‘Berry’ Bliss: Thousands flock to 2025 Salinas Valley Fair for food, fun, music and tradition
KING CITY — The 81st annual Salinas Valley Fair brought thousands of fairgoers to King City’s Salinas Valley Fairgrounds from May 15 to 18, delivering on its promise of “The Berry Best Fair.” With a theme honoring the region’s rich agricultural heritage, this year’s...
From Gold Rush to global leader: New book explores California’s agricultural history
CALIFORNIA — Arcadia Publishing has announced the publication of “California Agriculture,” a new history of the state’s agriculture industry by author Patti DesMarais.
The 128-page paperback is part of Arcadia’s “Images of America” book series, featuring historical information and photographs.
Beginning with the Spanish padres in...
Arizona’s Salad Bowl becomes fertile ground for Covid-19
YUMA, Ariz. — The Rev. Emilio Chapa was delivering a homily on a recent Sunday when he paused to lament a sight that had shaken him as he entered the sacristy before Mass.
The board where his staff posted requests for funeral services was covered...
Thousands celebrate ‘Golden Hills & Fair Time Thrills’ at 80th Annual Salinas Valley Fair
KING CITY — Nearly 40,000 people attended the 80th Annual Salinas Valley Fair over the course of its four-day celebration in South Monterey County last week.
Under the theme, “Golden Hills & Fair Time Thrills,” the 2024 Fair once again provided family-friendly activities and entertainment...
Monterey County supervisors vote to lower cannabis tax rate
Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted May 22 in favor of lowering a tax rate on cannabis industries in the area.
Taylor Farms to reopen facility after 2022 fire
SALINAS VALLEY — One year after a devastating fire destroyed Taylor Farms’ food processing plant in Salinas, the agriculture company will reopen the facility later this month in time for the start of the Salinas Valley planting season.
Following months of construction, the foodservice location...
Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit returns March 18-19 with virtual format
SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit returns March 18-19 for its eighth annual event, recognizing the increasingly international scope of the produce industry, with a number of presenters from Latin America and a diversity of experience and expertise from California.
There is...
King City High FFA honored among California’s Top 20 Chapters
KING CITY — For the 10th consecutive year, the King City High School FFA Chapter has been recognized as one of the top 20 FFA programs in California.
This distinction is based on the number of State and American Degrees earned by the students, showcasing...
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.
Taking the vaccine into the fields to help vulnerable farmworkers
CALIFORNIA — Before state officials announced that 40% of California's new vaccine doses would go to low-income communities, leaders were struggling to make good on promises to prioritize vulnerable Californians in the vaccine rollout.
As my colleague Miriam Jordan recently wrote, farmworkers were among those...

















