Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA) announces its 4th of July schedule for 2020.
The Downtown Ventura Market held on the corner of Santa Clara & Palm Streets will be closed on Saturday, July 4. All other markets will remain open.
A researcher uncovers why most of the geological records left by ancient rivers preserve processes more commonplace than extraordinary.
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VENTURA COUNTY — Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, extreme-value grocery retailer, on June 24 launched its tenth consecutive Independence from Hunger Food Drive to combat food insecurity. From June 24 – July 31, 2020, the campaign will collect cash donations and pre-made bags of nonperishable foods in-store at Grocery Outlet’s 350 locations that will be distributed to local food agencies partners. In addition to the local store donations, Grocery Outlet has initiated a “Million Dollar Match,” a pledge to match up to $1 Million of donations made to the stores to multiply Independence from Hunger’s effort to support food agencies across the nation.
COVID-19 is having a severe impact on the country’s food supply and demand. At the same time, the unemployment rate is skyrocketing, driving more people to seek first-time food assistance than ever before. Southern California-based produce recovery nonprofit Food Forward is stepping up to meet the need in Ventura County during this crucial time.
As Ventura County’s hospitalized COVD-19 cases have stabilized, the Ventura County Public Health Officer has issued new guidance permitting the reopening of additional businesses that were previously closed. Sectors that may reopen with modifications, social distancing protocols, and completion of the attestation process include, but are not limited to:
Ventura County Business Assistance Grant Program applications launch June 24-July 8, 2020. The program includes grants of $5,000 for small businesses to alleviate impacts from COVID-19. Learn more at www.vcreopens.com.
Food Share Pop-up Sites
6/15 3 pm Ventura County Fairgrounds 1- W. Harbor Blvd
6/16 5 pm El Rio, Rio Mesa High School, 545 Central Ave
6/17 3pm Oxnard, College Park, 3250 South Rose Ave
6/18 3 pm Thousand Oaks, Conejo Creek South, 1300 E. Janns Road
6/19 3 pm, Santa Paula, Harding Park, 1330 E. Harvard Blvd
6/20/20 12:30 pm Moorpark, Ruben Castro Charities, 5700 Condor Drive
This Saturday, June 13th, the farmworkers’ rights group “Feeding the Frontline: Feeding our Farmworkers” will join with Latino activists and donors throughout California and Washington State to provide food distribution events for farm-working families who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic even while working to feed Americans. These efforts will include events in six agricultural counties throughout California, including Ventura, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Tulare, Fresno, and San Benito counties.
“This pandemic underscores the invaluable contributions farmworkers provide our communities, state, and nation,” shared Roberto Juarez, who heads Clinicas Del Camino Real, an organization helping lead Saturday’s events. “What COVID-19 has done to farm workers is to simply lay bare and even exacerbate the inequities they were already facing – ranging from health care disparities to poor living conditions and low wages that families simply cannot live on. …”
Marine biologists forecast the effects of oil platform decommissioning on fish communities.
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Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) organized produce donations from 13 different growers to fill over 4,000 bags of fresh produce for farm workers in need. The produce was distributed weekly in April and May.
Participating growers were Gill’s Onions, Houweling’s Group, San Miguel Produce, Earthtrine Farm, Saticoy Lemon Association, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Petty Ranch, Calavo, Mission Produce, Tamai Family Farms, Fig Tree Farms, Chivas Skin Care and Bennett’s Honey Farm.
Restaurants, retail stores and businesses now reopening to serve customers OXNARD — With the stay-at-home orders beginning to lift in Ventura County, The Collection at RiverPark is now welcoming visitors back to enjoy the outdoor shopping center. Throughout The Collection, retail…
The Ventura College Foundation’s Weekend Marketplace will reopen May 30 and 31 and will continue to be open every weekend. The Marketplace has been closed since March 14 when social distancing restrictions took effect because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Marketplace will initially have 39 vendor booths and will safely limit customer attendance. Prior to the shutdown, the Marketplace drew about 2,000 shoppers each weekend with 300 to 400 vendors.
