2018 California Farm Bill must embrace Inclusion, Equity and Civil Rights

Today, California Black Agriculture producers are currently less than 1/2 of 1 percent of California producers.

The California Legislative Black Caucus must make job and career opportunities throughout the #1 Agriculture industry in the United States a higher priority to demand greater access to ethnic specialty crops of fresh fruits and vegetables that will impact communities from sea to shinning sea.

In partnership with NASS-USDA we encourage our many new Urban Agriculture producers to fill out the Census of Agriculture to help guide targeted funding for underserved and underutilized communities.

Amazing new Urban Agriculture opportunities should be intentionally supported and highlighted in the initial 2018 California Farm Bill.

If we prioritize and target friendly amendments that build upon a nice step forward with the Farmer Equity Act of 2017.

We have an opportunity to align CDFA with hard fought and ongoing USDA transformations of "America's Last Plantation."

These and additional amendments to will strengthen inclusion, equal opportunity and civil rights throughout our "California Grown" industries.

Nationwide, the 2018 California Farm Bill may help expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables by preparing to use best practices from 2014 US Farm Bill, SNAP Online Redemption Pilot Projects in a few states, a nationwide amazing opportunity may be part of the 2018 US Farm Bill.

170 years ago the beginning of the California Gold Rush helped to facilitate early California Executive Officers, Legislatures and Judicial action targeting Indigenous populations, free and enslaved Pan Africans, Asian immigrants and other non-white Mexican citizens at the the transition from Mexican to California statehood.

Past, present and future are connected and the initial 2018 California Farm Bill must not be silent as we prepare for future opportunity.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB2166

AB 2166 is forward looking legislation that begins a new journey toward a "California Grown" solution creating and sustaining a stronger California Department of Agriculture that values all citizens, residents, temporary Agriculture workers and international visitors throughout the State of California.

Suggested amended language...

1) The proposed mission of a CDFA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights is to provide leadership and direction for the fair and equitable treatment of CDFA customers and employees while ensuring the delivery of quality programs and enforcement of civil rights.

2) Expanded inclusive language for Urban Agriculture as an equitable viable "California Grown" practice throughout CDFA policies and programs.

3) 3 million dollars annual funding for CDFA Office of the Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights.