California Department of Food & Agriculture

04/07/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/07/2026 11:31

CDFA's Planting Seeds blog - CDFA Farm to School Grant “Sparks” support of women in agriculture – expanding local citrus into school meals

April 7, 2026

CDFA Farm to School Grant "Sparks" support
of women in agriculture - expanding
local citrus into school meals

Karina Sparks, owner and operator of citrus farm Sparks Ranch in Yolo County, received funding from CDFA's California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program in the 2023/24 grant cycle. The grant has allowed her farm to increase sales of her high-quality, delicious oranges directly to local school districts - which supports her small, local farm and provides meaningful opportunities for women in agriculture.

Sparks utilized CDFA Farm to School grant funding to build a larger sorting and storage shed, making it easier and more efficient to move and pack citrus, hire additional crew members and expand local citrus offerings into school meal programs.

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CDFA's Mission: To safeguard a resilient food system and promote an equitable marketplace, cultivating a California grown food supply that is globally recognized for innovation, quality and sustainability.

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California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Public Affairs
1220 N St., Sacramento, CA 95814
916-654-0462, www.cdfa.ca.gov

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California Department of Food & Agriculture published this content on April 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 07, 2026 at 17:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]