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Salinas
March 5, 2026

Community input sought for flood-prone areas to support future groundwater recharge efforts in Salinas Valley

SALINAS VALLEY — In an effort to increase groundwater recharge and storage while reducing flooding, four local agencies and nonprofits collaborating on the Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Program are seeking public input about known areas of flooding and recharge. A public survey is now open and...

Cannabis represents 10 percent of Monterey County crop production as fruits, nuts decline

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales has released the county’s 2019 Crop Report, which included an evaluation of cannabis production for the first time. ā€œThis report reflects a production value of $4,409,992,000, which is an increase of 3.5 percent from 2018,ā€ Gonzales...

Hundreds of South Monterey County students attend 2024 Farm Day

Farm Day
SALINAS VALLEY — Roughly 1,400 third graders from South Monterey County schools attended the 2024 South County Farm Day last Thursday to learn about agriculture and experience animals firsthand.Ā  The annual enrichment program, sponsored by Monterey County Agricultural Education, gives an opportunity for youth to...

Women in agtech: Martha Montoya

Editor’s Note: The following profile is an excerpt from Amy Wu’s upcoming book, ā€œFrom Farms to Incubators: Women Innovators Revolutionizing How Our Food is Grown,ā€ which tells the stories of women entrepreneurs who are transforming agriculture through high technology. Martha Montoya never imagined that her...

Wine competition accepting entries

Entries are now being accepted for the Central Coast Wine Competition (CCWC), which takes place June 21-22 in Paso Robles.

ALBA celebrates National Fruits and Vegetables Month by cultivating new farmersĀ and fresh food in Salinas Valley

SALINAS VALLEY — As the country celebrates National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month this June, the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) is spotlighting the farmers behind the produce — and the power of farming to change lives. Located in the heart of the Salinas...

From Gold Rush to global leader: New book explores California’s agricultural history

California Agriculture
CALIFORNIA — Arcadia Publishing has announced the publication of ā€œCalifornia Agriculture,ā€ a new history of the state’s agriculture industry by author Patti DesMarais. The 128-page paperback is part of Arcadia’s ā€œImages of Americaā€ book series, featuring historical information and photographs. Beginning with the Spanish padres in...

Thousands of respirator masks distributed to Salinas Valley agricultural workers

SALINAS VALLEY — Numerous area leaders recently came together to distribute thousands of N95 respirators to protect agricultural workers, as ongoing air quality problems due to smoke from nearby wildfires caused essential workers in the outdoors to be in danger. Last week the Air Quality...

Braga Fresh to close Salinas facility, cutting 260 Jobs

Braga Fresh
SOLEDAD — Braga Fresh, the Soledad-based grower-shipper known for its fresh vegetables and packaged salads, plans to close its Salinas processing plant, resulting in the loss of about 260 jobs, according to a state WARN Act filing. The closure was disclosed in documents submitted Nov....

Monterey County’s Covid-19 infection rates highest in agriculture

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County Health Department reports that 475 agriculture workers, or 36.79 percent of the county’s total confirmed cases, have been infected with Covid-19 as of June 22. A large gap separates that figure and the 261 ā€œunknown or under investigationā€ category, and...

Local News

Avanza Network school assembly

Avanza brings higher education message to Salinas Valley schools

SOLEDAD — The Avanza Network wrapped up its 10th annual conference in the Salinas Valley last month after visiting 25 middle and high schools...