United Way of Ventura County COVID-19 Rapid Response Homeless Care Kits Drive This is the last week for our Rapid Response Homeless Care Kits drive! We need 132 more care kits to reach our goal! Join United Way of Ventura…
NO Cost breakfast and lunch meals provided for Santa Maria Valley Children 18 & Under — MAY 27- MAY 29, 2020
The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA) has launched a new website to better serve its patrons.
The new website is user friendly with more information on each of its four markets including a list of all the farmers/vendors who participate with VCCFMA.
As a way to give back to our community in this time of need, Shalhoob’s and Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) delivered 120 meals from Shalhoob’s to the senior living complex Village Santa Fe Apartments, a Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara property. Hospice of Santa Barbara provided 12 volunteers who helped pack and deliver the meals donated by Shalhoob’s.
Over the past few months, COVID-19 has reshaped our lives and priorities in powerful ways. Here at your United Way, we’ve been collaborating with our community partners and adapting how we provide services so that we can better respond to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
In this moment of unprecedented uncertainty, we are incredibly thankful for our community partners, donors, and volunteers. They’ve stepped up to provide vital resources for our neighbors and friends who need it the most right now.
To learn more about how your local United Way is responding during this global pandemic, please take a moment to view my recent interview with OVTV.
MAY 11 – MAY 15, 2020
SANTA MARIA JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOLS
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
** Monday / Wednesday / Friday **
Meals for Tuesday will be given on Monday & Meals for Thursday will be given on Wednesday Ernest Righetti High – 941 E. Foster Rd
Pioneer Valley High – 675 Panther Dr.
Santa Maria High – Parking lot on Thornburg
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue, a program of the Community Environmental Council (CEC), announces multiple collaborations to support county-wide efforts to feed those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue matches donors that have excess, nutritious food with organizations serving food insecure populations. Since 2018, this CEC-led effort has coordinated the?rescue?of?nearly 60,000 pounds of edible prepared food?for?distribution?through?more than a dozen agencies,?including Buellton Senior Center, Casa Serena, PATH, and Salvation Army Hospitality House. Beyond helping people, food rescue mitigates climate impacts by keeping high-quality excess prepared food out of landfills, where it decomposes and emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Food Share of Ventura County is currently providing emergency food distribution pop-up pantries throughout the County to assist low-income families experiencing food insecurity.
Families experiencing food insecurity should attend the distribution location closest to their home city. The schedule changes each week. Please visit https://foodshare.com/covid19/ for the current schedule.
With the all too familiar stay-at-home orders, many local organizations like FOOD Share and local advocate Carolina G. Magana, are helping those who are food insecure. To support them during this crucial time, Local PODS® Moving and Storage are offering their services to help with food distribution throughout the county.
The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) is proud to announce the selection of its first Executive Director, Shakira Miracle. Her hiring comes at a critical time when the strain and stress on our local food system is at an unprecedented high due to COVID-19.
State and terrritorial governors have implemented pandemic protection measures in order to interrupt and slow down the passage of the coronavirus throughout each state’s population. Some of these measures are implemented at the individual level, such as wearing a facemask or maintaining social distance. The risk of transmission is much higher among crowds of people in close proximity, so another set of measures operates at the group level, trying to keep large groups from forming by keeping potential members dispersed.
“Romaine lettuce tainted with E. coli can be recalled or removed from grocery stores to prevent transmission,” said Paul Hsu, an epidemiologist at UCLA. “When someone is infected with coronavirus, we have to rearrange social contacts to interrupt that person-to-person transmission.” Crowds at sporting events, audiences at concerts, and students in classrooms have been dispersed by cancelling games, events, and classes.
Many of our older community members, particularly those living alone, are not receiving the support they need during the coronavirus pandemic. To address this gap, several nonprofits in Santa Barbara County have collaborated to identify isolated seniors and connect them to essential services or critical needs, such as food and supplies.
NO Cost breakfast and lunch meals provided for Santa Maria Valley Children 18 & Under
APRIL 27- MAY 1, 2020
United Way of Santa Barbara County, The Santa Barbara Foundation and the Hutton Parker Foundation are leading a countywide funders’ collaborative, the COVID-19 Joint Response Effort for Santa Barbara County. The Effort will provide assistance to individuals and families as well as organizations actively assisting members of the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over $2 million has been secured and fundraising continues to help those most in need.
