New seasonal farmers market opens at Ramsay Park
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley is a thriving agricultural hub, surrounded by farms and fields growing food for people all over the world.
But according to the Community Health Trust (CHT) of Pajaro Valley, certain areas of the region are still considered “food deserts,” where people have...
Organic produce sales up 9%, tops $2B for the quarter
Total organic fresh produce sales for the first quarter of 2021 saw a continuation of last year’s growth, increasing by 9.3% from the same period in 2020 and topping $2.2 billion for the quarter, according to the Q1 2021 Organic Produce Performance Report released...
Bill bolstering wildfire protections for farmworkers advances
SACRAMENTO—A bill that would increase protections for California’s farmworkers during hazardous smoky conditions created by seasonal wildfires is making its way through the state legislature.
Assembly Bill 73, also known as the Farmworker Wildfire Smoke Protections Act, recently passed the Assembly Committee on Labor and...
Gilroy woman dies in solo-vehicle crash in Prunedale
PRUNEDALE—A 32-year-old Gilroy woman died in a solo-vehicle crash early Monday in Prunedale.
California Highway Patrol officer Jessica Medueño said the woman was driving a 2007 Mazda 3 sedan westbound on Highway 156 at Cathedral Oak Road near Castroville around 6:30am.
For unknown reasons she lost...
Ex-officer found guilty for murder of George Floyd
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The former Minneapolis police officer who was seen in a video killing a Black man by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes was convicted Tuesday on counts of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Derek Chauvin faces at least 12...
New bill would provide $500M to agricultural fairs
SACRAMENTO—Earlier this month, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Representatives Billy Long (R-MO), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation aiming to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to Covid-19.
The Agricultural...
Watsonville farm, biotech company receives major grant from USDA
Since 2009, Blume Industries (BI) and Whiskey Hill Farms (WHF) have jointly operated a research and development incubator in Watsonville, aiming to find regenerative solutions for food, fuel and waste management.
And now they will have the opportunity to expand their reach, sharing what they...
Aptos basketball programs quarantine due to Covid-19 test results
APTOS—The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League high school basketball season got underway last week. But the Aptos High boys and girls programs will have to wait a tad bit longer to get going after recent positive Covid-19 test results.
Aptos High Athletic Director Travis Fox...
Mariners cap season with unblemished record | HS football
SANTA CRUZ—Aptos High posted a 42-0 win against Santa Cruz High in a scrimmage at Memorial Field on April 16.
The game was scheduled as a regular season Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League game, but officials never showed up. The game did not count as...
U.S. readies small-business grants as PPP nears end
The federal government is preparing to open two new industry-specific small-business relief programs, one of them months in the works, as its signature pandemic aid effort, the Paycheck Protection Program, nears its end.
The Small Business Administration said it hopes to start taking applications by...
Two arrested in construction equipment theft scheme
Monterey County sheriff’s detectives arrested two men and recovered more than $300,000 in stolen construction equipment tied to an organized theft ring targeting local...
