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, Multilateral Affairs at the U.S. Dairy Export Council and a member of USSA’s Management Council, said, “We look forward to welcoming journalists from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain to California to see firsthand how U.S. farmers care for their land and animals, manage natural resources and innovate to keep their farms productive and create opportunities for future generations. Meeting multigenerational family farmers and others across the value chain offers a deeper understanding of the diversity and productivity of U.S. agriculture. Previous visits have shown us the value of these conversations in bringing farming practices to life and providing context that is difficult to gain from afar.”