Focus on Agriculture

GONZALES — Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County (LAFCO) has approved the annexation of about 49 acres east of Highway 101 and north of Gloria Road to the City of Gonzales for future agriculture industrial development. The annexation, which received approval Sept. 25, allows...

Salinas Valley was initially spared the worst of the damage as storms battered California last month. But then the Salinas River overflowed its banks Jan. 10, breaching berms and levees. Over the ensuing hours and days, thousands of acres of some of the country’s most...

SALINAS VALLEY — More than 75 food leaders, farmers, advocates and policymakers from across California gathered in November for Growing the Future Together, the first in-person statewide convening of the California Food Policy Council (CAFPC) since the pandemic. Hosted in Salinas — the “Salad Bowl...

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...

GONZALES — The Center for Land-Based Learning’s Monterey/Santa Cruz FARMS Leadership Program was awarded a $5,000 grant by the Bayer Fund to support field days for the upcoming 2020-21 program year.  Participating schools include Gonzales High School and Soquel High School, and funds will go...

SOLEDAD — Colby Pereira, chief operating officer of Braga Fresh in Soledad, has received the Grower-Shipper Foundation’s 2024 Agricultural Woman of the Year award. The award honors unique leadership qualities held by women working within the agricultural industry in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito...

Editor’s Note: The following profile is an excerpt from Amy Wu’s upcoming 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. Martha Montoya never imagined that her...

SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Fair activities will begin this week with the virtual junior livestock auction set for Saturday, May 8. Like last year, Covid-19 pandemic health guidelines have caused an online format and an earlier scheduling than the traditional mid-May fair dates. Youth from...

UPDATE — Nov. 7, 2025: Full November SNAP/CalFresh benefits have begun posting to the EBT cards of Monterey County residents, according to the County of Monterey Department of Social Services on Friday. “The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is telling us that California has initiated...