Fair once again brings thrills to Salinas Valley
SALINAS VALLEY — The 78th annual Salinas Valley Fair returned after two years of Covid-19 pandemic closures with crowds packing the fairgrounds in King City, living up to the theme of “Back in the Saddle.”
While total attendance numbers weren’t available yet, the four days...
Women in agtech: Jackie Vazquez
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...
FDA recalls onions from California suppliers after salmonella outbreak
CALIFORNIA — A nationwide onion recall was expanded by the Food and Drug Administration on Aug. 10 to include red, yellow, white and sweet yellow onions linked to California suppliers after more than 600 people in 43 states have been sickened with salmonella.
The original...
Women in agtech: Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos
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.
Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos was born and raised...
Grant supports FARMS Leadership Program at Gonzales High School
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...
Hartnell offers ag tech training to Monterey County veterans
SALINAS VALLEY — Hartnell College and its partner, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, are reaching out to veterans and family members with an immediate opportunity for free courses in agricultural technology and paid on-the-job training at some of the largest Salinas Valley ag...
Monterey County’s crop values increase in 2021
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County agriculture’s gross production value bounced back by 4.8% in 2021 to just over $4.1 billion, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that also resulted in supply chain shortages.
This increase represents a $190 million rise from 2020, when the gross production...
Farmworker resource center set for Greenfield
GREENFIELD — The drive for Greenfield residents seeking county resources will be shortened with the creation of a farmworker resource center.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the allocation of $250,000 on Feb. 1 for the creation of the center in Greenfield. The county allocation...
Creekside Farms in Greenfield celebrates 35 years
GREENFIELD — The DNA running through Carol and Larry Umbarger’s family business reveals itself through a fabric of unity, commitment and pride.
Creekside Farms is a legacy 35 years in the making. In 1988, two American farmers transformed a humble cut flower business (designed to...
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...
Local News
An evening trip down to the Soledad Certified Farmer’s Market
SOLEDAD — From afar, the Soledad Certified Farmer’s Market on Soledad Street doesn’t seem like much compared to the larger events happening around Monterey...
