Focus on Ag January 2020

JANUARY 2020

Monterey Bay Rose Society kicks off series of pruning classes Gilroy Farmers Market grows Parties join to support ag bill A PUBLICATION OF

Gilroy Dispatch | Gonzales Tribune | Greenfield News | Hollister Free Lance King City Rustler | Soledad Bee | Watsonville Pajaronian

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FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE

JANUARY 2020

MONTEREY BAY

file photo by Tarmo Hannula

COLOR BURST A rose called “Perfect Moment” thrives at the Monterey Bay

Rose Society's garden at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

MONTEREY BAY ROSE SOCIETY’S PRUNING WORKSHOPS BEGIN

By JOHANNA MILLER

The California cut flower industry has changed drastically in the last 30 years. Once controlling more than half of cut flower sales in the U.S., it has gradually been overtaken by competition from overseas growers.

The Pajaro Valley, once a mecca of rose growing, is now home to only a handful of commercial growers.

But what hasn’t changed is that roses still grow well on the Central Coast. The mild climate and rich soil

makes it possible for the popular flowers, which typically bloom in the region from Spring until Christmas, to thrive.

The Monterey Bay Rose Society is determined to keep the tradition of rose growing alive in California. Founded in the early 1980s, the group has regularly held workshops, classes and their annual Rose Show every May. “Our main goal is education,” said Janey Leonardich, the society’s Secretary and a Master Rosarian.

“We want to teach people what we know… to further their own practice.

We want roses to remain a part of the area.”

This month the group has kicked off its series of rose pruning classes at various nurseries across the

Monterey Bay. The classes are taught by Leonardich and other American Rose Society-certified Consulting and Master Rosarians.

So far, classes have been held at the society’s garden at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, San Lorenzo Nursery in Santa Cruz and Cooper-Molera Adobe in Monterey. Four more are planned at Alladin Nursery in Watsonville, Mission San Antonio di Padua in Jolon and Bokay Nursery in Salinas.

Participants will receive hands-on pruning experience with help from experts at the two-hour long classes. Presentations, including the occasional one by Monterey Bay Rose Society President Joe Truskot, are also part of the experience.

photo by Janey Leonardich

A labor of love

EXPERT ADVICE The Monterey Bay Rose Society has kicked off its annual

rose pruning classes at various locations across the region.

All classes are free and no reservation is required.

“We’ve always been a quiet little group, but we’ve realized we need to get ourself out there,” Leonardich said. “We want people to know they can come to us with any questions they have.”

Organizers ask people to wear comfortable clothes— “dress for the weather,” as most classes are held outdoors (rain or shine).

Rosarians also encourage participants to bring any plants with them that they have questions about.

Each class location warrants a different experience, Leonardich said, but all have value.

“While the industry has indeed taken a hit… the nurseries that remain are doing great work,” Leonardich said. “We live in a great area with very few environmental factors. We still the ability to grow healthy, hearty roses.”

10 a.m.

•Mission San Antonio di Padua, 1 Mission Creek Rd., Jolon on Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.

•Bokay Nursery, 33 Hitchcock Rd., Salinas on Feb. 1 at 10 a.m.

•Alladin Nursery, 2905 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville on Feb. 22 at 10 a.m.

The following classes are scheduled: •Alladin Nursery, 2905 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville on Jan. 25 at

For information and to contact Monterey Bay Rose Society visit montereybayrosesociety. org.

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA

Refreshed orchard STAFF REPORT

The historic orchard in the center of downtown San Juan Bautista recently got a makeover.

Known as the first phase of renovation work, crews

from Hollister-based Lee Landscaping removed dead trees and installed drip irrigation throughout the orchard.

A wood chip mulch was installed to prevent weeds from sprouting. In addition, new gold granite

ADA-accessible pathways were constructed through the middle of the orchard and along its perimeter.

The first phase cost $70,000, all paid for by the Plaza History Association.

NEW LOOK State Park Interpreter Marcos Vizcaino shows the new wood chip

mulch that was installed in the orchard at the corner of Third and Washington streets in San Juan Bautista.

Photo by Robert Eliason

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JANUARY 2020

FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE

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GILROY

Gilroy Farmers Market grows WEEKLY EVENT BEGAN IN DECEMBER

By ERIK CHALHOUB

The Gilroy Farmers Market is growing steadily every Saturday, after launching Dec. 14 at Luigi Aprea Elementary School.

Manager Sal Ascencio said Certified Organic winter vegetables are in abundance at the market, including Rainbow Swiss chard, carrots, cabbage, kale and more from Alberto’s Farm of Hollister.

“Last Saturday's (Jan. 4) produce was harvested the previous day, and the crop was absolutely beautiful, vibrant colors, and of course, nutritious,” Ascencio said.

