General News – CAFES News

Mustang Made: Students Craft Products for the Holiday Season

Every year, students from across the college and beyond work to create a variety of products that customers can enjoy. They grow, produce and sell a variety of food items, plants, wine and flowers that make the perfect holiday gift.

From delectable chocolates, jams and sauces to holiday cheese boxes and Cal Poly wines, many of the student-made products are now available to purchase online for your gift-giving convenience.

Students are involved in every step, getting exposure to research and development standards and learning essential manufacturing practices, total quality assurance, food safety and sanitation principles, and leadership, sales and marketing skills — helping prepare them for the work they will do once they graduate.

Share your Cal Poly pride and support student success this holiday season by ordering today.

Faculty News

New Grants Analyst

Lauren Young joined the college as a grant analyst in November. Young is working fully remote. Research related questions, including queries about ARI and McIntire-Stennis grants, can be directed to her by email at lyoung23@calpoly.edu or by phone at 805-858-0807. Sue Tonik is assisting Young during the transition. You can reach Tonik at stonik@calpoly.edu.

Events

Poinsettia Sale This Saturday

The final day of Cal Poly’s annual poinsettia sale, with thousands of plants and dozens of varieties and colors, will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Poly Plant Shop.

The flowering holiday plants are grown by students working at Cal Poly’s horticulture unit, gaining hands-on experience cultivating specialty crops and learning how environmental concerns impact the crop on a day-to-day basis.

Fourth-year plant sciences major Sabrina Correa has helped to cultivate this year’s poinsettia crop.“ This practical engagement has deepened my understanding of the complexities of greenhouse management, from controlling environmental factors to ensuring plant health and quality,” she said. “Beyond the technical expertise, this has positively impacted my confidence and reinforces my passion for my field.”

This year’s poinsettia crop offers a myriad of colors. Sizes range from small plants in 4-inch pots to large poinsettias reaching 3 feet high, in 10-inch pots. Prices range from $10 to $50.

In addition to poinsettias, the Poly Plant Holiday Sale will also feature student-made products such as the newly bottled Cal Poly olive oil, jams, honey and chocolate.

The Poly Plant Shop is located on campus off Via Carta Road. Take the Highland Drive entrance, turn left on Via Carta Road and go to the top of the hill. For more information, call the Poly Plant Shop at 805-756-1106.

General News

New CAFES Academic Advisor

Maria Grando is the new CAFES Academic Advisor with a background in higher education counseling, grant management and student support services. Grando is a first-generation transfer student with a master’s degree in higher education counseling and student affairs from Cal Poly. Her experience includes coordinating grant-funded projects, developing and delivering student workshops and fostering inclusive campus environments. A fun fact about Grando is that she has developed a true “green thumb” through years of dedication and now tends to a thriving collection of over a hundred plants.

General News

Collaborative Organic Agriculture Podcast Now Streaming

Explore the latest in organic agriculture with the Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research and Cal Poly’s Agricultural Education and Communication Department’s podcasts. Tune in to the long-form series, where Cal Poly students dive into vital topics like soil health, pest management, policy changes and consumer trends. Produced as part of Professor Moses Mike’s Digital Communication in Agriculture and Science course, these podcasts bring fresh, informed perspectives to the evolving organic landscape. For quick insights, check out “Organic Chat,” where Center Director Matt Grieshop interviews students, faculty, and staff actively engaged in organic research and production. Both podcasts connect listeners to the latest developments shaping organic agriculture today. You can find the podcasts at https://grimmorganiccenter.podbean.com/ or at Apple Podcasts, Spotify or other podcast apps.

General News

Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center Groundbreaking

The groundbreaking ceremony of the Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center took place on Friday, Nov. 8, attended by university officials, students, faculty, staff and benefactors.

Plans for the new center include 15,500 square feet of multi-use space flexible for teaching, research and clinical training — including wet labs, a surgery suite and a necropsy area. The center is set to become an interactive, experiential animal facility that embraces hands-on learning, supporting the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine, animal healthcare and animal agriculture.

The Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center will ultimately foster a more collaborative and interdisciplinary approach between people, animals and their shared environment while training students in sustainable animal food production and animal agriculture. The complex furthers Cal Poly’s role as the top undergraduate animal science program for students, faculty and industry partners in the country.

General News

Application for AFA Leader Institutes Now Open

Agriculture Future of America Leader Institutes provide a unique opportunity to explore students’ interests and connect with industry professionals nationwide. Dive deep into various agriculture sectors through immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to help students find their interests and build their network. Visit the AFA website to learn more about each institute.

AFA offers six institutes each year, including sustainability, plant science, precision agriculture, animal science, policy and food systems. Apply now.

Sustainability: Feb. 9-11, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Precision Agriculture: March 2-4, 2025 in Denver, Colorado

Animal Science: April 13-15, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri

Plant Science: July 20-22, 2025 in Sacramento, Calififornia

Information about policy and food systems will be released soon. Contact Savannah Taylor (staylo59@calpoly.edu) with questions.

General News

Cal Poly Holiday Cheese Boxes Feature Student-Made Products

Cal Poly Creamery gift boxes are a great way to support student success and share your Mustang pride this holiday season. Gift box combinations have been updated with exciting new products including a Cal Poly Rodeo themed box, as well as traditional favorites. You can choose from a variety of favorite selections, including the award-winning Gouda and the specialty Brie. Order by Dec. 4 to guarantee holiday delivery. Stay tuned on social media for updates and visit the Cal Poly Creamery online at calpolycreamery.com. Thank you for supporting our students and Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing tradition!

Events

One Health Informational Meeting Friday

If you are a staff or faculty member interested in the intersection of human, animal and environmental health, please join a group of leading faculty on Friday, Nov. 1, from 1:10-2 p.m. in 10-241 for an informational and planning meeting about developing a One Health academic program at Cal Poly.

“One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach — working at the local, regional, national, and global levels — with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment (CDC).”

Academic opportunities in One Health will allow students to develop cross-disciplinary skills and pursue unique research collaborations while addressing urgent contemporary issues such as climate change, public health, zoonotic diseases, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and food security and environmental contamination.

All disciplines welcome!

Contact Laura Backus lbackus@calpoly.edu with any questions.

Events

Fall Student Welcome

The CAFES Ambassadors helped greet more than 1,200 new students and welcome them to the college at the annual Fall Welcome event held Sept. 19 at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center.

Category: <span>General News</span>