Nutrition & Health

Button mushrooms yes; wild mushrooms no. Mushrooms are a low-acid food. To be safely canned, they must be properly acidified (pickled) or processed in a pressure canner.There are other safety considerations as well: Only domestic button mushrooms may be safely canned. Wild mushrooms (whether wild…

Nitrogen Fixation in PeasAtmospheric nitrogen (N2) is not in a usable form for most plants. For legumes like beans and peas a symbiotic relationship exists with a type of nitrogen fixing bacteria (Rhizobia spp.). The bacteria “infects” the root system obtaining essential nutrition, while providing the plant…

Potato Seed PreparationPotato 'seeds' are actually bits of potatoes with at least a couple eyes, from which the plants develop. Larger seed potatoes can be cut if they include at least 2 eyes each, just be sure to allow 24 hours to dry or become callused before planting. Potatoes will tolerate light…

Growing Kale and Collard Greens in the GroundChange planting location, no replanting for 2-4 years Full sun spring/fall, shade in summer Make sure seedling and planting location are moist and fertile before transplantingGently massage roots of kale before planting but gentle root care for the…

Native and adapted Tahoe Friendly plants require less water, fertilizer and pesticides and can include a diversity of options for your home landscape. They will however require irrigation while getting established the first year. It is a good idea to group plants by their sunlight and moisture requirements…

Playworks, a national nonprofit organization that promotes structured, inclusive recess in low-income elementary schools, has been shown to improve student engagement, physical activity, and school climate. However, little is known about whether programs like Playworks—where trained adults lead games that…

Lightweight garden infrastructure projects can give you a headstart Too early to plant? Consider taking on these lightweight garden infrastructure projects! Use cold frames, raised beds, and other season extenders to get a head-start on planting outdoors.As we look at sunny skies and longer days in May,…

Preserve it! Time for a Review  Before planning this year’s garden or trips to the farmers market, let’s look at your pantry and freezer with a keen eye. Take stock of what you preserved last season and what you have consumed up to this point.  If, by this time of the year, you have an abundance of…

Research Brief • April 2026 • Download PDF (180KB)Background California’s School Meals for All (SMFA) program launched in the 2022–23 school year, following federal pandemic relief efforts that provided universal school meals across the US from 2020–22.1 Traditionally, school meal eligibility has been…

The Food Security Supplement to the United States Census Current Population Survey, or Household Food Security Survey Module, is one of the most valuable federal datasets for understanding food insecurity and evaluating nutrition policy in the US. Despite its value, the US Department of Agriculture …