Monterey County supervisors spare sputtering cannabis equity grant program
MONTEREY COUNTY — A Monterey County program to ensure equity in the local commercial cannabis market is sputtering but will continue on a smaller scale.
The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 19 to continue the Growing Equity Together program, known as GET, despite...
Who will fulfill the vision of Cesar Chavez?
More than three decades ago, Cesar Chavez, founder of the first successful union for farmworkers, predicted a future in which the cities of California would be run by people who looked like him.
“History and inevitability are on our side,” he said in one of his best-known...
Monterey County receives 750,000 masks for farmworkers
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County has received 750,000 procedure masks from the state specifically to protect agricultural workers in the area.
The delivery arrived May 7 after the Monterey County Emergency Medical Services Agency Medical Operation Area Coordinator requested them to safeguard farmworkers in the...
Monterey County honors last surviving Bracero of 1963 Chualar tragedy
CHUALAR — Monterey County has honored the last surviving Bracero of the 1963 Chualar train tragedy, recognizing his life story and the enduring legacy of Bracero workers during Bracero Worker History Recognition Week.
During a special ceremony Sept. 16 at the Monterey County Board of...
Monterey County looks to eliminate prior cultivation requirement for outdoor cannabis growers
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Board of Supervisors narrowly voted Jan. 9 to make changes to its outdoor cannabis cultivation pilot program, allowing growers to double their canopy size and eliminate a requirement that made permit applicants prove cannabis was cultivated on the property...
Retiree reflects on half-century of agricultural work in Salinas Valley
SALINAS VALLEY — Jesse Holguin retired from Gonzales Irrigation Systems on Dec. 31, wrapping up a career of 40 years with the company and more than 50 years in total with agricultural work.
Holguin began working for Mel Fowler of King City 51 years ago,...
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...
Salinas Valley Fair unveils renovated Expo Building
SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Fair has announced the completion of the extensive renovation of the Expo Building, marking a new chapter in its storied history.
The 12,000-square-foot, multipurpose facility underwent upgrades in 2022 and 2023, transforming it into a venue for a wide array...
Greenfield company receives $877K for renewable energy production
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Market and Gas Inc. will receive $877,500 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help create infrastructure for the sale and production of renewable fuels.
“Climate change and its unprecedented effects pose serious challenges to our planet, and a large variety...
Scheid Family Wines enters 8th year of 100% wind power
GREENFIELD — Scheid Family Wines, a Greenfield family-owned and operated wine company, is entering its eighth year of being 100% powered by renewable wind energy.
The wine company has embraced sustainability as a core tenet since its inception in 1972 and is the largest winery...
Local News
KFC employee, aspiring pilot from Greenfield surprised with $20K
GREENFIELD — A routine afternoon shift turned into a life-changing moment for one local student when Rodrigo Velasquez, a King City KFC employee and...
