventura County Environmental Division, has determined that, through abatement of the health hazard and comprehensive testing of the water, the tap water for all Santa Paula residences is safe, including for drinking and cooking.

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Assemblymember Irwin Announces Path Forward On Food Date Labeling Legislation as Groups Remove Opposition and Bill Passes Senate Agriculture Committee

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“Having to wonder whether our food is still good is an issue that we all have struggled with. By strengthening labeling standards, and thus reducing food waste, AB 660 will keep money in the pockets of consumers while helping the environment and the planet,” said Assemblymember Irwin.

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Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Grant Update – New Deadline June 7!

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This deadline extension encourages more applications and outreach as well as creative and out-of-the box proposals that may take more fine tuning or research. Think big — the options are fairly limitless in terms of how you may use these funds.  The key is that the proposed projects drive food justice, food sovereignty, and/or agroecological practices. If you would like help workshopping your idea or if you are not sure the project fits within the scope of the grant, please reach out!

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