West

New edition of pesticide safety manual includes key updates

Expanded from four chapters in the previous edition to 12, the third edition of Pesticide Safety: A Study Manual for Private Applicators, aims to be more than just a study guide. The manual, available for... more »

Victory claimed by produce shippers in California joint employment case

On Oct. 15, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a wage and hour decision for the produce industry, ruling in favor of two separate produce marketing companies based in... more »

Sakata Seed America opens lettuce distribution facility in Marina, California

Sakata Seed America is solidifying its leadership position in the lettuce category, announcing a new, permanent lettuce distribution facility and appointing a new lettuce product manager, all within the past few weeks. Since the company’s... more »

California urban farmers find a niche with local, state support

Tucked behind the First Congregational Church, in one of Santa Ana's oldest neighborhoods, are verdant rows of spinach, Brussels sprouts and other leafy greens dotted with the orange hues of marigolds. Six-year-old Diana Bautista, a... more »

2022 water year looks dismal as snowpack melts

The optimism spurred by heavy snowstorms in December has melted away, and the 2022 water year is now looking bleak. After facing the driest recorded January and February in state history, California Department of Water... more »

FDA won’t conduct broad sampling of leafy greens in Salinas Valley in 2022

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to not conduct broad sampling of leafy greens grown in the Salinas Valley based on data from Western Growers (WG), the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, and... more »

Protect strawberry flowers and fruit from frost injury

Recent frosts at the Cal Poly farm in San Luis Obispo, California, has brought frost injury in all its variety. According to the Compendium of Strawberry Diseases “frost injury is probably the most common non-pathogen... more »

Seedway names California sales business manager

Seedway LLC announced Zachary Wortiska has accepted the position of California sales manager for the Seedway Vegetable Seed Division. A 2011 graduate of California Polytechnic State University – San... more »