The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is proud to participate in the International Year of the Woman Farmer, declared by the United Nations for 2026. The designation recognizes women’s essential role in agriculture worldwide and reflects a global commitment to equity, visibility, and opportunity across food and farming systems.
Led by the United States and supported by 123 countries, the resolution highlights the critical contributions women make to food security, sustainability, and economic resilience. In California, women are not only part of agriculture - they are leading it. Here, the role of women extends far beyond the farm gate, covering virtually every role throughout the broader food value chain that includes not only farm fields and ranches, but also farm inputs and services, processing, distribution, trade, marketing and retail.
“Women farmers are at the heart of California’s agricultural industry,” said California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “From stewarding our land, to strengthening our rural economies, to feeding communities across the state, California relies heavily on the incredible leadership of women farmers and agricultural innovators. I am thrilled to celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer so we can uplift their significant impacts and dedication to our shared future – not just in the Golden State but across the world.”
California is home to more than 45,000 women producers, with women making up nearly 38% of all producers and operating on 63% of farms statewide, more than any other major agricultural state. Over the last decade, the number of women farmers in California has grown by 13%, reflecting a shift toward greater leadership and ownership across the agricultural sector.