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November 13, 2025

Christmas tree sellers optimistic despite national shortage

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, tree farms across the nation are thrust into the spotlight and sellers start their busiest time of year. This year, the industry is holding steady, despite a nationwide shortage that is pushing up prices. Heatwaves and fires that...

Pioneer Organic farmers to field test new organic strawberry starts

In recognition of their research to improve organic strawberry farming systems, Organic Advocacy and Farm Fuel Inc. have been awarded a grant to study organic strawberry transplant (start) performance in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

Traveling south the long way

Editor’s note: This is the first entry of a travel series based in the Southwest. For the last week of February my wife Sarah and I took a road trip south to San Diego County, both for pleasure and family matters. We’ve taken this trip...

Purple power

Turning onto Bonny Doon Road from Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz, one can expect a number of different sights and smells. Wildflowers flank the paved road at first, pushing out onto the pavement persistently. Then there are damp, cool redwood groves. After

Ag Calendar | Sept. 2019

Focus on Ag Calendar, Sept. 2019

Farm history gets new life

agricultural history project
WATSONVILLE—Heavy-duty earth-moving equipment rumbled into gear at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds over the past week, reshaping a chunk of land at the Agricultural History Project to make way for the expansion of the Living History Farm. Situated near the entrance of the fairgrounds, the...

EcoFarm rescheduled as a virtual conference in March

CENTRAL COAST—Executive director of the Ecological Farming Association (EcoFarm) Andy Fisher had only been in the position for six months before the pandemic hit California.  Fortunately, Fisher and his team had been able to hold their 40th annual conference in Pacific Grove that January. But...

Taking a climb up the family tree

My wife Sarah and I drove to Sacramento last weekend to do a little family tree exploring.

Berlin, past and present | Travel

Short trip to German capital offers glimpse into famous city Editor’s note: This is the third installment in a series about England, Germany and the Netherlands. From 1970 to 1971, my father lived in Germany. He was a student for a few months of the year,...

Premiere Raspberries closing, laying off hundreds

Premiere Raspberries
WATSONVILLE—While some will be celebrating the birthday of activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez on March 31, a major raspberry grower in Watsonville will close its doors, and hundreds of employees will be laid off. A representative at Premiere Raspberries, LLC confirmed the closure Thursday...
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Police looking for Utah woman missing from Rio Del Mar State...

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is looking for Danielle Staley, 35, who was last seen on Nov. 6, around 11:23pm near Rio Del...

A day to honor veterans

From our archives: Funds drive