CDFA Internship Program

Agriculture is a major industry for the Golden State. With 80,500 farms and ranches, California agriculture is a $55 billion dollar industry that generates at least $100 billion in related economic activity. The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) mission is, "to serve the citizens of California by promoting and protecting a safe, healthy food supply, and enhancing local and global agricultural trade, through efficient management, innovation, and sound science, with a commitment to environmental stewardship."

In 1919, the California Legislature created a single department responsible for protecting and promoting agriculture. CDFA is now organized into eight divisions and operates at more than 100 locations throughout the state. These divisions provide valuable services to producers, merchants, and the public. Many of them are conducted in partnership with local county offices of the agricultural commissioners and sealers.

CDFA strives to support innovation and agricultural diversity. One way to support these efforts is through working with future generations of agriculturalists. The CDFA Internship Program is designed for college students of all majors and backgrounds who have an interest in agriculture, California government, and public service. Internships are for students looking to gain a better understanding of California agriculture, as well as the role CDFA has among the state's agricultural systems. Internships are available in a variety of divisions within CDFA.

Internships are available to students year round and generally last 10-16 weeks. Students should be available for at least 8 — 10 hours per week, up to 30 hours per week, depending on the internship offered.

Prerequisites may include:

Enrolled in an accredited U.S. College
Good academic standing
At least 18 years of age

What Interns Are Saying

I just wanted to send a quick email to once again say thank you for the internship opportunity over the summer of 2015. I had no idea how much information I had learned from my internship would be invaluable in the classroom. The first-hand experiences and skills I gained during my internship have played such an important role in the classroom! I wanted to express my gratitude to you as I would not be where I am without this amazing opportunity. Please tell everyone I said hello and I hope everyone is doing well!

Nicole Nelsen
Master of Public Health-Veterinary Public Health Candidate
The Ohio State University

Areas of Interest

Administrative Services

Administrative Services is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling activities related to fiscal management, personnel, labor relations, budgets, general business services, contract and grant management, and health and safety.

For information about internships with the Administrative Serivces Division contact:
Admin Main Line – (916) 654-1020
adminservices@cdfa.ca.gov

Animal Health and Food Safety Services

Animal Health and Food Safety Services protects the safety and security of meat, poultry, dairy products, and other foods of animal origin; public and animal health through the prevention, detection, and eradication of livestock and poultry diseases and dairy contamination incidents; and cattle owners against loss of animals by theft, straying, or misappropriation through ongoing inspections and investigative services.

For information about internships with the Animal Health and Food Safety Services contact:
Marc Omas
(916) 900-5000
Marc.Omas@cdfa.ca.gov

Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division (Citrus)

Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division (Citrus) is responsible for detection, suppression, and eradication of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB) throughout the State. Due to the expansions of ACP and HLB, it is imperative that ACP control and HLB eradication activities be enhanced and quarantine regulation enforcement measured. These activities are accomplished through the operation of a statewide detection trapping program, ACP and HLB surveys, emergency treatment and response, and implementation of environmental monitoring practices. The Citrus Division consults with the Primary State Scientists, global subject matter experts (Technical Working Groups), and regulatory agencies Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).

For informatio about internships with the Citrus Division contact:
Victoria Hornbaker
(916) 274-6300
Victoria.Hornbaker@cdfa.ca.gov

Executive Office

The Executive Office provides oversight of the Department. Its mission is to serve the citizens of California by promoting and protecting a safe, healthy food supply, and enhancing local and global agricultural trade, through efficient management, innovation, and sound science, with a commitment to environmental stewardship.

For information about internships with the Executive Office contact:
Josh Eddy
(916) 654-0462
jeddy@cdfa.ca.gov

Inspection Services

Inspection Services provides professional services that support and contribute to a safe, abundant, quality food supply; environmentally sound agriculture practices; and an equitable marketplace for California agriculture.

For information about internships with the Inspection Services contact:
Cecilia Baumann
(916) 708-7584
Cecilia.baumann@cdfa.ca.gov

Marketing Services

Marketing Services assists in the promotion and administrative oversight of agriculture marketing programs in order to promote California agriculture products. Marketing Services also administers the Fairs and Expositions Branch which is in charge of providing policy oversight of the network of California fairs, ensuring the best use of available funding, and providing other consultative services.

For information about internships with the Marketing Services Division contact:
Kathy Diaz-Cretu
(916) 900-5015
Kathy.Diaz@cdfa.ca.gov

Measurement Standards

Measurement Standards is responsible for the enforcement of California weights and measures laws and regulations. The Division's activities are designed to ensure the accuracy of commercial weighing and measuring devices; verify the quantity of both bulk and packaged commodities; and enforce the quality, advertising, and labeling standards for products.

For information about internships with the Measurement Standards contact:
Rebecca Bland
(916) 229-3000
rebecca.bland@cdfa.ca.gov

Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI)

The mission of OEFI is to serve California by supporting agricultural production and incentivizing conservation management practices resulting in a net benefit for the environment through innovation, efficient management and science. OEFi incentive programs support farmers and ranchers who want to mitigate greenhouse gases, sequester carbon in soils and adapt to climate change through implementation of new and existing technologies. OEFI also houses programs and efforts to support research work to advance biological solutions to pest management, conservation agriculture planning programs, technical assistance on climate change adaption, international sharing of information for agricultural climate change adaptation and enhancing biodiversity in California agricultural operations.

For information about internships with OEFi contact:
Amrith Gunasekara
(916) 508-7993
cdfa.oefi@cdfa.ca.gov

Office of Information Technology Services

The Office of Information Technology Services (OITS) is responsible for the oversight and management of all CDFA’s information technology and telecommunications activities including, but not limited to, information technology, information security, telecommunications, contractors, systems, assets, projects, purchases, and contracts. OITS is tasked with ensuring compliance with state information technology policy and conformance to state information technology and telecommunications policy and enterprise architecture. The range of services that OITS provides encompasses Technology Governance, Application Development Services, Customer Support and Services, IT Infrastructure Operations, Enterprise Architecture, Procurement, and Information Security. OITS provides IT services to approximately 2,000 employees in seven major program areas and executive and administrative staff that are distributed over 100 locations throughout the State.

For information about internships with the Office of Information Technology Services contact:
Becky Moore
916-767-3346
becky.moore@cdfa.ca.gov

Pierce’s Disease Control Program

Pierce’s Disease Control Program is responsible for minimizing the impact of the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-wing sharpshooter pest-disease complex and its vectors in California.

For information about internships with the Pierce’s Disease Control Program contact:
Craig Hanes
(916) 900-5244
craig.hanes@cdfa.ca.gov

Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services

Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services protects California's food supply from the devastating impact of exotic pests; environment and natural resources from direct pest impacts and increased pesticide use; public from pests that pose human health threats; and position in the global economy.

For information about internships with the Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services contact:
David Pegos
(916) 654-0317
david.pegos@cdfa.ca.gov