Focus on Agriculture

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Cannabis Program is in the process of assessing how communities have been impacted by cannabis prohibition and the War on Drugs and exploring how to more equitably develop this new industry.  Tier 1 funding from the California Office of Business...

In a joint effort to accelerate the development of agricultural technologies, Wells Fargo has awarded Western Growers a $30,000 grant for the second year in a row.

GREENFIELD — Scheid Family Wines Vice President of Winemaking Dave Nagengast has announced his retirement after 20 years with the Monterey County-based wine company. Nagengast was the creative and organizational mastermind behind the company’s portfolio of wines, an early adopter of sustainable farming and winemaking...

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

Farming is often thought of as a way of life and not just a job. Many California farm families have been living this life for generations — and they want to continue the legacy, growing crops, raising livestock and supporting the communities and people...

SALINAS VALLEY — This year’s South County Farm Day brought about 650 third- and fourth-graders to the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City on Jan. 27. The South Monterey County students, stemming from Gonzales to King City schools, attended the free educational enrichment program taught...

GREENFIELD — Lavender Creek Co., a family lavender farm and wellness brand based in Monterey County near Greenfield, recently announced that its Lavender Refreshment Towels have received approval from the Infection Control departments of multiple leading healthcare organizations in California. This approval confirms the towels’...

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. Jackie Vazquez spends the majority of...

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County agriculture pumped more than $11 billion into the local economy in 2023 and supported 81,315 jobs, according to a new economic report. Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Rich Ordonez released the latest comprehensive analysis of the county’s largest industry on Nov. 18,...

SALINAS VALLEY — Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) is spotlighting its transformative Programa Educativo para Agricultores (PEPA), a comprehensive training program empowering farmworkers to transition into successful organic farmers. This program is reshaping agriculture in the Salinas Valley, offering Latino farmworkers the tools and...