Santa Clara County Local Agriculture, Food & Gardening News Articles and Digest

Agriculture, Food & Gardening Housing Government

Thousands of Migrant Farmworker Apartments Sit Vacant for Months

12/07/2023
Even though California is facing a crippling housing shortage, one potential source remains untapped. The state allows thousands of apartments used for part of the year by farmworkers to otherwise sit vacant for three to six months.

From Silicon Valley Voice...

Education Families & Children Agriculture, Food & Gardening City of Milpitas

Pomeroy’s Garden to Table Program Grows Healthy Eaters

12/07/2023
“At Pomeroy Elementary, we have an amazing Garden to Table program,” said Kevin Keegan, principal at Pomeroy, in an informational video. “We have this amazing partnership with our families and outside resources as well to make this community garden a wonderful place. We call it the heart of our school because it’s a place where all kids, all staff, everyone can go to and they have hands-on experiences.”

From Morgan Hill Times...

Environment Agriculture, Food & Gardening Sustainability

Organic Growers See New Role in Age of Climate Change

12/04/2023
Image for display with article titled Organic Growers See New Role in Age of Climate Change

At the Organic Grower Summit last week, organized by Western Growers and the Organic Produce Network, over 600 growers and industry leaders, mostly from California, met in Monterey to share problems, solutions and business cards.

From Inside Climate News...

Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

Monterey Farmers Try Novel Approach to Replenish Groundwater

11/29/2023
Water managers in Pajaro Valley are paying farmers for water they get back into the ground. The move comes as California has grappled with water shortages in recent years.

From The Mercury News...

Business, Economy & Jobs Agriculture, Food & Gardening

After 29 Years, Faultline Brewery Restaurant Rebrands

11/21/2023
Sunnyvale’s award-winning Faultline Brewing Co. is getting a new identity. The 10,000-square-foot property will become the Laughing Monk Brewing and Gastropub—a change that also applies to Faultline’s Scotts Valley offshoot.

From SFGate...

Business, Economy & Jobs Agriculture, Food & Gardening

One of Largest Cannabis Distribution Companies in State Goes Up in Smoke

11/20/2023
HERBL, one of California’s biggest cannabis companies, collapsed earlier this year. The company, which sold $700 million of cannabis last year, reportedly shorted the state $17 million in taxes.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Environment Health Agriculture, Food & Gardening Community Service & Support Government

Hunger and Food Insecurity in California: What It Is, What to Do About It

11/17/2023
Image for display with article titled Hunger and Food Insecurity in California: What Must We Do to Make Sure Everybody Eats?

Almost 1 of every 4 people in the world’s fifth-largest economy has trouble getting enough nutritious food to eat.

From Morgan Hill Times...

Business, Economy & Jobs Agriculture, Food & Gardening City of Morgan Hill

J Winston Winery Celebrates First Harvest Off New Property

11/16/2023
Image for display with article titled J Winston Winery Celebrates 1st Harvest Off New Property

John Bannister of BCH Construction in Morgan Hill remembers watching his grandfather crush grapes and tuck the wine barrels under the porch at the family home in the Central Valley on the E&J Gallo ranch where they worked as farm laborers.

From YubaNet...

Agriculture, Food & Gardening Sustainability Crime & Justice

Groups Urge Court to Strike Down Decision Greenlighting Ocean Fish Farming

11/13/2023
Center for Food Safety has filed arguments seeking to revoke the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ approval of nationwide permit 56, which authorizes industrial finfish aquaculture structures in ocean waters around the country. CFS represents a coalition of conservation, tribal, and fishing organizations.

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Business, Economy & Jobs Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

Farmworkers in Stanislaus County Win Union Vote Under New Law

11/10/2023
Image for display with article titled Farmworkers in Stanislaus County Win Union Vote, First Under New Law Making it Easier to Unionize

Image for display with article titled Farmworkers in Stanislaus County Win Union Vote, First Under New Law Making it Easier to Unionize

The law, which took effect in May, lets workers cast votes by signing union cards.

From ProPublica...

Business, Economy & Jobs Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening

A California Ranch Gets Nearly as Much Water as the Arizona City of Scottsdale

11/09/2023
The Elmore Desert Ranch gets 22.5 billion gallons of water from the Colorado River, almost as much as is cleared for Scottsdale, Ariz. And that’s just a fraction of the 386.5 billion gallons from the river going to 19 other families in Imperial Valley.

From YubaNet...

Agriculture, Food & Gardening

UC Irvine-Led Science Team Shows How to Eat Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis

11/06/2023
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.

From Edible Monterey Bay...

Agriculture, Food & Gardening

Gali Debuts First Wines Made by Former Ridge Winemaker

11/01/2023
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.

From San Joaquin Valley Sun...

Business, Economy & Jobs Agriculture, Food & Gardening

Australian Wine Conglomerate Spends $900 Million for Daou Vineyards

11/01/2023
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.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Business, Economy & Jobs Agriculture, Food & Gardening

Saratoga Restaurateurs Causing a Stir in Santa Cruz Mountains

10/31/2023
Angelo Heropoulos, owner of Hero Ranch Kitchen and Flowers Restaurant in Saratoga, has taken over the storefront most recently occupied by Pasta Armellino, which shuttered in October.

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Business, Economy & Jobs Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening Sustainability Government

Climate Credits for Cow Manure: Program May End Soon

10/19/2023
Image for display with article titled Climate Credits for Cow Manure: Dairy Bio-Gas Program May Soon be Phased Out

As the state moves to a fully electric future, biofuels may be phased out along with credits for the cow poop that produces them.

From Gilroy Dispatch...

Business, Economy & Jobs Agriculture, Food & Gardening County of Santa Clara

Nursery Crops, Mushrooms Remain at the Top in Santa Clara County Agriculture

10/12/2023
Image for display with article titled Nursery Crops, Mushrooms Remain at Top in Santa Clara County Agriculture

The value of Santa Clara County’s agricultural products rose 5.6% to nearly $359 million, according to Santa Clara County’s latest Crop Report.

From CalMatters...

Environment Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Pumpers Need to Slow Down or Face Fines, State Says

10/12/2023
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.

From CalMatters...

Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

To Make Water Conservation a ‘California Way of Life,’ the Price Tag is $13 Billion

10/04/2023
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.

From CalMatters...

Public Safety Health Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

California May Ban Additives in Some Candies—But Not Skittles

10/02/2023
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.

Santa Clara County Local News: Agriculture, Food & Gardening