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Placer County Agriculture, Food & Gardening Articles



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.

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Elements Eatery Opens

Elements Eatery & Bar
Elements Eatery and Bar has opened on the South Shore featuring Mexican-American fusion cuisine featuring a full bar and views of Lake Tahoe at 3310 Lake Tahoe Blvd. The menu features homemade horchata and tortillas, cold-pressed …

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Community Pantry Opens in Truckee

Sierra Community House
Sierra Community House has launched a Community Pantry format in Truckee, which allows individuals to select their own food items, which in turn empowers the community and reduces waste.  The new client choice distribution model incorporates dignity, …

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Join Community Gardens

NTPUD
Truckee Community Garden has garden plots available for rent and North Tahoe Regional Park Community Garden in Tahoe Vista welcomes members to its North Tahoe Community Garden Club
Registration for the Truckee beds opens April 15 and a variety …

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Gumba’s Opens in Blairsden

Gumba’s II
The popular Gumba’s pizza has reopened as Gumba’s II next to Grizzly Grill Restaurant in Blairsden featuring pizza, wings, salads and desserts for takeout only. The location is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday …

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Empowering Farms, Enriching Communities: Inside the Force of Tahoe Food Hub

TRUCKEE, Calif. – Tucked away in the Truckee/Tahoe area lies a transformative force in the local food scene: the Tahoe Food Hub. This initiative isn't just about providing fresh produce; it's a comprehensive endeavor that promotes regenerative farming practices, fosters …

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:
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.

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Apres Pop, popcorn made with Truckee, Tahoe in mind

TRUCKEE, Calif. – Truckee resident Daniel Feldman grew up snacking on popcorn, more so than the average person. It was a nightly snack for him and his dad. 

Image caption: The legislature's own analysts blasted new state water conservation rules as too strict and largely unjustified.
California’s New Water-Saving Regs Lack 'Compelling Justifications'

Even though California faces serious water shortages, the Legislature’s analysts recommend weaker outdoor conservation requirements and longer deadlines for urban water agencies.

Image caption: Almost half of all low-income Black adults in California experience food insecurity.
Hunger and Food Insecurity in California: What It Is, What to Do About It

Hunger and food insecurity have become persistent problems in California. With the world’s fifth-largest economy, what steps can we take to make sure that everyone has enough to eat?

Image caption: Second Harvest CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez (at right) with a group of local Rotary members who helped wrap Holiday Food & Fund Drive barrels.
Setting the Table for Social Change

Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez looks at food insecurity as a symptom of an underlying disorder—one that can be cured.

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Peppers opens in Tahoe City

Peppers
Peppers has opened with a new Mexican menu adjacent to Pete N Peters in Tahoe City. The menu features a selection of tacos, burritos, burrito bowls and nachos with a choice of chicken, meat and cauliflower fillings. The menu …

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Tahoe’s food shopping dilemma: Quality, convenience & prices

Fresh produce at the indoor Tahoe Farmers Market at Boatworks Mall. | Katherine E. Hill
I recently ran into a local store to purchase organic chard. The leafy greens were limp, a clear sign that the vegetables were past their …

Image caption: Farm workers had argued that reforms now in place in California would reduce employer retaliation for unionization efforts.
Farmworkers in Stanislaus County Win Union Vote Under New Law

The United Farm Workers, which represents nearly 7,000 workers, won a unionization vote in Stanislaus County. It’s the first such win in six years and first under a law that went into effect in May.

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.
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