Farm history gets new life
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...
Lakeside Organic Gardens celebrates 25 years
When Dick Peixoto decided in 1996 to convert his 55-acre farm in Watsonville to an organic production, he wasn’t sure if he’d made the right decision.
Peixoto had been farming conventionally for years, and back then, organic produce was a specialty—something only smaller farms tended...
Event benefits Farm Discovery at Live Earth
“Pollinate!”, a farm to table, flower to table event, will be held Sept. 23 as Farm Discovery at Live Earth’s ninth annual farm dinner. It will feature local chefs, farmers, artisans and winemakers, celebrating the abundance of fruit and vegetable crops grown in the Santa Cruz area.
Farm Discovery’s Sprouts Camp set for June 26-30
Education is key at Farm Discovery. Over the years, the Watsonville nonprofit organization, held at Live Earth Farm, has offered a number of programs, camps and events to inspire youth and their families to learn about agriculture.
Farm Bureau’s Spring Luncheon returns March 16
WATSONVILLE—March is National Agriculture Month, a time meant to honor the role of the agricultural industry in the United States. National Ag Day 2022, organized by the Agriculture Council of America, will land on March 23, with activities and contests held nationwide.
For the first...
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 to return this weekend
PAJARO VALLEY—Open Farm Tours returns this Saturday and Sunday to the greater Pajaro Valley, with eight local farms participating in two days of events.
Originally started in 2014 as the Corralitos Open Farm Tour, the event has continued to grow and add more farms from...
Entries sought for Central Coast Wine Competition
Entries are now being accepted for the Central Coast Wine Competition (CCWC), which takes place June 21-22 in Paso Robles.
Congressman Panetta announces farmworker aid
ROYAL OAKS—Congressman Jimmy Panetta was on the Central Coast Thursday, touting two pandemic assistance programs he helped pass that will benefit agriculture workers and the industries that employ them.
The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program will provide $650 million in grants to food...
Sambrailo sees major growth in sustainable packaging line
WATSONVILLE—When Santa Cruz-based natural foods store Staff of Life opened its second location in Watsonville in March, employees from Sambrailo were pleased to see their products featured front and center.
Fresh, organic vegetables and fruit in the store’s produce aisle were nestled inside Sambrailo’s sustainable...
Cabrillo President announces retirement, seven years after starting
Nearly eight years after taking the helm at Cabrillo College, President Matt Wetstein has announced his retirement.
Wetstein will work through Dec. 31 to allow...