In California, organic food news means sustainable farming methods, certification standards, market trends and consumer demand. This page tracks developments from the field to the marketplace.
Rising water, fertilizer and labor costs have led a California orchard owner to cut irrigation for most of his avocado trees.
Live Poll
Do you think California's cost of living is getting better or worse for your household?
November 12, 2026
State Funds Cyclospora Research Using Unused Grant MoneyThe California Department of Food and Agriculture is directing $250,000 in unused federal funding toward cyclospora research after a national outbreak linked to Mexico-grown lettuce.
November 12, 2026
Almond Industry Generates $21.3 Billion in CaliforniaA 2026 study commissioned by the Almond Board of California measures the crop's statewide economic footprint.
November 12, 2026
Real California Milk Excelerator Earns Spot on TIME ListThe state-backed dairy program was named among TIME's America's Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 ranking, produced with Statista.
November 12, 2026
Pesticide Use Rises 2% in CaliforniaState agricultural pesticide use reached 179 million pounds in 2024, even as use of several high-risk substances fell sharply over the past decade.
November 10, 2026
Straus Launches Organic Plain Soft Serve MixThe new mix, made in small batches in Northern California, has 30% less sugar than Straus' Vanilla Soft Serve Mix.
November 10, 2026
FDA Model Maps Livestock Runoff Risk to Leafy GreensA new hydrologic screening tool traces how runoff from livestock operations could reach downstream produce farms in California's Salinas Valley.
November 10, 2026
State Places Tractor Supply on Five-Year ProbationCalifornia regulators cite the retailer for unpermitted restricted-pesticide sales across dozens of stores and its website.
November 9, 2026
Council Awards $2 Million for Food RecoveryThe San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments received state funding to expand its FRESH SGV food-recovery program.
November 9, 2026
Delta Report Urges Less Farmland ConvertedA draft state report recommends converting less Delta farmland to natural habitat than previously planned.
November 9, 2026
Audit Finds Food Sanitation Lapses at California PrisonsThe Office of the Inspector General found improper food storage and sanitation deficiencies at three California state prisons.
Day to day, that means crop rotation techniques, labeling updates, retail sales growth and new regulatory frameworks. It reaches from the fertile growing valleys to every urban center across the state. The balance between large-scale operations and smaller farms often drives production shifts. Water allocation and soil management remain the most frequent factors constraining how this produce reaches consumers.
