Agriculture, Food & Gardening Image

Monterey County Agriculture, Food & Gardening Articles



Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
A Comprehensive Study of Unsustainable Groundwater Pumping in the County Is Cause for Alarm.

On May 9, staff from the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency presented its board a long-awaited study about the so-called Deep Aquifers, which have been increasingly mined in recent years as seawater intrusion marches inland toward the city of…

KSQD logo LOCAL NEWS
Organic Rising: Central Coast Farmers Featured in New Film

Anthony Saua, director of Organic Rising, talks about the rise of organic agriculture and its importance to health, the environment and slowing global warming,

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
Farmworker Housing Study Oversight Committee Convenes to Review Progress

CENTRAL COAST — Despite significant progress since the release of a landmark 2018 farmworker housing study quantifying critically overcrowded housing conditions for agricultural workers in the region, thousands more homes are needed to relieve severe overcrowding, unaffordable rents and ensure …

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Salinas Begins Cracking Down on an Increased Presence of Unpermitted Street Food Vendors.

Over the past few months, Salinas residents have seen an increase in street vendors in high-traffic areas, including food trucks. This can make it easy to grab a bite to eat, but also comes with issues. Residents have been calling…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Costly Rent Is Forcing All-in Monterey County to Look for More Affordable Options.

For the past four years, All-In Monterey County has helped distribute food, clothing and more to thousands of residents every month. Its volunteers were deployed throughout Pajaro following flooding in 2023, helping disaster-stricken residents clear out the mud from their…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
County of Monterey Planning Commission Deadlocks on Pajaro Farmworker Housing Project.

A shorthanded County of Monterey Planning Commission was split on its decision over a proposed farmworker housing project in Pajaro on Wednesday, April 10. The 3-3 tie denies the proposal, which allows the developer to appeal the decision to the…

Image caption: Joy Perrin, a mother of two children, testifies at the Budget Subcommittee on Human Services hearing at the state Capitol in Sacramento March 20, 2024. With the help of CalWORKS, Perrin was able to secure housing for her and her family.
California May Gut Two CalWORKS Programs Helping Thousands of Families

The state is considering zeroing out funds for CalWORKS family stabilization and job subsidy programs to help balance the budget.

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
King City Students, Volunteers Collaborate for Annual Workday

KING CITY — King City in Bloom (KCIB) and King City High School FFA joined forces March 20 for the second annual collaboration workday.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Pajaro Assistance Center Will Open on March 27.

The Pajaro Assistance Center to aid people who were affected by the winter storms in 2023 will open on Wednesday, March 27 at Pajaro Park.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Gonzales High FFA Contributes to Local Food Bank

GONZALES — Last Wednesday afternoon, 77 members of the Gonzales High School FFA held a door-to-door food drive to collect food for the Food Bank for Monterey County’s Gonzales Program.

King City Rustler logo LOCAL NEWS
Community Food Pantry of King City Announces Spring Goodwill Collection Drive

KING CITY — Community Food Pantry of King City is again partnering with Goodwill Industries for another collection drive in April.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Paris Bakery sold, but as the new owner takes over expect nothing to change.

Paris Bakery is under new ownership, but regulars may not notice a difference.

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.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
A Chinese delegation visits Salinas seeking to build collaboration and modernize agriculture abroad.

On Thursday afternoon, Jan. 25, a group of Chinese nationals, including government officials and representatives from several companies are walking through the Salinas warehouse of FarmWise, a tech company developing robotics for agricultural use.

Image caption:
Silicon Valley Billionaires vs. Bay Area’s Housing Crisis?

In NYT’s “The Farmers Had What the Billionaires Wanted,” we meet a man who wants to build a city in the middle of nowhere, and folks who are slowing him down.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
From dirt to table—EcoFarm conference kicks off with conversations about soil.

The phrase farm-to-table sounds like it has the white tablecloth gloss of a restaurant marketing professional on it when compared to some of the conversations at the EcoFarm conference. Several events at the 44th annual gathering at Asilomar Conference Center…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
The 2024 EcoFarm Conference spotlights farmers from diverse minority groups.

Each year for 43 years, the Soquel-based nonprofit Ecological Farming Association has hosted the EcoFarm conference. It’s become the largest organic farming conference for small and medium-sized farmers from across the country to network and learn from each other about…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
The Whole Enchilada to close at the end of the month as longtime chef, operator retires.

For many people, an outing to Moss Landing has been less about kayaking and more about dining. Now, however, one of the community’s favorite destinations relocated and another is closing.

Featured

RCDs look after the land, whether it’s used for grazing, growing, or getting out into nature.
California Dirt
RCDs were created to avoid a repeat of the Dust Bowl. Now they work with landowners to preserve the air, water and natural habitats that sustain us all.
Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance
Greener ways to feed the world’s growing population
Fresh and dried fruit, wine, nuts and more can be found at Casa De Fruta, a venerable stop for drivers traversing Pacheco Pass.
Roadside Attractions
Apples and berries, steaks and dairy...and much more
They help feed the whole country, but life for California’s farm workers remains a struggle.
How California Feeds the Country
California, a state known for high-tech and show business glitz, is also America’s farming powerhouse.
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
From its earliest days as a state, California has been trying to turn marshes into productive land.
Since the Gold Rush era, land reclamation has cost California 90 percent of its wetlands.
How Land Reclamation Hurts California’s Environment
The hidden price tag of “reclaiming” swamps and marshes as usable land.
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
More than half of California farmland is under contracts that prevent its development.
Join Us Today!