CALIFORNIA — As the state legislature resumed last week, Assemblymember Robert Rivas is reminding the public to participate in his office’s third annual “There Ought to be a Law” Program.
First introduced in December 2019, the program invites constituents of the 30th Assembly District to submit state policy proposals for the upcoming 2022 legislative session. Deadline to submit a policy proposal is Friday, Jan. 14.
Two scourges that sometimes appear together but have not been definitively linked to each other continue to threaten lettuce: Pythium wilt and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV). The state budget allocated $1 million in new research funding aimed at developing more strategies to effectively protect the major crop. In addition, the California Leafy Greens Research Program received three grant proposals in December and will be reviewing them and voting on funding on Jan. 25, according to the program’s Jennifer Clarke.
WATSONVILLE — Farmworkers Carmella and Antoline live deep in Santa Cruz County, past miles of berry and produce fields, in a single-story ranch house. Duct tape crosses the floorboards, and a stark light bulb illuminates the kitchen and its worn appliances.