I am always humbled and gratified with the generous giving by state employees to our annual holiday food drive. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is proud once again to partner with California Emergency Foodlink in organizing this important project that distributes more than 650,000 pounds of food to families in need throughout the greater Sacramento area.

For the third year in a row, we are honored to invite other state agencies to purchase rice from the Farmers' Rice Cooperative for distribution through the Foodlink. This rice program provides a vital year-round foundation for Foodlink's hunger relief efforts in our communities.

I wish to thank all state employees for their amazing spirit of giving, the Farmers Rice Cooperative for their long history of rice donations, and the thousands of California farmers and ranchers who devote their lives to the production of healthy foods.

A.G. Kawamura
Secretary