WHEREAS, March 21, 2023, is designated as California Agriculture Day, a day of celebration to commemorate agriculture’s importance in our daily lives, its vital role in keeping Californians nourished, and its role in keeping the state’s economy ranked as the fifth largest in the world; and
WHEREAS, The theme of California Agriculture Day 2023 is “Cultivating Community & Opportunity” in recognition of the essential role agriculture plays in producing a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply through the strength of an increasingly diverse and inclusive community; and
WHEREAS, For more than 60 consecutive years, California has been the number one agricultural state in the nation, producing more than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for approximately 50 percent of the nation’s supply of fruits, vegetables, and nuts; and
WHEREAS, Farming and related industries employ more than 21.6 million people, making up over 10 percent of employment in the United States; and
WHEREAS, California’s agricultural community relies on a vital infrastructure that aids in the exclusion and early detection of plant and animal pests and diseases that impact public health, the environment, and commerce; and
WHEREAS, With less than 2 percent of California’s population engaged in farming and agriculture, each agricultural worker today provides for more than 165 people, compared to just 25 in 1960; and
WHEREAS, Today’s agricultural industry offers over 200 challenging and rewarding career opportunities, from on-farm cultivation to food science and engineering; and
WHEREAS, Over the past seven decades, advances in agricultural production have resulted in a drop in consumer spending on food products from 22 percent of average household disposable income in 1949 to 11 percent today; and
WHEREAS, California is the nation’s leader in agricultural exports, shipping $20.8 billion in food and agricultural commodities around the world in 2020; and
WHEREAS, California’s agricultural industry constantly seeks to incorporate the latest scientific and technological production and marketing techniques to meet the demands of changing consumer needs and complex world markets; and
WHEREAS, Science, technology, and innovation have enabled California agriculture to continually improve quality, safety, and consumer product choice, and drive advancements in organic production, reduced water use, and more sustainable pest management practices, including biological controls; and
WHEREAS, California agriculture has provided strong leadership in the adoption of climate-smart practices to reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, save water, and scale up soil health practices to sequester carbon and other solutions to climate change; and
WHEREAS, Public-private partnerships are continually being developed to improve quality and ensure safe handling practices on the farm, in transit, and during processing; and
WHEREAS, California consumers say that it is important to them to purchase food items grown in the state and they have demonstrated increased support of farmers’ markets, community-supported agricultural programs, and Farm to School programs; and
WHEREAS, A broad approach to agricultural education is vital to ensuring that California agricultural farms and ranches continue to flourish; and
WHEREAS, California is estimated to lose 500,000 acres of agricultural land by 2050, and more than 300,000 acres of it will have been highly productive irrigated cropland, and thus California should continue to work for conservation to preserve California’s agricultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate for all Californians to recognize our farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and others involved in providing such a bounty to our nation and the entire world; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate recognizes and honors all those who work in California agriculture for their dedication and productivity by designating Tuesday, March 21, 2023, as California Agriculture Day and by observing March 21, 2023, as National Agriculture Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copes of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.