Food for Thought: How Immigration is Impacting California's Food

Join in for the next Food for Thought as they take a close look at the “farm” in the Farm-to-Fork efforts, and talk about the Central Valley, the often overlooked major player in the foodie scene.

How is immigration reform affecting the crops being grown, the farmers who sow them, and the workers who pick them?
With much of the Valley’s workforce feeling under siege, what’s being done to keep them here or replace them?
What food-growing decisions are farmers making based on this upheaval?
How is this impacting Central Valley towns and how will it impact the rest of California?
And how can we as residents, consumers and “eat local” advocates help the Valley’s farmers and workers get through this?

Panelists will include:

– Santana Diaz, a Yuba City native with family roots in agriculture who started the culinary programs at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, then became executive   chef at Golden 1 Center, and is now starting a new Farm-to-Fork program as executive chef for UC Davis Health

– Bruce Rominger – a fifth-generation Yolo County farmer who runs, along with his brother, Rominger Brothers Farm in Winters

– Lety Valencia – regional organizer for Faith in the Valley, a group of community partners in five Central Valley counties that is focused on improving its residents’ futures

Finger foods, beer and wine will be available for purchase.