Food banks provide helping hand to Salinas Valley farmworkers
KING CITY — Celebration Nation is continuing to host food banks for local farmworkers in the Salinas Valley, with the next two events planned for King City and Greenfield on upcoming Saturdays.
The nonprofit, launched in 2020 to support farm-working communities in California, currently schedules food...
Monterey County examines impacts of Covid-19 on local agriculture industry
SALINAS VALLEY — The results of a survey intended to better understand how Covid-19 has impacted Monterey County agriculture was released May 4 by Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales.
Survey results showed a total of 2,093 acres lost or not planted.
“The survey is a preliminary look...
Students join Supervisor Lopez for annual pumpkin distribution in South Monterey County
SAN ARDO — Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez and his District 3 team marked the fifth consecutive year of distributing pumpkins to South Monterey County students, thanks to a generous donation from Braga Fresh Farms.
Lopez celebrated his birthday Oct. 14 by joining the team...
Monterey County Fair Junior Livestock Auction to honor local youths and their animals
MONTEREY COUNTY — The 2022 Monterey County Fair Junior Livestock Auction is being dedicated to Taylor Farms, the Salinas-based grower and packager of fresh produce that has supported the Fair’s 4-H and FFA exhibitors for more than 20 years by purchasing animals at the...
Farmworker Housing Study Oversight Committee convenes to review progress
CENTRAL COAST — Despite significant progress since the release of a landmark 2018 farmworker housing study quantifying critically overcrowded housing conditions for agricultural workers in the region, thousands more homes are needed to relieve severe overcrowding, unaffordable rents and ensure the stability of the...
Salinas Valley farmers seek rebound after floods, virus hit lettuce crops
SALINAS VALLEY — Things were challenging enough for lettuce growers in Monterey County’s Salinas Valley before Mother Nature dealt a one-two punch in this year’s storms.
Farmers in 2022 had suffered an estimated $150 million in crop losses as impatiens necrotic spot virus — a...
Clash between union campaigns and private property at Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — Before dawn on an October morning in 2015, representatives of the United Farm Workers turned up at a strawberry plant nursery in Northern California to meet with workers and urge them to consider unionizing.
They were able to enter the nursery’s property thanks...
Salinas Valley Fair returns with modified livestock show, entertainment
SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Fair 2021 took place with an altered format due to Covid-19 pandemic health guidelines, but it was the first time since 2019 that fair-goers were able to show animals or pick up carnival food in person.
This year’s animal judging...
Weed control effort seeks to curb virus threat for Salinas Valley’s lettuce
SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey County has enacted a mandatory abatement program for select weeds as part of an effort to contain the impatiens necrotic spot virus, or INSV, which has severely impacted the region’s lettuce crop in recent years.
Officials are urging residents who notice...
