Agriculture

For San Juan Bautista resident Refugio “Cuco” Chavez, the first day of spring doesn’t just mean he gets to spend more time in his home garden over the coming months. It is also the wedding anniversary of he and his wife, Esparanza “Espie” Chavez. The...

San Benito Agricultural Land Trust (SBALT) announced Feb. 25 that it achieved national recognition through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. It joins more than 450 land trusts across the nation to receive the honor. “Accreditation demonstrates SBALT’s commitment to local agriculture and open space through permanent...

A group of local residents is once again attempting to get San Benito County voters more involved in local land use decisions, citing ongoing growth challenges and a history of excessive influence by developers. On Jan. 31, proponents submitted a notice to circulate a petition...

A convoy of 55 cars and trucks, known as the Farmworkers Caravan, departed from San Jose the morning of Oct. 2, and arrived at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hollister. Their purpose? To deliver thousands of donated food items, emergency supplies and household items...

Kawahara Nurseries, which is based in Morgan Hill, is looking to open a year-round wholesale agricultural facility on Anzar Road in San Benito County. The planning commission on June 16 approved Kawahara Nurseries’ application for an agricultural facility use permit on a 104-acre property that...

San Benito Agricultural Land Trust (SBALT) is applying for national accreditation, and is asking the public to submit comments in support of the prestige-enhancing designation. SBALT has operated as a local nonprofit since 1993, and since then has worked with landowners and other agencies to...

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency in San Benito County on May 10, pointing to early warm temperatures that have hardened soils and depleted runoff water from the Sierra snowpack. San Benito was one of 39 counties statewide that Newsom added to the emergency...

The first set of remote Covid-19 vaccine clinics for food and agricultural sector workers was a big success in San Benito County, bringing in approximately 250 people to get their first shots.    The county’s public health department and Safeway Pharmacy along with the Grower-Shipper Association...

San Benito County residents who work in the agricultural and food industries can start signing up for Covid-19 vaccinations, but it might be a while before supplies are available for everyone who registers. The county’s public health services department and the Grower Shipper Association of...

California Assemblymember Robert Rivas is leading an effort to provide more healthcare services, support and information to the state’s farmworkers—a sector that has suffered more than others from the Covid-19 pandemic.