44.4 F
King City
February 13, 2026

South County farmer to receive national award in September

South County organic farmer Israel Morales Sr. of JV Farms Organic in Soledad will receive the Organic Farmer of the Year Award at the Organic Trade Association’s Leadership Awards set for Sept. 11 at the Belvedere Hotel in Baltimore, Md.

South County Farm Day 2026 brings agriculture to life for students

Farm Day presenter
KING CITY — Hundreds of South Monterey County third graders took part in the 2026 South County Farm Day on Jan. 22 at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City, getting a hands-on introduction to agriculture, public safety and local resources. The annual event, hosted...

From Gold Rush to global leader: New book explores California’s agricultural history

California Agriculture
CALIFORNIA — Arcadia Publishing has announced the publication of ā€œCalifornia Agriculture,ā€ a new history of the state’s agriculture industry by author Patti DesMarais. The 128-page paperback is part of Arcadia’s ā€œImages of Americaā€ book series, featuring historical information and photographs. Beginning with the Spanish padres in...

King City doctor launches Justice with Health’s clinic book program

KING CITY — Next month, 18,000 children’s books will be distributed to low-income health clinics in Monterey and Solano counties as part of a revolutionary new reading program targeting farmworker families. Joshua Deutsch, a family physician at Mee Memorial Hospital in King City and Greenfield,...

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...

Mushroom compost supports Salinas Valley farmers

Mushroom compost
SALINAS VALLEY — Monterey Mushrooms, a mushroom grower based in Morgan Hill, has announced the release of its Certified Organic Spent Mushroom Compost (COSMC) to row crop and leafy green farmers throughout the Salinas Valley. A finely balanced mixture of straw, peat moss, cottonseed meal,...

Senior researcher joins Farm Fuel

Dr. Joji Muramoto recently joined Farm Fuel part-time as senior researcher/consultant to conduct research improving the efficiency of mustard seed meal and ASD applications and products.

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...

Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit promotes importance of workforce education

SALINAS VALLEY — A panel of experts discussed current challenges in agriculture, such as the future of the workforce and the role of education, during the eighth annual Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit. The two-day session spanned more than eight and a half hours of...

Monterey County crops fall 6.1% in value last year

Strawberries crops
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo has announced the release of the 2023 Annual Crop and Livestock Report, which recorded a production gross value of just over $4.35 billion, reflecting a 6.1% decrease from 2022. ā€œThe values represented here reflect gross values...