Monterey County Agriculture, Food & Gardening Articles

A workers comp study says one day above 100 degrees can cause 15 percent more accidents, costing workers and employers millions. A new advisory panel may help the state improve its work heat rules.

On Dec. 13, the County Board of Supervisors heard an appeal about the county Planning Commission’s denial of a proposed farmworker housing project in Pajaro. They voted 3-1 to overturn that decision.

Marie Heilman of Winters, who is happy to be alive, wants people to guard against mosquitoes and the deadly virus they carry.

Around 5:30pm on Monday, June 19, Jeff Nohr, Avila Construction’s project manager for a planned farmworker housing project in Pajaro, sent an email to Louise Ramirez, tribal chair for the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation (OCEN), informing her that the company’s contract with…

E. & J. Gallo Winery has bought Soledad-based Hahn Family Wines, the winemaking titan announced on Tuesday, June 20.

A popular program doubles CalFresh benefits to buy fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. It is among the California food benefit programs on the table in the budget negotiations between legislative leaders and Gov. Newsom.

Farmers in 2022 suffered an estimated $150 million in crop losses due to the impatiens necrotic spot virus and an additional $54.4 million from flooding.

SALINAS VALLEY — Once again the Salinas Valley Fair drew thousands of people to South Monterey County for a long weekend of family-friendly activities and entertainment, including its first-ever huge concert headlined by multiplatinum country singer Dylan Scott on Saturday …

MONTEREY COUNTY — This year’s onslaught of winter storms have cumulatively impacted a total of 20,073 acres and created $600 million of damage to the Monterey County agricultural industry. On Friday, the County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner’s Office released the …

The future of farming in California is changing as the planet warms, altering the rain and heat patterns that guide which crops are grown where. “We’re adjusting for survival,” one grower said.

Rey Mashayekhi here, thinking about the tradeoffs that we, as a society, make between safety and commerce. I’m not breaking any news here; it’s simply a fact of life in our economic system, and especially when you’re as reliant as…

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.”

The Monterey City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday, May 2, for up to four possible retail cannabis locations within the city, which increases the previous idea of three locations—Alvarado Street, Lighthouse Avenue and the Cannery Row district—to include one on…

KING CITY — Salinas Valley Fair has announced that this year’s Fair theme is “Barnyard May-Ham,” suggested by James Hinkle of King City. Hinkle is a sophomore at Palma High School and president of King City Rural 4-H Club. The …

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 …

Before foodies and food porn came California cuisine. These 10 people helped create a movement that celebrated dishes that are local, seasonal and sustainable.

For grower Javier Zamora, this winter was an unprecedented procession of weather-related misfortune. January’s storms turned nearly half of the roughly 70 growable acres on his farm, JSM Organics in the Pajaro Valley, into “a lake overnight.” Weeks after the…

More than a decade ago, Hartnell College had only a “very small, passive” agricultural technology program, admits Jackie Cruz, vice president of advancement and development at the Salinas community college. There was only one faculty member at Hartnell dedicated to…

GONZALES — At its April 17 meeting, Gonzales City Council adopted an Agricultural Resource Mitigation Ordinance, which adds a new chapter — Agricultural Resource Mitigation — to the Gonzales Municipal Code Zoning Regulations. “This step is a major commitment by …

SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Fair has announced Kyla Lambert, a senior at King City High School, as Miss Salinas Valley Fair 2023. Over the next year, Lambert will represent the fair, making appearances at special events and inviting guests …