Santa Clara County Hires Julie Morris as Agricultural Liaison
Agricultural Liaison Julie Morris
Santa Clara County announced today the hiring of Julie Morris as the County’s new Agricultural Liaison, a Cooperative Extension position supported by the county Agricultural Division and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Julie’s expertise will facilitate and expedite agricultural projects in Santa Clara County by supporting economic and community development of local farms and ranches, and coordinating across county departments and community groups to enhance food access and public health. Morris will provide assistance to agricultural producers in navigating the complexities of regulations, and coordinate efforts for policy change and regulatory simplification. By working closely with a variety of partners, including small and mid-size farms and ranches, landowners, policy advocates, decision makers, community stakeholders and others, Julie will be instrumental in developing and administering new systems, policies, processes, and programs supporting healthy food systems in our county.
“Julie will advance our mission to support economic and community development of local farms and ranches by coordinating across County departments and community groups to enhance food access and public health,” said Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney. “Santa Clara County is fortunate to have rich soils and a temperate climate that can support a wide array of agricultural crops, including fruits and vegetables as well as livestock production. Agricultural products grown in Santa Clara County are consumed locally and globally. With the addition of Julie as the Agricultural Liaison, we can continue to protect the County’s working lands, which are essential to support the current agricultural economy.”
Morris is an advocate of local food systems and longtime rancher and co-founder of T.O. Cattle Company, her family’s ranch that direct markets grass-fed beef to customers throughout California. She worked as the Communications and Government Affairs Manager at Earthbound Farm, the nation’s largest organic salad company, managing internal and government communications. She has experience with both federal and state agriculture policy, food access issues, and regulatory and compliance standards. She is the former Executive Director of Community Vision San Benito County, part of the Community Foundation of San Benito County, a non-profit organization focused on gathering input from local interest groups to establish funding priorities for the community.
Julie is a graduate of San Diego State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She is also a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership program, a two-year fellowship focusing on community involvement and leadership.
“I am thrilled to be joining Santa Clara County’s visionary leadership team that recognizes the value of agriculture to the community,” Morris said. “I see agriculture as a solution to some of our most critical issues, including climate change and hunger. As the new Agricultural Liaison, I hope to strengthen the relationships between farmers, ranchers, city dwellers, and policymakers as we work to ensure a thriving agricultural community in Santa Clara County.”