VENTURA COUNTY — Good Evening, Here’s your daily update of regarding COVID-19 in the County of Ventura: 15 cases 443 total cases 230 recovered cases 28 hospitalized 11 in the ICU 200 active cases under quarantine 7,881 tested Zip…
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Port Feeds Essential Workers During Crisis Farmworkers, Healthcare Professionals, and Longshoremen April 21, 2020 For further information contact: Becky Haycox, Marketing and Communications Specialist The Port of Hueneme, Oxnard Harbor District 333 Ponoma…
The Ventura County Public Health Officer announced that the Stay Well At Home Order will be extended until May 15, 2020. The current Order is set to expire April 19, 2020 at midnight. The Public Health Officer will be modifying the current Order and making an announcement about the details before the current Order expires.
Del Monte Fresh Produce (Del Monte), a top fresh fruit and produce customer at the Port of Hueneme, delivered a full truck load of fresh fruit to the City of Oxnard, helping those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
“The Port couldn’t be more proud to see our customers stepping up to meet the needs of the community in these difficult times,” said Oxnard Harbor District Board President Jess Ramirez. “Del Monte has always invested their resources and energy to help the community, they are committed to our local families and have been since 1979.”
NO Cost breakfast and lunch meals provided for Santa Maria Valley Children 18 & Under SPRING BREAK – APRIL 13-17, 2020 SANTA MARIA JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOLS 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ** Monday April 13th / Wednesday April 15th…
VENTURA — District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has initiated several investigations against county businesses for potential violations of Penal Code section 396, price gouging. Since March 5, 2020, the District Attorney’s Office has received…
OXNARD — The Community Market at Oxnard College, which operates every Sunday on the Oxnard College campus, will be closed until further notice. It will reopen as soon as public health orders allow. The closure follows the guidelines from the…
Santa Maria Joint Union High District Students and Parents, For the week of April 6th, our Food Service Department will provide walk-up and drive-thru pick-up lunch and breakfast meal service to all students from pre-Kinder to 12th grade, from 11…
NO Cost breakfast and lunch meals provided for Santa Maria Valley Children 18 & Under APRIL 6-10, 2020 SANTA MARIA JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOLS 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ** No meal service Friday, April 10, 2020 **…
Non-Profit Agency Pivots to Remain Open to Serve the Public During Pandemic GOLETA — Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County (CAC) announces the following updates to two of its health and human service programs that serve county residents. These…
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, which operates every Saturday and Sunday on the Ventura College campus, is closed until further notice. Ventura College is following the March 19 COVID-19 “Shelter In Place” executive order from California Governor Gavin…
OXNARD — The 27th Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival, slated for July 25 and 26 in Plaza Park in Downtown Oxnard, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis. The festival will not be rescheduled for 2020. “We know cancelling the event…
Click here for the entire e-newsletter HOME FOOD SHOPS EVENTS Historic Downtown was built to serve the Oxnard community with its many quick-serve, budget-friendly eateries. As we cope with the challenges of the current situation, it’s comforting to know…
Art and museum fun at home. Grab a Free Kids’ “Art To-Go” Bag at the Museum! The Santa Paula Art Museum has put together free kids’ “Art To-Go” bags filled with colored pencils, crayons, coloring pages, yarn, watercolor palettes, and…
SANTA MARIA — During the closure of Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, March 16-April 3, 2020, the Food Service Department will provide walk-up and drive thru pick-up breakfast and lunch meal service at the student’s nearest comprehensive high school…
I know that many of you have fear, anxiety, and additional, very real burdens from the Coronavirus outbreak. Some of you have lost work, some of you are in danger of losing your business and your dream, and some of you…
VENTURA — From March 9th through March 15th Totally Local VC Agricultural Foundation presented its fourth annual Ventura County Ag Week, a celebration of all that our county’s local farmers and ranchers do. Despite the challenges facing the world, many of…
VENTURA COUNTY — School districts throughout Ventura County will continue providing meal service for students during closures that being Monday, March 16 in response to the coronavirus. For many students, school-provided meals are a critical part of their daily diet. While…
