In July, a Sacramento area rice producer became the first U.S. company to secure a contract with China to export rice into the nation. China’s government began permitting American rice imports late last year and the Sun Valley Rice Co., from Arbuckle in Colusa County, became the first U.S. company to export the product to […]

Earlier this month, an invasive species that threatens crops was found near Sacramento’s Meadowview neighborhood. The Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner and state agencies confirmed that two oriental fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis) were detected in the Sacramento area, which may trigger another quarantine. The oriental fruit fly is a tropical species that is widespread through much […]

It turns out that some parts of California could have dangerous drinking water and any people may not even know this. As of May 2018, the California Water Resources Control Board’s records show that over 266 water suppliers were not in compliance with drinking water standards. Unfortunately, most of the violations were in the rural […]

California farmers are relying on research, now more than ever, to help them and our society to continue to thrive in the face of so many daunting obstacles. One of the most exciting areas in agricultural research is precision breeding. With precision breeding, botanists and other plant scientists are able to select the best aspects and […]

By Luis Alvarado California is home to the some of the most progressive farmers in the world. Despite enormous odds and pressures – drought; climate change; rising land, gas and energy costs; wildfires; labor shortages; regulatory burdens; relentless attacks from pests and disease – the state’s farmers soldier on, providing fresh fruit, produce and dairy […]

By: Raul Riesgo Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to travel from downtown Los Angeles to a farm several hours away. The farm tour was part of an effort by farmers to build bridges with people like me who live in cities and have very little understanding or appreciation of our California-grown food supply. […]

 Farmworkers should have the right to be represented. If abandoned by a union, farmworkers deserve the right to vote. The right to have their voices heard and the right to be represented. Don’t take this choice away from them. Farmworkers deserve to have the same rights and protections as every other worker.

Fox & Hounds By: Annette Levi and Serhat Asci While urban and rural California may be miles apart geographically and politically, they could not be more interdependent economically. That’s what we found with a recent research project that determined nearly $3-billion of Southern California’s urban economy is directly linked to the state’s strawberry farming operations. […]

By: Andrew Sarega, La Mirada City Councilman While Thanksgiving is a time to count our many blessings, it’s also a time for our nation to especially appreciate our food supply and how it gets onto our plates. The nation’s ability to produce and ensure a safe and reliable food supply falls on the shoulders of […]

By Damon Dunn The U.S. economy has undergone major shifts from the time of our founding, transitioning from agriculture to manufacturing to services now comprising the majority of our economic output. Free market advocates have rightly pointed out that our economic growth has occurred as a result of free enterprise; by millions of individuals communicating […]