Fruit & Nut Research & Information Center

Face and shoulders of a black-faced wolf

Food Blog: Article

Livestock losses and wolf deterrence efforts cost Californians millions

January 23, 2026

By Ria DeBiase

Wolf attacks kill and terrorize cows and raise rancher costs for monitoring, fence repair, non-lethal deterrents and livestock death investigations, study finds.

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A group of people pose for a photo in several rows during a farm tour

Food Blog: Article

Cooperative Extension area director to emphasize water, land, labor issues in SoCal

January 22, 2026

By Michael Hsu

Chandra Richards, who started as UCCE area director for San Diego and Imperial counties in November 2025, provides support in the agriculture, natural resources, community health and youth development spaces.

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A woman with a spoon in her hand leans over a basket set over a cookstove on what looks like an area of brown grass

Event celebrates California’s native plant foods and their web of relationships

January 16, 2026

By Trina Kleist

California Native Plant Foods Celebration and Symposium to be held at UC Davis on Feb. 10 For California’s Native people, plants are part of their extended family. For thousands of years, they have tended and gathered plants that provide food and other resources in a web of relationships that embrace…

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Small, leafy almond trees with cover crop growing between the rows

UC offers young orchard workshops in Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced

January 15, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

UC Cooperative Extension is offering workshops in Bakersfield, Fresno and Merced to help growers manage irrigation and nutrients for young orchards as they mature.

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A black and white cow grazes in a green pasture

Webinar on Jan. 15: How can risk models keep dairy cows healthy?

January 9, 2026

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The Southwest Regional Food Business Center will host a webinar on how risk modeling can inform preparedness and strengthen the resilience of our food systems.

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A dining table with stuffing, sweet potatoes, gravy, a roast turkey, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, and 5 glasses of wine.

Don’t land on naughty list of holiday food wasters

December 22, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

To reduce food waste at home, Yu Meng recommends starting with meal planning and making a shopping list so you buy only what you need.

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Man walks alongside herd of cattle amid a grove of trees

Beef cattle and dairy producers wary as flesh-eating parasite comes closer to U.S.

December 22, 2025

By Michael Hsu

UCCE experts urge producers to monitor their animals for signs of the New World screwworm, which has been moving north from Central America.

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Man in polo and shorts and hat at left speaks with a group of students under shade trees during a farm tour

Food Blog: Article

New webinar series by CAFF and UC aids farmers transitioning to organic

December 9, 2025

By Michael Hsu

The “Transition to Organic Webinar Series,” held on Wednesdays Jan. 14-March 18, covers the certification process, market dynamics, soil health, and pest and weed management.

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Two blooming peach trees in a green lawn with evergreen trees in background

New edition of UC ANR’s ‘The Home Orchard’ offers advice on growing tree fruit, nuts

December 3, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The new “The Home Orchard” covers more crops and site selection, variety choice, pruning, grafting, irrigation and integrated pest management.

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While holding a clipboard in her right hand, Margaret Lloyd grabs a handful of soil with her left hand from a tilled field.

UCCE offers webinar on managing nitrogen in organic annual crops Dec. 9

November 24, 2025

By Phillip T Fujiyoshi

University of California Cooperative Extension will hold a webinar on managing nitrogen in organic annual crops Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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A whole dark purple-skinned sweetpotato flanked by pieces of purple sweetpotato flesh cut into curls

Purple sweet potatoes create buzz

November 24, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

When West Coast consumers buy sweet potatoes at a store, chances are good that they will be choosing varieties that were selected by Scott Stoddard, UCCE farm advisor.

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Bushy green plants in neat, boxy-looking test plots, coming in at an angle

UC Dry Bean Field Day gives updates on new-variety research

November 17, 2025

By Trina Kleist

Researchers across California are developing new varieties of dry beans for larger seed size, higher yield, tolerance to drought and heat, and resistance to disease and pests.

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Photo illustration of a spray drone hovering over a orchard

Food Blog: Article

Public invited for up-close look at future of citrus ag tech

November 12, 2025

By Hanif R Houston, Michael Hsu

Six ag tech companies will demonstrate their technologies at a VINE Connect Field Day on Dec. 5 at UC ANR's Lindcove Research and Extension Center. This cohort focuses on citrus.

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A group of people look at crops growing in field

Farmers strive for sustainability, inclusiveness at California Earthworkers Summit

October 27, 2025

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

The inaugural California Earthworkers Summit brought together farmers and other food producers in Santa Cruz to discuss approaches to climate, environment, agriculture and food system resilience on Sept. 11–12.

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Gabe Youtsey speaks at a podium while Karen Aceves and Karen Ross look on at AgTech Alliance press conference

California AgTech Alliance launches to help farmers stay competitive

October 23, 2025

By Hanif R Houston

The Alliance will coordinate nine regional innovation hubs that will deploy cutting-edge technology, train the next generation of workers and attract private investment.

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Leonel Jimenez (center) smiles with the potato variety trial team

New Cooperative Extension area director amplifies ‘wealth of knowledge’

October 20, 2025

By Michael Hsu

In February, Leonel Jimenez started as the UCCE area director for Kings, Kern and Tulare counties. Born and raised in Reedley, Jimenez said he's come "full circle."

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Orry Pratt, Carrie Teiken and Crystal Whitelaw standing side-by-side outdoors.

UC SAREP announces new associate directors to support program growth and integration

October 14, 2025

By Kristen Farrar

Orry Pratt, Carrie Teiken and Crystal Whitelaw will lead efforts on sustainable production systems, small farms and sustainable food economies, respectively.

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Plum breeding gets a boost from new gene ‘catalog’

October 3, 2025

By Trina Kleist

UC Davis researchers in the Department of Plant Sciences have laid the foundation for understanding the genes that control the ripening process in plums. Po-Kai Huang, a postdoctoral scholar, discovered three groups of genes that correspond to fruit softening at different rates.

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The project includes one test bed served by an AI system and one watered traditionally

AI-powered irrigation system offers opportunities for communications, farming

October 2, 2025

By Patty Guerra

Researchers at UC Merced and UC ANR have installed an irrigation system powered by artificial intelligence to deliver the precise amount of water needed and measure the results.

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Kearney REC researchers and IRTA scientists line up for a photograph in front of the research center

UC ANR, Catalan research institute to spur innovations for agrifood systems

September 30, 2025

By Michael Hsu

UC ANR and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology will prioritize research and innovation in food systems to develop and deliver new tools and resources to farmers and ranchers across California and beyond.

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