Santa Cruz County Agriculture, Food & Gardening Articles

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.

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.

Youth activists from Safe Ag Safe Schools’ Future Leaders of Change attend a California Department of Pesticide Regulation meeting in Watsonville on Monday. (Andrea Tamayo — Santa Cruz Local) 
WATSONVILLE >> At a meeting at Ramsay Park Family Center in …

The city of Watsonville is looking to make its first update to its retail cannabis business ordinance in four years, after complaints from business owners who say the ordinances are more strict than those imposed by the state of California— …

A family-owned business for over 40 years staffed almost entirely by long-term employees, El Chino has been owned by Maria Gallardo since 2017. Her parents were the founders, and to them it was a dream come true. Maria worked in …

California grants climate credits for fuel made from cow manure, but there’s a paradox: The state’s program encourages collection of methane yet promotes natural gas.

The City of Watsonville is looking to make its first update to its retail cannabis business ordinance in four years. On Oct. 10, the City Council considered 16 tweaks to the ordinance. Proposed changes include allowing a new establishment, opening …

First-of-its-kind Saison Cellar & Wine Bar will launch to the public with a grand opening on Thursday, Oct. 26. Local winemaker and Saison Hospitality Co-Founder and Beverage Director Mark Bright invites the Santa Cruz County community to celebrate his new …

Driscoll’s berry company on Tuesday announced Soren Bjorn as the company’s new CEO. Bjorn previously served as president of Driscoll’s of the Americas. He will assume the role in January and oversee the company’s global day-to-day operations, the company announced …

My brother and I pay homage to the best New York pizza that we could find. Before starting the business, we traveled to New York to try out different pizzerias. We brought that inspiration home...

It’s melting toward midnight on a recent Friday at Red Room Cocktail Lounge when the barkeep with the hoop earrings yells out a challenge: “Sing along with this song or we’re shutting this sucker down." Fortunately the song in question …

The report doesn’t reflect any losses to cropland due to winter storms

Most debates improve as the night advances, even the iffy ones (Is this a simulation? Is a hot dog a sandwich? Would you rather be forced to sing along or dance to every song you hear?). The great debates, meanwhile, …

Crop production in Santa Cruz County last year showed a modest uptick from the previous year, with a 1.5% growth totaling more than $666.9 million. As usual, berries in 2022 remained the primary driving force in the county’s agricultural output …

The 2023 Santa Cruz County Fair wrapped up Sept. 17 with greater attendance than years past. From monster trucks and pig races to LEGO models, homemade quilts, original paintings, bonsai trees, antique tractors, live music, poodle shows and giant pumpkins, …

Opened three months ago in the Seacliff neighborhood of Aptos, Castelli’s Caffé and Deli has been embraced by the locals. Chris Castelli owns the new spot with her son, Vittorio, with a motif she defines as Italian-style New York deli …

New CEO Zeke Frazier talks about what's in store for the Santa Cruz County Fair

California Forever, the company backed by billionaire Silicon Valley investors that wants to build a new city in Solano County, has posted a new website in an attempt to start a "conversation" about the massive project.