Monterey County Local News: Agriculture, Food & Gardening


All Local Agriculture, Food & Gardening News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: California’s farm workers help feed the whole country.
How California Feeds the Country

California stands as America’s agricultural powerhouse, growing half of its fruits and vegetables. Here’s how California farming has shaped the state, from the early missions to today’s “factories in the field.”

Image caption: The 1965 law known as the Williamson Act has been responsible for keeping about half of California's farmland out of the hands of developers.
The Williamson Act: How the Law That Protects California’s Farmland Works

The Williamson Act, passed in 1965, now keeps more than 16 million acres of farmland out of the hands of developers. Here's how the law puts the brakes on the development of California agricultural properties.

Image caption: Since the Gold Rush era, land reclamation has cost California 90 percent of its wetlands.
How Land Reclamation Hurts California’s Environment

Since the Gold Rush era, land reclamation projects have helped to build California, but they are also damaging the state’s environment for people, plants and animals by eliminating essential wetlands.

Image caption: How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance

California is a leading producer of agricultural crops. So it’s not surprising to find cutting-edge ideas taking root here.

Image caption: RCDs look after the land, whether it’s used for grazing, growing, or getting out into nature.
California Dirt

What do resource conservation districts protect? Pretty much everything that’s worth saving.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

05/14/2025
Image for display with article titled As Local Climate-Smart Farming Research Advances, USDA Cuts a Critical Funding Stream.

Researchers at CSU Monterey Bay were well underway in putting a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture into motion – already working with 25 local farmers to implement climate-smart practices on their farms – when they received a letter announcing the remainder of their project funds had been terminated.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

05/10/2025
Image for display with article titled Salinas Valley Fair Kick-Off Builds Excitement for 2025 ‘Berry Best Fair’

Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City were buzzing last month as the annual Fair Kick-Off event drew more than 600 guests and set an enthusiastic tone for the upcoming 81st Salinas Valley Fair, scheduled for May 15-18.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

05/09/2025
Last week the Northern California beach town of Santa Cruz enacted a tax on sodas, ice teas and other beverages with added sugar. Voters approved the 2-cent-per-ounce tax in November, despite the beverage industry pouring at least $1.2 million in opposition.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

04/30/2025
Image for display with article titled Fanciful and D’Arrigo Bros. Pay $17,000 to Farmworker in Retaliation Case.

Fanciful Company Inc. and D’Arrigo Bros. Co., two Salinas-based agricultural companies that provide services ranging from produce cultivation to packaging and shipping, have paid $17,000 in lost wages to a farmworker who alleged he was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about working conditions for himself and his co-workers.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

04/28/2025
Residents living near farms can now sign up to be alerted when pesticides will be applied by the a new system recently launched by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/22/2025
From higher costs to export worries, California’s agricultural and wine industries face many possible tariff effects. But some hope for opportunity.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/16/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit Wednesday, saying the tariffs hurt “states, consumers and businesses.”

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

04/14/2025
Image for display with article titled Raley’s, FirstFruits Farms Deliver 30,000 Pounds of Apples to Food Bank for Monterey Country

Raley’s and Washington-based FirstFruits Farms donated 30,000 pounds of fresh apples on April 1 to the Food Bank for Monterey County.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo From Salinas Valley Tribune...

04/09/2025
Image for display with article titled Scheid Family Wines Achieves Bee Friendly Farming Certification

Scheid Family Wines has successfully obtained the Bee Friendly Farming Certification for its estate White Flower Vineyard, a prestigious designation that underscores the Greenfield winery’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

03/28/2025
Image for display with article titled Donations Provide a New Dining Area at Salvation Army

Donations from local agencies have led to the completion of a new outdoor dining area at the Salvation Army in Watsonville.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/26/2025
Food aid is one of numerous competing priorities California lawmakers will have to juggle in the face of steep potential federal cuts.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/25/2025
Across California, only one in five eligible college students receive CalFresh due to complicated requirements and an arduous application process. With two-thirds of students experiencing food insecurity, many campuses have started helping them apply for CalFresh.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

03/19/2025
Image for display with article titled Local Promotores Trained on Climate Change Impacts Are Now Teaching Fellow Farmworkers.

Farmworkers are especially vulnerable to climate change. They work in the fields through different weather conditions, from extreme heat to cold, and are potentially exposed to air pollution and pesticides.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

03/06/2025
Image for display with article titled Community Food Pantry of King City Teams Up With Goodwill for Donation Drive

Community Food Pantry of King City is again partnering with Goodwill Industries for another collection drive later this month.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

03/05/2025
Image for display with article titled A New Partnership Seeks to Skill Up the Local Agricultural Workforce.

As an industry, ag tech is an amorphous and rapidly evolving space. It encompasses a wide array of technologies that include AI, drones, robots, autonomous tractors and even laser weeders. The potential of these innovations to transform our food systems is huge, with potential benefits that include enhanced farming efficiency, improved water conservation and reduced food waste.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

02/28/2025
Image for display with article titled Artichoke Festival 2025 Returns to Its Roots in Salinas Valley

The iconic Artichoke Festival is making a grand return to its roots in the heart of the Salinas Valley this year.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

02/24/2025
The governor vowed to clear the way for more groundwater recharge. Has it worked? “We’re still tinkering around with small numbers,” one expert says.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

02/14/2025
Image for display with article titled King City Chamber Announces 2024 Business, Community Award Winners

King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture has announced the 2024 honorees of the organization’s annual awards.