Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Cinamon Vann

Sacramento Sustainability Forum Kicks Off 2010

2010-01-10T16:10:48Z

The first Sacramento Sustainability Forum of 2010 will feature two dynamic speakers covering the recent climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the effects of product stewardship policy for California.

Larry Greene, the executive director of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, will report on developments at the COP15, the United Nations’ climate change conference that took place in December in Copenhagen.

Heidi Sanborn, an independent consultant and executive director of the California Product Stewardship Council, will cover product stewardship policy and the implications for consumers and businesses in California.

Jacob Grissom, one of the founders of the SSF, says, “We were grateful for the enthusiastic reception these events received from the community last year. We are looking forward to expanding the SSF’s audience with a lineup of engaging speakers in 2010.”

The event is January 21 at 7 p.m. at Modoc Hall on the CSU Sacramento Campus.

To RSVP for this free event, go to ssf0110.eventbrite.com/

The Sacramento Sustainability Forum is a monthly venue for connecting businesses, non-profits, government and interested citizens in the Sacramento region in order to promote sustainability, share insights and resources, and support movement toward a more sustainable future.

The SSF’s first event in August 2009 featured speaker David Mogavero, senior principal of Mogavero Notestine Associates, a Sacramento architecture, urban planning and development firm.

Cecilia Jensen, sustainability program manager for Sacramento County, was the speaker for the event in September.

Graham Brownstein, executive director for the Environmental Council of Sacramento, shared his insights on current environmental issues facing Sacramento at the event in October.

In November, Panama Bartholomy, an advisor to the chair of the California Energy Commission, spoke about current California energy policy and issues.

For more information about the Sacramento Sustainability Forum, its past events and community supporters, go to www.sacramentosustainabilityforum.com

Photo 1: Larry Greene

Photo 2: Heidi Sanborn

Farmers Markets Enjoy Popularity, Face Challenges

2009-10-22T22:15:11Z

Living in one of the world's most productive agricultural regions has its perks. Sacramento residents can stroll through a farmers market and buy fresh fruits and vegetables—and meet the farmer who grew them—year-round.

By all accounts, the popularity of farmers markets is on the rise, not just in Sacramento, but nationwide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates there are 4,800 farmers markets in operation, an increase of almost 400 markets since 2006.

California is home to about 520 certified farmers markets, featuring the produce of nearly 3,000 farmers. Sales are up, too. California’s farmers markets took in $163 million in 2007 (the latest figure available), up from $114 million in 2002.

"We’re seeing increased demand, increased participation from younger people and families. You see a lot of baby buggies at the farmers market. People are realizing that food is an important part of their lives," says Dan Best, of Certified Farmers Markets of Sacramento County.

Farmers markets are celebrated for providing foods at their peak of ripeness and flavor. Ripe produce generally does not ship well, which means that farmers who supply grocery stores must harvest the produce long before it is at its prime, or throw the best of the crop away.

Despite the increased popularity, farmers markets face a steady stream of challenges, both economic and social. One of the biggest challenges is still consumer demand. Even though sales are on the rise, farmers markets account for less than 1 percent of agricultural sales in the state.

“If we build it, sometimes people don’t come. People have to want fresh fruit and vegetables for their health and well being," says Best, who has been involved in farmers markets since 1980—first as a farmer and later one of the driving forces behind the establishment and expansion of farmers markets in Sacramento. “You can provide access in any area, but if there’s no demand, anything we do fails.”

The farmers and the markets try to reach out and educate consumers about the benefits of eating fresh, locally grown food. “People will take more time to pick out the right crème rinse than vegetables,” is how Best puts it. “We’re dealing with three or four generations of non-cooks. So we try to teach kids about eating fresh fruit and vegetables, that they’ll be better athletes, they’ll be stronger. We try to appeal to their self esteem.”

Best also credits the environmental movement with contributing to farmers markets’ popularity, noting that customers are showing more interest in locally grown and organic food. “People are looking for a sense of trust that they can get face to face. The Slow Food people, caterers, and people who revel in the taste of food, they have always gotten it. They’ve always wanted to make the connection. Senior citizens also made the connection because many came from agrarian roots and they remember what a tomato tastes like."

But it's not just the customer base that is changing. The farmers are, too. They are realizing that selling directly to consumers can be a boon to their bottom line, as opposed to selling to stores or distributors, which each take a portion of the profits.

According to Shermain Hardesty, director of the Small Farms Program at the University of California, Davis, “We may be maxing out on the capacity to generate more customers to farmers markets, but they are a great way for farmers to get started. They perform an important purpose. They provide a chance for farmers to interact with consumers and get their feedback, plus they can interact with more experienced farmers.”

"In the early days," says Best, "some farmers came to the markets out of desperation, to avoid going under. A lot of the farmers are coming now because they’re smart, they know they need to add in a direct marketing percentage as a safety net. Some still sell to wholesalers, but there is a risk because unsold produce can be sent back or destroyed. Some of the farmers do only direct marketing, and skip the wholesaler."

