In this episode of “The Business of Blueberries,” host Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) and the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), is joined by Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Secretary Ross discusses some of the challenges and opportunities facing California agriculture and, more generally, specialty crops. 

Secretary Ross has strengthened partnerships across government, academia and the nonprofit sector in a drive to maintain and improve environmental stewardship, and develop adaptation strategies for the impacts of climate change. She has also worked to provide greater access to farm fresh foods at school cafeterias through CDFA’s Farm to Fork Program, and has been a longtime champion of specialty crops and the California Grown program.

“It was that connection of policy to something that,when I left the farm, I just took a different career path to be a part of agriculture and to be able to stand up for the values of our farming families. And to be able to help better connect rural and urban communities, which was one of the things that being president of California Wine and Grape Growers allowed me to do very, very well. There's nothing like inviting people to have some really good California grown food with a really good California wine to really create a conversation and find all those things that we have in common.” - Karen Ross

“We've suffered a drought, we've done that kind of work. And then the intentional focus on climate and making sure that ag as a contributor of 8% of the greenhouse gas emissions in California, but agriculture and forestry can also be part of the solution. So funding healthy soils, and especially with our dairy families, being able to be part of the solution for methane reductions.” - Karen Ross

“I think that investing in food security, climate-smart agriculture, the research that can be applied and scaled on a global basis, in addition to understanding the changes that are happening at agriculture and the importance of that research and education, to make sure we're focused on the workforce of the future, the jobs of the future, the training of the future. … We need to have that public investment for public trust in the research results. The advancements of science and technology are going to be key to that.” - Karen Ross

Topics covered include: 

• Secretary Ross’ journey through agriculture, and the initiatives she continues to work on to collaborate with and help California producers.
• The scope and focus of the USDA, and its efforts on producers’ behalf.
• The mission of the CDFA and the many stakeholders Ross coordinates to protect and promote California agriculture.

Crop Report

The Blueberry Crop Report is an update on crop conditions and markets throughout important blueberry growing areas. In this episode, you’ll hear from Rex Schultz in Michigan, Doug Krahmer in Oregon, Elizabeth Carranza in California and Nestor Vega in Mexico. This was recorded on July 13, 2022.

 Blueberry Boost

This week’s Blueberry Boost highlights The Blueberry Summit, Oct. 5-7 in Nashville. Check out the schedule and save your seat! If you register by July 31, the end of National Blueberry Month, you’ll be entered in to win a blueberry-themed cowboy hat.