The California Food and Farming Network invites all CA Gubernatorial candidates to fill out this questionnaire. The purpose of this questionnaire is to educate and inform communities on each candidate’s stance on issues related to the food and farming system in California. Filling out the questionnaire does not indicate an endorsement, nor does CFFN plan to endorse; keeping in accordance with 501(c)(3) regulations. All responses collected will be made available publicly on our website. The questions have been provided below for public access and transparency.
We also invite candidates to learn more about CFFN members and familiarize themselves with the CA Food and Farming System: A Food and Farming Primer for California’s Next Governor.
1. California’s food and farming system intersects with many of the state’s most pressing challenges—from climate resilience and biodiversity to public health and economic inequality. As Governor, what is your long-term vision for California’s food and farming system?
2. Looking ahead to your first term, what three priorities would you focus on to strengthen California’s food and farming system, and why do you see these as the most urgent or impactful?
3. What would you do to protect and strengthen California’s social safety net and state food and health programs (such as CalFresh, School Meals for All, CA Food Assistance Program, Medi-Cal, and others)?
4. How would you prioritize farming systems that support environmental health, small farmers, worker wellbeing, and resilient rural communities?
5. How would your administration strengthen worker protections and enforcement systems to ensure farmworkers can exercise their rights without fear of retaliation?
6. How would your administration confront corporate consolidation in California’s food system to protect small farmers, Tribes, food-insecure communities, and the state’s economic resilience?
7. What is your approach to collaborating with community groups most impacted by policy decisions, CA Tribal Nations, and values-based nonprofit organizations?
8. How would your administration enhance and coordinate the existing goals and programs across many state departments already aimed at advancing parts of a thriving food system in order to maximize the impact of California’s efforts?
9. How do you think the state should approach creating stable, long-term funding for proven food and farming programs, and what strategies would you consider to ensure those investments are sustainable?
