SAN LUIS OBISPO – The College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences Center for Sustainability recently added a new faculty fellowship in organics to the Horticulture and Crop Science department as a result of the Lundberg Family Farms' pledge of support to the organic program at Cal Poly. With this fellowship, Cal Poly students will benefit from year-round training and research opportunities in organic farming methods, food safety, and sustainable agricultural systems.
The Center for Sustainability's valued industry partners at Lundberg Family Farms, in combination with support from the Clarence C. Heller Charitable Foundation, provided for the establishment of the summer quarter faculty fellowship dedicated to the field of organic and sustainable farming methods.
“We are pleased to announce the selection of David Headrick as the recipient of the first summer fellowship in organics as a result of the support from Lundberg Family Farms,” said Dr. John Peterson, Cal Poly Horticulture and Crop Science Department Head. “This position bolsters the strength of our coursework and programs in organic crop production and sustainable agriculture. Our students, who graduate to become industry leaders, will benefit from the knowledge and expertise that Dr. Headrick brings to Cal Poly’s Organic Farm.”
Mr. Headrick will bring expertise in California production techniques in organic and sustainable agriculture systems, and will oversee Cal Poly’s 11-acre organic farm, where faculty, staff and students jointly manage the production, care, harvesting and marketing of organic produce.
"The Center for Sustainability is delighted to have the opportunity to support education in this rapidly growing sector,” said the Center’s director, Hunter Francis, “and we are so grateful for the generosity and vision of the Lundberg Family in helping our College respond to growing student demand for it.”
“Our family heritage and our brand identity are firmly rooted in the practice of organic and sustainable farming,” said Grant Lundberg, chief executive officer of Lundberg Family Farms. “Our partnership with Cal Poly is the perfect complement to our Raising Organic Family Farms initiative, which is our way of encouraging responsible land stewardship and sustainable agriculture among the next generation of farmers.”
Lundberg’s Raising Organic Family Farms initiative is a multi-year program designed to inspire a new generation of organic family farmers and provide financial and education support to aspiring agricultural entrepreneurs. Lundberg Family Farms is the nation’s leading producer of organic rice and rice products.
For more information on the Cal Poly Organic Farm, go to http://aeps.calpoly.edu/organics/.
About Lundberg Family Farms
Since 1937, the Lundberg Family has been farming rice and producing rice products at their farms in the Sacramento Valley. Now led by its third generation, Lundberg Family Farms still uses organic and eco-positive farming practices to produce wholesome, healthful rice products while protecting and improving the environment for future generations. For more information, visit www.lundberg.com or follow Lundberg on Facebook and Twitter (@lundbergfarms).
Source: Lundberg Family Farms
