Photo by Mark Stebnicki
From 28 September to 2 October 2026, the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) will host a group of European media in California, America’s leading agricultural exporting state. Journalists will gain firsthand insights into California’s approach to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience through direct engagement with producers, processors, representatives of the California Department of Food and Agriculture and other agricultural industry leaders.
USSA members, the Almond Board of California, USA Rice, the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the Organic Trade Association are collaborating on a week-long program featuring visits to multigenerational family farms, ranches, orchards and processors. The visit will also include a closer look at (and tastings of!) some of the nearly 400 commodities grown in California, including walnuts, virgin olive oil and wine. Media guests will meet agricultural industry leaders, including Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, to hear about California’s agricultural economy and how the state is building a more resilient agricultural system for the future.
Nick Gardner, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Multilateral Affairs at the U.S. Dairy Export Council and a member of USSA’s Management Council, said, “We look forward to welcoming media from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain to California. Their visit is an opportunity for USSA and its members to address misperceptions about U.S. agriculture in Europe by providing context and real-world examples of sustainability. The media will meet multigenerational family farmers passionate about caring for the land, along with other businesses across the agricultural value chain. From previous trips, we know journalists find these firsthand experiences invaluable in appreciating the realities of U.S. agriculture.”