Eric Cárdenas
Agriculture Infrastructure Manager
Phone: (805) 565-7550
Email: [email protected]
Eric Cárdenas graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1998 with degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies. Since graduating, Eric has spent his career integrating himself into the community, working closely with others to institute programs that support environmental and community health and well-being at many levels.
Eric now serves as the s’Cool Food Initiative’s Agriculture and Infrastructure Manager, responsible for coordinating and developing systems that enable schools to take advantage of the region’s agricultural heritage by linking local farms to school cafeterias.
Previously, Eric worked as a program director at the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) where he coordinated EDC’s Central Coast Environmental Health Project (CCEHP). During his tenure at EDC, Eric helped spearhead the creation of the Santa Barbara County Ag Futures Alliance (AFA) to promote the long-term viability of agriculture in Santa Barbara County. In partnership with Ventura County AFA and the Community Alliance of Family Farmers (CAFF), he assisted in the development of the region’s first Buy Fresh, Buy Local Food Guide for Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties (2008). Eric worked closely with the community at large to draft and pass statewide legislation addressing pesticide use near schools (A.B. 947- Jackson) and was instrumental in developing a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management policy for the City of Santa Barbara.
Eric is a former Planning Fellow for the Roots of Change (ROC http://www.rocfund.org), serves as a partner with the Southern California Good Food Network, and served on the state of California’s Ag Vision Process under the leadership of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary AG Kawamura.
