Agriculture

Fans of fresh, ripe and local fruit will want to venture to Andy’s Orchard in east Morgan Hill before the short stone fruit harvest is complete in a few weeks.  Owned and operated by renowned grower Andy Mariani, the orchard off Half Road features many...

Final counts reveal that more than 10,000 letters were submitted to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors during the public comment period for the Sargent Ranch Quarry Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) regarding a proposed open-pit mine at Juristac (Sargent Ranch) in southern...

Hundreds of California native pigeons have died this winter due to a parasitic disease, announced state wildlife officials on Feb. 23.   California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said they’ve noticed an increase of reported sick and dead band-tailed pigeons since early February, mostly around...

South Santa Clara County students in 4-H and FFA will have a new opportunity to show off their livestock this summer as the inaugural South Valley Ag Fair kicks off July 27-28, with an auction to follow Aug. 1. The first event, a two-day “jackpot”...

Winter’s gone and sunny spring days prompt us to step outside and work in our gardens. Don’t worry, expert advice is near. Seven private gardens will be open to the public from 10am-4pm May 11. The Garden Tour is an opportunity to explore the...

Food pantries across South County are experiencing unprecedented demand following the suspension of SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown, with lines wrapping around blocks and new families seeking assistance at rates not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Reach Out Food Pantry in...

The scent of fresh-cut pine fills the air as Jorge Garcia watches his children, ages 2 and 5, weave between rows of evergreens with their mother, searching for the perfect Christmas tree. It’s their first time at Battaglia Ranch as a young family, but...

AES Corporation announced it has canceled a proposed Jewelflower Battery Energy Storage System on a 128-acre site in the Coyote Valley near Morgan Hill. The project would have placed hundreds of containerized lithium‑ion battery units across roughly 40 acres of prime farmland in North Coyote...

The Santa Clara County Parks Department purchased a 95-acre parcel (2026 Uvas Canyon Addition) adjacent to Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill. The property will expand the park’s boundary and provide alternative routes for connector trails envisioned in a countywide master plan, according...

In my last column I highlighted Rosy and Rich Bergen’s Little Uvas Vineyard (LUV) and their facility called “The Garage” at 255 Fitzgerald Ave. in San Martin. Their long range plan is to have other businesses, like other wineries and eateries, help fill the...