AB130 — Cited as the 2022 state law that supplemented federal funding and required permanent universal school meal access.
Ms. Tenelson — The prior witness is thanked for the presentation.
Leticia Castillo — The transcript says 'Assembly member Salachi'; this appears to refer to a legislator involved in the AB 265 proposal, but the exact identity is uncertain. No confident member match can be made from the provided list.
Ms. Pryor — Ms. Pryor closed her remarks by stressing that SBDC support helps Central Valley farmers, food manufacturers, and produce distributors lower costs, access markets, and strengthen California’s food system. She emphasized that agricultural small businesses are resilient but cannot absorb rising costs alone, and noted that small businesses and agriculture are central to California’s economy. The discussion then shifted into questions, where she was asked to elaborate on SBDC-supported work. In response, she described the statewide impact of SBDCs, including assistance to over 313,000 small businesses, billions in loans and equity raised, and more than 333,000 jobs supported. She also gave examples of innovation and business development, including almond waste product uses in Modesto and efforts to connect small businesses to government contracting opportunities.
Susie — Thanked for sharing her story about immigration and her family's 150-year history from Ireland.
Lisa Calderon — Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon is introduced to present the second panel, and the speaker then thanks her for making that introduction.
M.C. Zhang — Introduced as the owner of MX Produce and a panelist.
Gladys Martinez — Introduced as the owner of Nileas Bira and a panelist.
Gladys Martinez — Gladys Martinez was introduced and then testified about her food business journey: she described starting Tony's Coconut Fusion, explained that the pandemic forced the business to shut down, and then discussed her current work manufacturing a birria adobo product with Nelias as part of her broader food-system mission.
Ryan Jacobson — Introduced as Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO and acknowledged as a former student body president.
Ryan Jacobson — Ryan Jacobson is introduced as the next panelist and then introduces himself as a fourth-generation California farmer and representative of the Fresno County Farm Bureau.
Macy Jean — Macy Jean of MX Produce in Fresno County introduces herself and her family’s long-standing agricultural business, explaining their commitment to supporting local farms and communities while also describing the challenges and rising costs affecting small farmers after returning to agriculture following the 2008 crash.
MX Produce — Macy Jean identifies herself as being with MX Produce.
Ms. Juan — Speaker thanked Ms. Juan for sharing her testimony.
the speaker/farmer — Describes being a farmer and says the economic pressures have been dramatic even on their own farm and for small farmers.
Luz Rivas — Referenced as Speaker Rivas, who has prioritized affordability.
the three panelists — Thanked for providing perspectives from production, small farming, and stakeholder representation in Fresno County.
Meijon — Addressed as the first person to answer questions about helping small farmers.
Ryan — Speaker is preparing to ask Ryan a final question and references his explanation that farmers are price takers.
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry — Speaker references her as someone who has also been talking about Ag burn.
McKay Duran — McKay Duran, speaking for the Central California Food Bank, thanks the committee for holding the hearing in Fresno and explains that the organization serves the five-county Central Valley region to address food insecurity.
Don Wright — Public commenter who publishes waterrights.net and focuses on water issues in agriculture.
Christopher Cabaldon — The speaker asks Ms. Soria whether attitudes on the committee toward farmers have changed.
Kang Vang — Owner and founder of Fresno Bipak Produce Inc.; says he serves farmers and is there to listen.
Esmeralda Soria — The speaker references Esmeralda Soria’s earlier question about land access, notes that Soria may be able to vouch for the tours and district visits, and then invites Senator/Assemblywoman Soria to offer closing remarks.
Annali Augustine — Speaks on behalf of the Consumer Brands Association about packaging and consumer goods.
SB54 — The speaker says implementation of SB 54 will raise costs and create compliance complexity.
Brian Vanneberg — Executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau; thanks the committee for coming to Fresno.
David Alvarez — David Alvarez thanks Chair Assembly Member Soria for hosting the pocketbook tour in the district and for joining the discussion about California’s food system and its impact on households, then transitions by turning the meeting over to her remarks.
Dr. Conduro — Introduced as Chair of the Department of Agricultural Business and a panelist.
Dr. Conduro — Dr. Conduro identified water and labor as the top pressing issues for agriculture, noting SGMA’s impact on water availability. He then emphasized that labor shortages remain a major constraint, explaining that even improved wages and working conditions would not fully replace immigrant labor. He concluded that immigrant labor cannot be substituted and that better policies are needed to maintain a reliable stream of workers for agriculture.
Caroline Danielson — Introduced as Vice President of Research at the Public Policy Institute of California and a panelist.
Caroline Danielson — Caroline Danielson is introduced and identifies herself as a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California. She then begins her testimony by outlining that she will discuss food costs in relation to household budgets, trends in food costs, how California compares to the nation, and the state of the nutrition safety net in California, with a brief look at impacts in the Central Valley.
Susie Pryor — Introduced as regional director of the Central California Small Business Development Center and a panelist.
Susie Pryor — Introduced herself as executive director of the Central California Small Business Development Center Network.
Dr. Condura — The speaker closes remarks and hands off to the next presenter.