San Mateo County has been one of California's leading producers of ornamental nursery crops, including cut flowers, brussel sprouts, leeks, peas, pumpkins and wine grapes. But what is the future of agriculture in San Mateo County? Is agriculture dying out in our county?

Our speaker is Joaquin Jimenez, who has been working since 2018 to develop a project in which farmworkers will get training to run their own agricultural business. Joaquin is now leading the launch of Rancho San Benito, a farming cooperative for farmworkers. 

Rancho San Benito will give the opportunity to farmworkers to be the future of farming in San Mateo Coastside and will help us preserve our heritage of farming.  Rancho San Benito will provide education to farmworkers to learn how to be entrepreneurs and successfully have their own business of farming, and implementing farming techniques like organic, regenerative farming, carbon sequestration and efficient ways of the use of natural resources. 

Rancho San Benito will collaborate with organizations like Ayudando Latinos A Soñar-ALAS under their economic vitality/economic recovery program, farmworker program and mental health program.  Rancho San Benito will also collaborate with Peninsula Open Space Trust, Resources Conservation District, Coastside Land Trust and MidPen Regional Open Space as well as provide farmland for more opportunities.  Rancho San Benito is supported by the Sierra Club and Green Foothills.  

When: Wednesday, February 2, 2022

7PM

We will also hear updates from our SMCDFA Task Forces:

Social Justice, co-chaired by Gail Sredanovic([email protected]) and Diana Reddy ([email protected]);

Healthcare, chaired by Elsa Schafer([email protected])

Elections 2022, co-chaired by Marshall Dinowitz([email protected]) and Bill Newall([email protected])

Climate Change, chaired by Flavia Franco ([email protected])

Elections Integrity, chaired by Bill Newell([email protected])

Task Forces are still forming, please make sure to let the chairs know you want to join a Task Force.

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Please also check our News & Updates page on the website. There is an urgent request to call your State Assembly Members and Senators to support AB1400, a California Healthcare for All Bill. There is also an urgent request to support GOTV efforts in Texas and to help do the annual Homeless Count for San Mateo County.

https://www.smcdfa.org/blog

Please join us for what promises to be an excellent meeting. The Zoom link is:

Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 7pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83205889368?pwd=SXhRc21zYWVQdGc0VXUvSjEzbE5Jdz09 

Meeting ID: 832 0588 9368
Password: 820212