Aptos farm wins Best of Show at regional olive oil competition
Patrick and Teresa Royan were living in Los Gatos when they first discovered Pleasant Valley, a rural area in Aptos permeated with rolling hills, orchards, vineyards and pastures. The couple had been looking for a place to settle relatively close to the beach yet...
CCOF offers grants to farmers affected by fires
The California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation is poised to help organic farmers recover from the unprecedented wildfires burning across the West Coast, including CCOF’s hometown of Santa Cruz.
The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund gives grants to organic business owners affected by hardships of all kinds,...
Land Trust plans Rocks Ranch conservation
AROMAS—The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County plans to protect nearly all of the 2,640-acre Rocks Ranch in Aromas from development, the organization announced Feb. 11.
The ranch has been in the spotlight recently following the San Benito County Supervisors’ intent to rezone a portion...
Photo Story: Coffee with a Cop
MEET AND GREET - Watsonville Police officer Sergio Bañuelos converses with Micaela Henson, David Hernadez and their chill Melissa Friday outside the Police Department during the first Coffee With a Cop. The free, informal gathering serves as an arena for the community to engage...
Group sparks conversation about Valley’s pesticide use
A newly formed community group with the vision of reducing the use of pesticides in the Pajaro Valley is taking on international berry giant Driscoll’s.
The Campaign for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) recently sent a letter to Driscoll’s CEO Miles Reiter calling for the...
Thousands attend Strawberry Festival
A collection of images from the Watsonville Strawberry Festival from Aug. 2-4.
Calabasas students plant garden at Whisky Hill Farms
An eager group of fifth graders filed through fresh beds of dirt at Whisky Hill Farm (WHF) in Watsonville Sept. 13, ready to plant their very own seedlings.
Laura Arnow’s fifth grade class from Calabasas Elementary School were there to finally transplant crops they had...
Suspect nabbed in school burglary
A man was arrested Feb. 21 for stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment from Bradley Elementary School.
Travis Clarke, 33, was charged with burglary, possession of a controlled substance and a probation violation. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu...
Ag History Project steps up for county fair
As the Santa Cruz County Fair nears the folks at the Agricultural History Project have wheeled their featured showpiece into place.
Open Farm Tours returns to the Pajaro Valley
Farms across the Pajaro Valley will open to the public for two days of family-friendly activities Oct. 12-13.
PV’s Lara-Alvarez named Santa Lucia’s top player | All-PCAL football
In 2024, Pajaro Valley senior Benito Lara-Alvarez was primarily on the defensive side of the ball for the Grizzlies.
Prior to the start of this...





















