Farmworker Housing Study Oversight Committee convenes to review progress
CENTRAL COAST ā 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...
Covid-19, wildfires present challenges for Salinas Valley winery
SALINAS VALLEY ā Standing in his vineyard as a brisk wind runs amuck with his curly, sandy-blonde hair, Denis Hoey reveals why the Salinas Valley region ā known for its vast agriculture ā should also be noted for fine winemaking.
āWe make wines here that...
Regional drone program lands $1M grant
SALINAS VALLEY ā University of California Santa Cruzās CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) along with several partners has received a $1 million, 15-month planning grant to support regional drone education and workforce development from the James Irvine Foundation.
The funds will be...
Documentary short film shines light on Salinas Valley
SALINAS VALLEY ā 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 festivalās celebrated Short Film Program.
āThe Long Valleyā is a 13-minute documentary showcasing the...
Thousands of farmworkers are prioritized for the coronavirus vaccine
COACHELLA, Calif. ā The sun-baked desert valley tucked behind the San Jacinto Mountains is best known for an annual music festival that draws 100,000 fans a day and a series of lush, oasis resort towns where well-heeled snowbirds go to golf, sunbathe and party....
Monterey County crops decline in value after pandemic and fires
MONTEREY COUNTY ā Crop values fell in 2020 by a total of $499 million from 2019, with 2020ās total at $3.9 billion, according to the Monterey County Crop Report issued by Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales on July 20.
The 11.3% decrease in production...
Local FFA members test their job interview and public speaking skills
Future Farmers of America members from King City to Watsonville gathered at Soledad High School for the annual interview contest on Jan. 31.
New agricultural center breaks ground
The Rancho Cielo Youth Campus was the site of a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ted Taylor Agricultural Center on April 8.
South County Farm Day returns to Salinas Valley Fairgrounds
KING CITY ā This yearās South County Farm Day brought about 650 third- and fourth-graders to the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City on Jan. 27.
The South Monterey County students, stemming from Gonzales to King City schools, attended the free educational enrichment program taught...
Monterey County looks to eliminate prior cultivation requirement for outdoor cannabis growers
MONTEREY COUNTY ā Monterey County Board of Supervisors narrowly voted Jan. 9 to make changes to its outdoor cannabis cultivation pilot program, allowing growers to double their canopy size and eliminate a requirement that made permit applicants prove cannabis was cultivated on the property...


















