Farmworker Housing Study Oversight Committee convenes to review progress
CENTRAL COAST — Despite significant progress since the release of a landmark 2018 farmworker housing study quantifying critically overcrowded housing conditions for agricultural workers in the region, thousands more homes are needed to relieve severe overcrowding, unaffordable rents and ensure the stability of the...
Taking the vaccine into the fields to help vulnerable farmworkers
CALIFORNIA — Before state officials announced that 40% of California's new vaccine doses would go to low-income communities, leaders were struggling to make good on promises to prioritize vulnerable Californians in the vaccine rollout.
As my colleague Miriam Jordan recently wrote, farmworkers were among those...
Monterey County examines impacts of Covid-19 on local agriculture industry
SALINAS VALLEY — The results of a survey intended to better understand how Covid-19 has impacted Monterey County agriculture was released May 4 by Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales.
Survey results showed a total of 2,093 acres lost or not planted.
“The survey is a preliminary look...
Taylor Farms to reopen facility after 2022 fire
SALINAS VALLEY — One year after a devastating fire destroyed Taylor Farms’ food processing plant in Salinas, the agriculture company will reopen the facility later this month in time for the start of the Salinas Valley planting season.
Following months of construction, the foodservice location...
Women in agtech: Fatma Kaplan
Editor’s Note: The following profile is an excerpt from Amy Wu’s book, “From Farms to Incubators: Women Innovators Revolutionizing How Our Food is Grown,” which tells the stories of women entrepreneurs who are transforming agriculture through high technology.
Fatma Kaplan’s advice to her younger self...
Nutrition incentive program launches in Greenfield, King City
GREENFIELD — Aspire Health, in close collaboration with Blue Zones Project Monterey County, has announced the expansion of the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program to South Monterey County.
Launched in November 2023 at the La Princesa Markets on Williams Road and East Alisal Street...
Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit promotes importance of workforce education
SALINAS VALLEY — A panel of experts discussed current challenges in agriculture, such as the future of the workforce and the role of education, during the eighth annual Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit.
The two-day session spanned more than eight and a half hours of...
Salinas Valley Fair to host online livestock auction Saturday
KING CITY — Salinas Valley Fair will host a virtual livestock auction this Saturday, June 20.
This year’s auction is a charitable auction, with no meat product exchanging hands. Proceeds will instead be directed to 4-H and FFA exhibitors who participate in the auction. Some...
Soledad farmers market returns with new season after shutdown
SOLEDAD — Soledad Historical Society’s farmers market returned with a new season that began on April 1.
Signs posted at the entryway of the closed lanes at 135 Soledad St. asked guests to observe Covid-19 health guidelines, such as wearing masks and keeping spaced apart.
The...
Local News
27 miles of Highway 1 set to close Sunday for Big...
MONTEREY COUNTY — Big Sur International Marathon returns to Highway 1 on Sunday, April 26, with nearly 10,000 athletes, thousands of spectators and hundreds...
