Tahoe Truckee Region Local News: Agriculture, Food & Gardening


All Local Agriculture, Food & Gardening News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: California’s farm workers help feed the whole country.
How California Feeds the Country

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.”

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: Since the Gold Rush era, land reclamation has cost California 90 percent of its wetlands.
How Land Reclamation Hurts California’s Environment

Since the Gold Rush era, land reclamation projects have helped to build California, but they are also damaging the state’s environment for people, plants and animals by eliminating essential wetlands.

Image caption: 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

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance

California is a leading producer of agricultural crops. So it’s not surprising to find cutting-edge ideas taking root here.

Image caption: RCDs look after the land, whether it’s used for grazing, growing, or getting out into nature.
California Dirt

What do resource conservation districts protect? Pretty much everything that’s worth saving.

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04/16/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit Wednesday, saying the tariffs hurt “states, consumers and businesses.”

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04/14/2025
Image for display with article titled Feed Tahoe Appreciation Night Celebrates Community Champions Fighting Food Insecurity

The warmth of gratitude filled the air at the Feed Tahoe Appreciation Night, an evening dedicated to honoring the volunteers, donors, and nonprofit partners who have united to address food insecurity in the South Lake Tahoe region. This celebration hosted at Elements Eatery marked the official recognition of Feed Tahoe's launch in Fall 2024 and provided a meaningful moment to reflect on the collective impact of rescuing surplus food and redirecting it to those in need.

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04/09/2025
Image for display with article titled USDA Funding Freeze Threatens Food Security in Truckee-Tahoe

A sudden federal funding freeze has dealt a major blow to Tahoe Food Hub and Sierra Community House, two organizations that provide fresh, locally sourced produce to hundreds of families in the Truckee-Tahoe region.

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03/26/2025
Image for display with article titled Azul Latin Kitchen Raises $13,000 for Bread and Broth

Azul Latin Kitchen, located in the Heavenly Village, recently awarded a check for $13,000 to Bread and Broth. The donation was largely in part from a $1 donation by Azul for every Queso Fundido appetizer sold (fundido appetizer contributions put the "FUN" in fundraising!), as well the annual fundraiser held at the end of November.

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03/26/2025
Food aid is one of numerous competing priorities California lawmakers will have to juggle in the face of steep potential federal cuts.

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03/25/2025
Across California, only one in five eligible college students receive CalFresh due to complicated requirements and an arduous application process. With two-thirds of students experiencing food insecurity, many campuses have started helping them apply for CalFresh.

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03/22/2025
Image for display with article titled Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, Bread & Broth Tackle Food Insecurity

If you follow local news, you've likely read stories about Bread & Broth, a ministry of St. Theresa Catholic Church, whose mission is to feed those in need in South Lake Tahoe. This dedicated organization, comprised wholly of volunteers of all faiths and denominations, continues to directly meet the needs of local residents through their programs, which include the service of twice weekly, hot, full-course meals and healthy food giveaway bags, as well as providing nutritious kid-friendly food to children from the ages of 18 months to 18 years.

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03/22/2025
Image for display with article titled Tickets Now Available for the 18th Annual Tahoe City Food and Wine Classic

The highly anticipated Tahoe City Food & Wine Classic returns to Lake Tahoe on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m., celebrating its 18th anniversary. This beloved event invites attendees to enjoy a leisurely stroll through downtown Tahoe City sipping on fine wines, savoring gourmet bites, and soaking in the breathtaking lakeside views.

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03/11/2025
Image for display with article titled Empty Bowls Soup Night Returns With Gourmet Flavors and a Mission to Fight Hunger

Empty Bowls Soup Night is back, bringing the community together over handcrafted soups while raising funds for Sierra Community House's hunger relief programs. Set for Wednesday, March 19, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Truckee High School cafeteria, the event features two well-known local chefs serving gourmet soups that defy expectations.

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03/08/2025
Image for display with article titled Heavenly Ski Patrol Helps Bread & Broth Feed Community Members

If you are a member of Heavenly's Ski Patrol, serving others is just part of your job responsibilities. On the slopes, ski patrol members are constantly on watch for unsafe skiing conditions, assisting skiers and boarders, and helping make sure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe day on the slopes. Wanting to serve others is second nature for the members of the Heavenly Ski Patrol.

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02/24/2025
The governor vowed to clear the way for more groundwater recharge. Has it worked? “We’re still tinkering around with small numbers,” one expert says.

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02/04/2025
Image for display with article titled Soroptimist International of Sierra Tahoe Sponsors Lasagna Love Dinner at Bread & Broth

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra will join with six cooks from Lasagna Love to sponsor B&B's Adopt A Day of Nourishment, Monday, February 10, and provide a special themed meal for regular guests and any interested community members. Grace Hall at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, is the host site from 4 – 5:30 p.m.

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01/28/2025
Image for display with article titled Soroptimist, STHS S-Club Host Bread & Broth Monday Meal

Deeply involved in ongoing service to the community, the Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe (SISLT) sponsored Bread & Broth's Monday Meal on January 13th. With their mission of enhancing the lives of women and youth in their community, they invited members of the South Tahoe High School's S-Club to represent the organization at their Adopt A Day of Nourishment sponsorship meal.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

01/21/2025
Trump apparently wants to override new Biden-Newsom rules that have widespread support among Southern California cities and some Central Valley farmers.

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01/15/2025
Image for display with article titled First City Council Meeting of the Year Sees Vision Zero, Commission Appointments, and in-Home Kitchens

South Lake Tahoe's first city council meeting of the year addressed the Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic accidents in the city, citizen appointments for city boards and commissions, and a back-and-forth regarding microenterprise home kitchen operations.

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01/12/2025
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Food Hub: Revolutionizing Local Food Systems With Sustainability and Community Focus

In North Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Food Hub is reshaping the local food landscape by integrating fresh, sustainable produce with a commitment to community welfare. Led by Chairman Daniel Barstein, the initiative is dedicated to supporting small, family-run farms and promoting regenerative agricultural practices that benefit both the environment and local economies.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

01/09/2025
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Food Hub: Revolutionizing Local Food Systems With Sustainability and Community Focus

In North Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Food Hub is reshaping the local food landscape by integrating fresh, sustainable produce with a commitment to community welfare. Led by Chairman Daniel Barstein, the initiative is dedicated to supporting small, family-run farms and promoting regenerative agricultural practices that benefit both the environment and local economies.

Tahoe Daily Tribune logo From Tahoe Daily Tribune...

01/08/2025
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Chamber, Bruschetta Present the ‘Connect for a Cause’ Crab Feed

Get ready for an evening of indulgence and community spirit as the Tahoe Chamber and Bruschetta proudly present the Connect for a Cause Crab Feed. This exclusive dining experience will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at Bruschetta and promises to bring together the South Shore community for a night of delicious food, meaningful connections, and unwavering support for local causes.