Another challenge faced by the farming community is cost. Small farmers’ profits are eroded by the increasing costs of farm equipment, labor, land and gas prices and transporting their produce to the market. Farmers often drive hundreds of miles to participate in the markets, coming from Fresno, Monterey, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties. At the same time, the cost of food has not kept pace. In fact, consumers are spending less than ever on food, about 10 percent of household spending compared to 18 percent in 1966.

One indicator of the stress on farmers is the loss of farmland acreage. According to the USDA’s Census of Agriculture, California had 27.6 million acres of farmland in 2002. That number dropped to 25.4 million acres in 2007.

“It’s still a challenge to save family farmers, small farms that have to compete in an economic system that’s based on large-scale farming operations,” says Best.

Best’s sentiments are echoed by Hardesty. “California has lost farms on the urban edge, in places like Rocklin and Elk Grove. It’s hard to compete with larger operations on a price basis.” But, she adds, “Sacramento has done a great job of offering reasonable prices to consumers. A lot of people say you pay more at a farmers market, but I would challenge that statement. You get more mature, more flavorful food, particularly tree fruits. Once you taste a tree-ripened peach, you're not going to want to go back and buy the rock hard ones at the grocery store."

Sacramento's farmers markets not only compete with local grocery stores for customer’s dollars, they also compete with Bay Area farmers markets for what is essentially the same pool of farmers. The farmers can sell produce at significantly higher prices at those markets.

“The only way we can compete is to bring in a lot of customers to sustain the market,” says Best. "We are here to sustain farmers, not to provide a food exhibit. The farmers actually have to make money."

There’s the issue of convenience, also. According to Hardesty, going to a farmers market means consumers may have to make more than one trip to do their shopping. The challenge, she notes, is “How can we get more local food to consumers while dealing with the fact they're time-pressed and need convenience?”

To increase traffic and exposure, three of Sacramento’s seasonal weekday markets (Cesar Chavez Plaza, Roosevelt Park, and Downtown Plaza) are operated jointly with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership brings in vendors who sell hot foods, and the markets are intended to attract nearby residents and office workers who can walk over to a market during their lunch breaks.

“Farmers markets are a great opportunity. We love them,” says Lisa Martinez, Director of Marketing and Outreach for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

“We are trying to activate the public spaces that are sometimes under-utilized. Farmers markets are a meaningful way for people to interact, and they offer a unique experience.” She adds that the downtown farmers markets can draw up to 3,000 people during the peak season.

Although Best prefers a more "purist" approach to the markets, he acknowledges that the hot food vendors draw the pedestrian traffic. "Hopefully, every dollar that passes through that marketplace will end up in the farmer's pocket. We’re not here to be a party, we're here to be a farmers market. We're trying to do a serious program to maintain the viability of our local, California farmers and provide tree-ripened, vine-ripened food to a customer who appreciates the person who raised them."

He adds, "We're also here to create that connection between urban and agrarian, to start reacquainting people with the concept that food doesn’t come on a grocery store shelf; people have to make a living growing and providing food.”
One of the advantages of making that urban-agrarian link, according to Best, is that it can create a sense of respect for farmers and farm workers.

"It’s a good job to be a farmer and a farm worker. It’s not a low-esteem position. You're providing food for people to live and at a price they can afford. It takes skill to do a good job, professionally and safely. It’s a hard job. Every customer should walk in a farmer’s shoes for at least a week. They get up at 3 a.m., they pack, they drive to the market and set up. They deal with the public all day, and sometimes people insult them. Then they have to break everything down, pack up and drive home, and they still have to farm. Then the next day, they start the process all over again.”

When asked what the future holds for farmers markets in Sacramento, Best says, “Our philosophy is to save farmland and family farmers, and to promote the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among children. That’s our future, not only our customer base but the future of our society."

For locations and schedules of Sacramento's certified farmers markets go to http://www.california-grown.com/Market-times.html.

All photographs by Jonathan Mendick. Photograph 1: Dan Best with his daughter, Danielle, at the Downtown Plaza Farmers Market.

Public Workshop on Governor’s Water Conservation Plan to be Held in Sacramento

2009-05-21T14:20:02Z

May’s rainstorms brought a tremendous amount of water to California, but were not enough to end the current three-year drought.

Numbers released by the California Department of Water Resources show that many of the state’s reservoirs have reached near-normal levels. In Sacramento, the total rainfall to date of nearly 16 inches is about 90 percent of normal.

The news isn’t all good, though. By comparison, Los Angeles has received only 62 percent of its normal rainfall. And statewide snowpack water content is hovering around 63 percent of normal.

According to the California Drought Report, released in March by DWR and the California Department of Agriculture, there are significant differences between this and past droughts, differences that are compounding the severity of the drought.

