Focus on Agriculture

YUMA, Ariz. — The Rev. Emilio Chapa was delivering a homily on a recent Sunday when he paused to lament a sight that had shaken him as he entered the sacristy before Mass. The board where his staff posted requests for funeral services was covered...

SOLEDAD — This summer, CRU Winery is on the hunt for the best chowder recipe with their Chowder Cook-Off Contest. Now through Aug. 6, California residents can submit their best chowder recipe for a chance to win. The Chowder Cook-Off is a tribute to the...

GONZALES — Papé Material Handling was named the Combilift Dealer of the Year for 2021 in recognition of the organization’s excellent performance and customer service during the past 12 months. The award was announced during the recent Combilift North American Dealers’ Meeting on Feb. 3. “The...

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...

SALINAS VALLEY — Things were challenging enough for lettuce growers in Monterey County’s Salinas Valley before Mother Nature dealt a one-two punch in this year’s storms. Farmers in 2022 had suffered an estimated $150 million in crop losses as impatiens necrotic spot virus — a...

Wine grape harvest is just around the corner in the Paso Robles wine country.

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...

GONZALES — Papé Material Handling opened its new Gonzales location with a celebration earlier this month, allowing the public to tour the facility, get acquainted with the team and see an electric truck. An estimated 100 community members showed up to the Aug. 4 grand...

SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County residents were able to get vaccinated with six sessions of a mass Covid-19 vaccination effort last weekend at Greenfield Memorial Hall and Soledad Community Center. A total of 3,000 vaccine doses were distributed at the events, which were separate from...