Events
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.
General News
Student interns in the Wine and Viticulture program have been hard at work processing more than two tons of Pinot noir grapes from Cal Poly’s Trestle Vineyard. The grapes that will be used for the Cal Poly Rosé went directly into the press to get the juice, along with a little bit of red color from the skins. Several graduate students are also using the latest harvest for research under the guidance of Professor Federico Casassa. Watch a small video highlighting harvest here.
Events
The Cal Poly Strawberry Center, partnered with the California Strawberry Commission, is at the forefront of increasing the sustainability of the state’s strawberry industry through research and education.
On Aug. 8 the Strawberry Center held its eighth annual field day, with a record-breaking attendance of more than 600 strawberry growers, researchers and industry representatives. Attendees, including local elected officials, rotated through entomology, pathology and automation stops, with opportunities to network with fellow industry members and companies.
📷: California Strawberry Commission
Events
Save the Date: Fall Conference will be held Monday, Sept. 16, in the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture’s Conference Hall (Bldg. 156) from 8 to 11:15 a.m. Parking is available in the adjacent H1 parking lot, which requires a faculty/staff parking permit or you can pay using the pay station. Check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. A light breakfast will be provided.
A student photographer will be available to take headshots after the conference.
The CAFES Annual DEI Workshop will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 8 to 11 a.m. in the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture’s Conference Hall (Bldg. 156).
Events
The Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research held the second annual field day on Aug. 8. More than 100 organic growers, pest control advisors, certified crop advisors and industry representatives attended and rotated through presentations on organic soil fertility and pest management. The final event of the field tour was a demonstration of an Ecorobotix automated weeder. provided by Grimmway Farms/Cal Organic. More information on the field day including handouts can be found at www.organic.calpoly.edu.
General News
The college hosted the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Student Leadership Banquet on May 30 at the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture. Congratulations to all of our college leadership award winners! Photos of the event are available here.
Congratulations again to all of the college leadership award winners:
Louis H. and Stella Soares Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture: Megan Dixon, third-year agribusiness major
Academic Excellence Award: Doreen Dyt, fourth-year agricultural business major
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the College: Abbie Brown, fourth-year animal science major
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University: Samuel Andrews, fifth-year environmental management and
protection major
Service to the Community: Sofia Reyes-Parra, fourth-year agricultural business major
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Isaac Lopez, fourth-year agricultural science major
Events
Cal Poly ROTC hosted the annual Dining Out event – a formal gathering in which the cadets and the cadre reflect on the year’s experiences. Cal Poly Alumnus Lieutenant General Scott Black was the guest speaker and personally conducted the Oath of Enlistment for Cadet John DeGeorge. Black, a retired military lawyer, is the highest-ranking Cal Poly ROTC alumnus.
General News
Each summer, a group of Cal Poly students spend five weeks living within the community of Agua Buena, Costa Rica, to explore first-hand issues of sustainability and culture.
The summer course, Sustainable Agriculture and Forest Conservation in Costa Rica, is taught by Nick Babin, an assistant professor in the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department.
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences forged an additional partnership with the Finca El Bosque de Don Roberto farm where students study to further promote the lessons instilled there. The cooperative agreement allows the college to import an initial 1,000 pounds of green coffee beans from the farm to be roasted locally and sold as a way of raising awareness of sustainably farmed coffee and to provide additional funding to create a scholarship to allow more Cal Poly students to take the five-week summer course.
Coffee is now available for purchase, with direct links to Cal Poly teaching, scholarship and service. For each bag purchased, $4.50 per pound goes to student scholarships. Plus, the coffee is delicious!
This offering is in great part due to the efforts of the 2022 Cal Poly in Costa Rica students, who successfully petitioned our college to develop a CAFES coffee line. You can purchase the coffee for mail delivery here: https://www.corberosa.com/product-page/elbosque-don-roberto-costarica
There are two options that avoid shipping costs:
More details about this program can be found at: https://cafes.calpoly.edu/cultivate-spring-2023/coffee-costa-rica
General News
Jeff Reimer, instructional support technician in the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences Department, is retiring after 27 years at Cal Poly. He joined the department in 1997 after earning a bachelor’s degree in forestry and natural resources and a master’s degree in agriculture. Reimer has served countless students and faculty during his time at Cal Poly along with important campus initiatives. His last day will be June 14. Please wish him well in his new adventures by signing his online tribute. He and his wife Carey plan to hit the road in their camper and explore.
All faculty and staff are invited to Jeff Reimer’s retirement celebration next week, Friday, June 7, from 4-6 p.m. You’re welcome to drop by whenever is convenient. Please RSVP by today, Friday, May 31. If you have any questions, please reach out to nres@calpoly.edu.
General News
The Grimm Family Soil Health and Sustainability Lab was unveiled with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 21 – celebrating a milestone for the Cal Poly Grimm Family Center for Organic Production and Research. Guests toured the new lab, the organic farm and chatted with students and faculty about their ongoing research.The center was established in 2021 with a $5 million donation made by the Grimm family of Grimmway Farms, the global leader in organic produce.
