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King City
April 15, 2026

Dangerous herbicide used on California crops banned

Monterey County crops
SALINAS VALLEY — A dangerous herbicide banned immediately by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been sprayed on crops in many California counties and has contaminated groundwater in low concentrations in the Salinas Valley and Santa Barbara County. The weed-killing chemical, known as DCPA or...

Salinas Valley Fair returns with ā€˜thrills’ this week

Salinas Valley Fair
KING CITY — Salinas Valley Fair will bring ā€œGolden Hills & Fair Time Thrillsā€ for its 80th celebration taking place Thursday through Sunday at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City. ā€œWe are so excited to celebrate the 80th Annual Salinas Valley Fair, May 16-19,ā€...

From dry to drenched — How local farmers deal with drastically changing conditions

After more than four years of devastating drought, 2017 saw California receive the wettest winter in more than 100 years.

Carli Hammond crowned Miss Salinas Valley Fair 2022

KING CITY — Monterey County Home Charter School senior Carli Hammond was crowned 2022 Miss Salinas Valley Fair after competing against one other girl in such areas as personality, scholastic ability, poise and horsemanship. The annual contest took place at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in...

Monterey County agriculture pumps more than $11B into local economy, study finds

Agricultural workers harvest greens
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County agriculture pumped more than $11 billion into the local economy in 2023 and supported 81,315 jobs, according to a new economic report. Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Rich Ordonez released the latest comprehensive analysis of the county’s largest industry on Nov. 18,...

Documentary short film shines light on Salinas Valley

SALINAS VALLEY — A documentary short film set in the Salinas Valley has been officially selected for the prestigious 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and will have its world premiere during the festival’s celebrated Short Film Program. ā€œThe Long Valleyā€ is a 13-minute documentary showcasing the...

Guest Column | Food Security is Critical to Economic and National Security on California’s Central Coast

The agricultural stretch of California’s Central Coast along the Salinas Valley is often called the ā€œSalad Bowl of the World,ā€ and for good reason. It supplies over 60% of the nation’s lettuce and substantial portions of strawberries, spinach and broccoli. But beyond the fertile...

Meal giveaway for farmworkers in Greenfield grows to 3,000

GREENFIELD — For the second time, thousands of freshly prepared meals were distributed to farmworker families suffering during the Covid-19 crisis on May 26 at Patriot Park in Greenfield. The food distribution is the latest effort by the United Farm Workers and World Central Kitchen...

Guest Column | How Farmworkers Outlawed ā€˜El Cortito’ 50 Years Ago

For decades in the Salinas Valley, the short-handle hoe, known as ā€œEl Cortito,ā€ was used for weeding and thinning rows of crops that kept farmworkers stooped over for long hours each day. Workers were only able to stand and stretch when they reached the...

Artichoke Festival closes its doors after 65 years

CASTROVILLE — The beloved Artichoke Festival, a cherished tradition in Monterey County for more than six decades, will not return this year. The festival’s board of directors announced its official closure after 65 years of celebrating the region’s rich agricultural heritage, artichoke royalty and community...