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Watsonville
January 20, 2026

Driscoll’s to build first commercial vertical strawberry farm

One year after announcing a new research and development partnership to grow strawberries indoors, Watsonville-based Driscoll’s and Plenty Unlimited Inc. are building a new indoor vertical strawberry farm.  Together, the companies aim to accelerate the growth of Driscoll’s top crop by using Plenty’s growing platform. According...

Farm Bureau receives awards

The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau (SCCFB) was honored with five County Activities of Excellence Awards, and was a finalist in the statewide Innovator Awards at the California Farm Bureau’s 104th meeting in early December. A local delegation of five attended the annual meeting in...

'War for the Planet of the Apes' lives up to high standard

The story is deep, the characters are rich, the action is shot beautifully and the visual effects are the best I’ve ever seen. If this is indeed the final film in the series, which started with “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” in 2011, I’m glad to say it

This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, July 16

pajaro valley past
25 years ago on July 10, 1996 Watsonville police captain Chuck Carter retires this month after 30 years of service, many of them involved in community projects with a social angle. “I’ve never seen a police officer as heavily involved as Chuck is with a...

50 years at the UCSC Farm & Garden

Orin Martin says his favorite thing about the Alan Chadwick Garden at UC Santa Cruz is its diversity.

Vote Yes on Measure V: Empowering True Representation and Building an Inclusive Watsonville

Our democracy thrives when everyone, regardless of citizenship status, has the opportunity to engage in their community. Recent years have made it clear that the notion of a universal path to citizenship is a myth, and there are intentional political efforts to keep certain...

Watsonville City Council approves changes to some cannabis rules

catalyst cannabis
After a contentious meeting on Tuesday, a divided Watsonville City Council approved in concept several amendments to its retail cannabis ordinances, a move intended to ease the regulatory burden for a burgeoning industry already beleaguered by local, state and federal regulations. City officials say the...

Supervisor’s Update: Equity: From commitment to action

santa cruz county supervisor felipe hernandez
In the heart of Santa Cruz County, our community is rallying around a powerful commitment to equity.  Our recent equity statement reflects a transformative spirit, embracing every individual with support, dignity and compassion. Together, we're striving for systemic changes to address historical underfunding, language barriers,...

On My Mind: In the line of fire

CZU August Lightning Complex Fires
Last week my wife Sarah and I took our first short vacation since the pandemic and lockdown took over. We drove north to Lassen National Volcanic Park and stayed in an old logger’s cabin at the Mill Creek Resort. The night before we left...

Letters to the Editor, June 3

letter to the editor pajaronian
Dutra is the most qualified, hands down The time has come to make the choice for our next District 4 County Supervisor. Jimmy Dutra is the only one with an impeccable track record from his six-plus years as a city councilman and a year serving as...
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Thousands march for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Thousands of people amassed in the streets of downtown Santa Cruz on Monday morning for the annual People’s March for the Dream, an event...