The report notes that California’s population has increased by 9 million new residents since 1990, stricter regulations have been put in place in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect threatened and endangered fish species, and changes in agricultural practices have eliminated some flexibility for adapting to low-water years.

In early 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger directed several state agencies to come up with a plan to reduce California’s water use by 20 percent by the year 2020. The draft 20x2020 Water Conservation Plan was released in April, and a public workshop is being held in Sacramento at the end of this month.

The plan notes that, with the growing population and population movement to drier climates, California’s “demand for water has exceeded our reliable developed supply.” The report goes on to say that “The Delta is in crisis, drought has depleted our reservoirs and groundwater resources are overdrafted. Our need to pursue conservation and eliminate unnecessary uses of water is more important than ever to ensure the future health of our state.”

The 20x2020 Plan is intended as an aggressive, statewide plan to improve water efficiency and conservation in urban areas from now through 2020. Its recommendations include a statewide conservation strategy, measures for enhancing water use efficiency, methods for reducing water waste (such as accelerated installation of water meters) and development of programs to reduce landscaping irrigation, among others.

The public workshop on the 20x2020 Plan is scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to no later than 1:00 p.m.

Location:
John Moss Federal Building
CALFED Bay and Delta Rooms
650 Capitol Mall, 5th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

The 20x2020 Plan can be downloaded from the California Urban Water Conservation Council's website: www.cuwcc.org
To see the California Drought Report, go to: www.water.ca.gov/drought/updates.cfm

Local Crop Swaps Offer More than Fresh Vegetables

2009-04-03T14:25:24Z

Bill Maynard’s blue eyes sparkle with enthusiasm when he’s asked anything about gardening. It’s not surprising considering that he’s devoted his life to helping other gardeners get the most benefit and enjoyment out of their gardens.

This month, he is presenting a workshop to teach local gardeners how to set up, and reap the bounty from, a “Crop Swap” with their neighbors. The Crop Swap idea is a simple one—get together with a group of neighbors once a week to trade produce from your backyard gardens. In the process, you’ll get to know your neighbors, enjoy a variety of freshly grown foods and have a chance to swap information, recipes and gardening know-how.

The Crop Swap workshop will be held April 7, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at 3330 McKinley Blvd., in the Shepard Garden and Arts Center.

There are numerous Crop Swaps in cities around the country, but the idea is relatively new to Sacramento. In 2008, Maynard helped residents establish a Crop Swap in Oak Park.

“They wanted to have a community garden, but they couldn’t get one right away,” said Maynard. Instead, a devoted group of Oak Park residents got together and started the Crop Swap to demonstrate their interest to the city. The result? A successful summer of camaraderie, education and good eats—and a new grant to support a community garden on Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd. through the national NeighborWorks Program.

“The first year, it was a makeshift thing. We had about a dozen or 15 people,” he said. “[They would] get together once a week on Sunday afternoon to swap what they grew in their backyards.”

Maynard is no stranger to community-based gardening. He is the community garden coordinator for the City of Sacramento’s Parks and Recreation Department, and he also heads up the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition.

“Through the coalition, I’m letting other people know that they can create a Crop Swap. Just show them how to do it, and how easy it is to do it. And, we give them free seeds, so it really doesn’t cost them anything but their time and effort.”

The April 7 Crop Swap workshop will cover setting up a neighborhood swap, choosing appropriate crops and organizing a weekly trading event. Maynard will also discuss past experiences with what works and what doesn’t to help participants get the most out of their Crop Swap. Workshop participants will receive a planting and growing chart, as well as free seeds to get started. Maynard encourages neighbors to get together early to plan what they will plant to get a diverse range of crops and varieties, and so that everyone can enjoy their favorites—whether that means heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, or favorite herbs.

Maynard also discusses some of the trickier aspects of a Crop Swap, such as figuring out equitable ways to trade crops. Gardeners need to decide how to trade crops that have different values. For example, a pound of artichokes might be worth more than a pound of tomatoes.

“You have to be fair about trading,” he said. “Take what you need, don’t over take, and bring what you have. Sometimes we encourage people to bunch things up in one-pound bags. They’re just easier to trade that way.”

Maynard has big plans, too. He envisions Crop Swaps throughout the city, where people can go every day of the week to a different one to trade for produce that they need.

“It can bring people together.”

Maynard, a Master Gardener who learned from his grandparents and mother, says that interest in community gardening and the Crop Swap idea is increasing, even though the idea of barter has been around since the beginning of human civilization. He credits the downturn in the economy for some of that interest, noting that people are now want to grow their own food not just for the pleasure of it, but to get through tough economic times and provide their families with healthy, home-grown food. He recently returned from a visit to Washington, D.C., where he was invited to work on the new White House vegetable garden and the U.S. Department of Agriculture gardens. He’s also been invited to help with Maria Shriver’s garden in Sacramento.

For more information about the workshop and community gardens, contact Maynard at (916) 508-6025. For more information about the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, go to http://www.saccommunitygardens.org/.