San Benito County Agriculture, Food & Gardening Digest

Attorney Paul Rovella was recognized as a friend to agriculture Nov. 4 at the Barn Event Center in Tres Pinos. About 100 guests came to the event hosted by the San Benito County Farm Bureau.

The vodka—shaped like a water pipe and inspired in part by the movie “Up in Smoke”—is being made in partnership with Scotts Valley spirits house UBlendIt.

In a study published in Nature Sustainability, scientists assessed the potential for wide-scale synthetic production of dietary fats. The raw materials are the same as those used by plants: hydrogen in water and carbon dioxide in the air.

The acquisition includes the Daou brand, Daou Mountain Estate, four luxury wineries, and around 400 acres of vineyards in Adelaida District of Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County.

Janice and Joseph Gali of Gali Vineyards in Watsonville still have fruit hanging. There’s good news and bad news, as with anyone trying to ripen coastal syrah this season.

Little did Aaron and Jason Ricketts know, when they opened their Hapa Bros food truck in August 2022, that they would be helping to redefine the local mobile food scene.

Up to 15 food vendors will be located by the public parking lot at Sixth and East streets from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14.

Hundreds of wells in Tulare Lake aquifer are at risk of going dry. Today's recommendation is the first time that state officials have moved to crack down on local plans that fail to stop excessive groundwater pumping.

Sommelier Mark Bright wants to bring a taste of Europe to the Santa Cruz Mountains. You might know his name from Saison, the Michelin-starred restaurant he opened in San Francisco in 2009.

Water providers say rebates for residential areas are costly and residents may refuse to remove their lawns. The rules aim to save enough water for more than a million households a year.

Chef Butter started when Jane Shaffer, maker of the fresh artichoke hearts line called ArtiHearts, got a bit bored during the pandemic. The longtime chef turned entrepreneur had been toying with the idea of compound butters.

The European Union has banned certain additives that are used in American candies and baked goods. California is on the cusp of prohibiting their sale by 2027.

DeRose Vineyards in Hollister is well known to wine lovers for its casual atmosphere that somehow accentuates the serious intent of winegrowers Pat and Alphonse DeRose.

This qualifies as more than pretty good news. Pretty Good Advice in Soquel is welcoming a sister into the world.

After being closed for over three months, the San Juan Bakery reopened Sept. 20 to the relief of tourists and regular customers who have been missing specialties like French bread, turnovers and doughnuts from one of the city’s original anchor businesses.

Using intricate infrared images captured by airplane over California's Central Valley, researchers were able to distinguish Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines that were infected but not showing symptoms.

The oldest sake factory in the United States and the oldest full-scale commercial brewery in San Benito County have made local history with their first collaboration.

In a session hosted by BenitoLink, a varied group of farmers came together at the Community Foundation Epicenter to discuss their needs, challenges and aspirations.

This summer’s Michelin star recognition for Chez Noir in Carmel, granted within 10 months of its opening, might seem sudden. It’s not.

Daniel Laggner, founder of Santa Cruz-based Wildstag Provisions, is on a mission to protect American wildlife by selling free range game meat.

With all his varied interests, it is surprising that Toney Canty is able to contain himself within the confines of his food truck. But the Hollister-based chef is content to serve up his fare at events all over San Benito and Santa Clara counties.

Many farmworkers in Coachella Valley lack legal status as citizens and don't qualify for most federal and state disaster aid. Even a new $95 million storm assistance program for immigrants that Governor Gavin Newsom recently touted is out of reach because it pertains to the winter and spring storms and floods.

Office parks, corporate campuses, strip malls would have to remove grass, or face fines of up to $500 a day.

DeRose Winery is now showcasing many of the wines that master winemaker Al DeRose produces in a new tasting room in San Martin.

This year we celebrate the founding of the Arroyo Seco AVA—granted status on April 15, 1983—making it one of the earliest to be established of California’s over 100 such designations.

Members of the San Juan Bautista Urban Growth/Sphere of Influence Ad-Hoc Committee expressed a desire to remain in control of future development, and most said they want to stay away from historic areas and agricultural land.

With California setting goals to increase the number of new housing units to keep up with growth, agricultural regions such as Hollister are equally committed to preserving the open space and farmland in and around the city.

Twelve years ago, Thomas Bray inherited San Benito Gold Honey, the business his father Leon Bray founded 40 years before. These days, he sells his honey and pollen from a little trailer on Hwy 25.

In the six months since their grand opening, owners Mike Kohne and Maura Cooper have worked to redefine San Benito County’s wine reputation with their Crave Wine Bar & Shop in Hollister.

“Stirm Wine Company’s location in Aromas is not technically in San Benito County,” owner Ryan Stirm says, “But I am the most local non-local winemaker out there. I could hit San Benito County with a rock from my vineyard.”

When winemaker Bobby Graviano left Bargetto, he had signed on as winemaker with Nicholson Vineyards in Corralitos. However, his subsequent involvement in a new project made that impossible, so he tapped his winemaking colleague Ellie Loustalot to take the reins at Nicholson.

Coauthored with Rep. Alma Adams, the Opportunities in Organic Act seeks to help organic producers expand access to new markets and resources, and provide support and training for farmers.