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA) is committed to maintaining its four farmers markets as a vital food facility and local food source during this time of uncertainty with the spread of COVID-19. As a result,…
VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, which operates every Saturday and Sunday on the Ventura College campus, will close for the next three weekends. The temporary closure follows the latest guidelines from the California Department of Public Health, which…
THOUSAND OAKS — The Thousand Oaks Certified Farmers’ Market held at the Oaks Shopping Center will soon have a new location. The market, operated by the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA), will move from its former site at the…
SANTA BARBARA — Preparations are underway for the first “Flavors of Santa Barbara County” wine and culinary event featuring a farm-to-table chef competition set for Sunday, August 2 at Presqu’ile Winery in Santa Maria. The cook-off will feature chefs who…
SANTA BARBARA — On Sunday, January 26, First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara and Via Maestra 42 restaurant will serve their annual “Feast for the Children” benefit luncheon, with this year’s proceeds to benefit the Unity Shoppe. Thanks to the…
SANTA BARBARA — The 20th Anniversary of World of Pinot Noir takes place at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara through Saturday, March 7, 2020. The annual event gathers the planet’s foremost Pinot Noir wineries and winemakers, renowned chefs, sommeliers…
UPDATED: The 27th Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival, slated for July 25 and 26 in Plaza Park in Downtown Oxnard, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis. The festival will not be rescheduled for 2020.
Santa Barbara County Farm Day will kick off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 with an online tour of Babé Farms.
Offered by Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), Santa Barbara County Farm Day is now in its second year. Farm Day is an opportunity for the public to visit local growers to see how crops are grown, harvested and sent to market. This year, tours will be virtual.
How do we (and how can we better) meet the basic food needs of our entire community and ensure fair access to local food resources?
This discussion will highlight current efforts to support and care for our County’s vulnerable populations by ensuring access to nutritious and affordable food, and opportunities to scale and deepen these efforts.
SANTA MARIA — Thanksgiving came early for Delta High School students and staff. The “Delta Thanksgiving Feast” and activities was held Nov. 22 at the Orcutt campus. About 340 students and 30 staff were expected to get stuffed. “Delta is one…
Click here for the entire e-newsletter Launch of County-Wide Food Action Network encourages residents and organizations to collaborate for a sustainable food future Wednesday, December 4, 2019 6 PM – 8 PM Santa Barbara Public Library Faulkner Gallery Using…
On heels of chlorpyrifos ban, public health and farmworker advocates call for restrictions on widely-used drift-prone fumigant Sacramento — Dozens of residents from across the state converged on the capital today to weigh in on new restrictions under discussion for the…
VENTURA — The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association announces its holiday hours for 2019. The Midtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market held on Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. …
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. David Magallanes By David…
VENTURA COUNTY — Over 20 Ventura County farms, ranches, nurseries and other agricultural operations, from organic to conventional, row crops to orchards, will open their doors to the public during the 7th Annual Ventura County Farm Day. On Saturday, November…
OXNARD — The Ventura County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program on Sept. 30 was presented with the nationally recognized, “Gold Level, Loving Support Award of Excellence” by the United States Department of Agriculture. Ventura County WIC received this award…
Harvest Change Kick-Off Party to be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at Topa Topa Brewing Co. in Ojai. 20 notable SoCal food leaders will feature pomegranates in a month of dishes, drinks, desserts supporting Food Forward’s mission to rescue…
Community members relieved, urge speedy process VENTURA — The Newsom administration on Aug. 14 sent notices to Dow and other manufacturers of its intention to cancel all registrations of the neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, the formal start of proceedings to cancel…
OXNARD — Twelve food judges sampled 23 amateur salsa recipes and selected their favorites in the Oxnard Salsa Festival’s Amateur Salsa Recipe Contest. Judging took place at the festival on July 28. Here are the winners: Toni Becerra, Red Bluff…
SANTA BARBARA — More than 10 Santa Barbara County farms, ranches, wineries and nurseries in Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc will open their doors to the pubic during the first annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day. On Saturday, September 28,…