Castellanos Farms of Dinuba offers persimmons, blood oranges, lemons and other winter fruits.

Ascencio said all vendors that were part of opening day have returned every week. That Garlic Stuff, which sells marinated garlic sauces, joined the market on Jan. 4, and other vendors have expressed interest.

Ascencio added that the market is “actively recruiting” food vendors, with Big D’s Hot Dogs expected to join soon, as well as a kettle corn vendor.

Live music is also on tap for late January.

“We project that we'll have about 15 to 20 vendors by spring/summer,” he said.

Ascencio praised city leaders for their support, including the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association and the Gilroy Library, as well as customers.

“Our vision is to have a well-rounded, vibrant yet intimate, farmers market offering fresh produce, often picked in the last 24 hours,” he said.

“With a variety of quality vendors, food and music, we aspire to create an enjoyable ambiance for the whole family to enjoy.”

The Gilroy Farmers Market runs every Saturday at Luigi Aprea Elementary School, 9225 Calle Del Rey, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information, visit tcfm.farm.

ABOVE: Victor Munoz stocks up on carrots at the Gilroy Farmers Market.

RIGHT: Frances Martinez holds up a bouquet of flowers, one of the many items available at market, now running Saturdays at Luigi Aprea Elementary School. photos by Robert Eliason

*cover photography by Tarmo Hannula

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KING CITY

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Tour guides needed for South County Farm Day STAFF REPORT

Volunteer tour guides are needed for the upcoming South County Farm Day on Jan. 30 at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds.

The educational program exposes local thirdgrade classes to the world of agriculture.

Tour guides will escort classes through the event for twoand-a-half hours to their

JANUARY 2020

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scheduled activity areas.

Volunteers will be treated to a catered barbecue lunch after the event.

To sign up, visit montereycountyageducation. org.

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GIVING BACK Young Gonzales 4-H members helped donate gifts and a Christmas tree last month to a family in need and local foster children.

4-H members donate gifts, Christmas tree Staff Report

Gonzales 4-H Club members and their families recently donated and delivered gifts to a family in need as well as two local foster children.

Gifts were given to five

children between the ages of 1 and 14, three of whom belonged to a local family whose son is battling a long-term illness.

The two older boys are foster children in the area.

Club members Armando Gomez, Matty Gonzalez

and Miguel Flores delivered the gifts and a tree to the family, who was thankful and said it was their first time ever having a tree.

The 4-H group also donated food.

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FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE

HORTICULTURE

Citrus are summery winter fruits

By Tony Tomeo

C

contributed

FULL OF FLAVOR Not all oranges are this hue. completely. Their flavor mellows as they ripen and yellow. Fortunately, they develop sporadically through an extensive season, so can be available any time fresh limes are desired. Grapefruits can be left intentionally to mellow on their trees after ripening, although this tactic can inhibit bloom.

Otherwise, many citrus fruits can last for more than three months on their trees without consequence. Some improve with mellowing. Meyer lemons, which are a hybrid of an orange and a lemon, ripen like richly flavored lemons, and then mellow like very tart oranges. Since citrus fruits stop ripening when harvested, it is advisable to taste one before harvesting too many that are not ready.

Some ripened Mandarin oranges may have slight green blotches.

Valencia oranges may be slightly yellowish.

Highlight: Orange Most of us know what oranges are. The color is, of course, orange.

They are very juicy and sweet. Cultivars that are most popular for eating fresh, particularly ‘navel’ oranges, are easy to peel and separate into segments. Those that are best for juicing, such as Valencia, are a bit smaller with thinner rind, so are a bit sloppier to peel and separate. Such “sweet” oranges are Citrus sinensis.

Richly tangy blood oranges are of the same species, but have blushed or deep red pulp and juice. Sanguinelli, although rare here, is nonetheless the most popular of the blood oranges, and is a traditional citrus component of sangria.

The juicy fruit is compact, with tightly fitting thin skin, comparable to that of ‘Valencia’. Rarer Moro produces plumper fruit that is easy to peel and eat fresh.

contributed

itrus seem like such summery fruits.

Chilled lemonade and lemon meringue pie are best during warm weather. There are certainly plenty of lemons that ripen randomly throughout the year, and plenty that last for months on their trees. Most limes, some grapefruits and Valencia oranges will be around in summer too.

Otherwise, most citrus are at their best right about now, through winter.

Mandarin oranges are traditional ingredients of well stuffed Christmas stockings. Where winters are cold and snowy, far from where they grow, they seem contrary to their natural ripening season.

Of all the citrus, they are the most perishable, so are best as they ripen.

Their loosely fitting skins, that are so easy to peel, allow them to oxidize and dehydrate more readily than other citrus fruits.

Tangerines are just Mandarin oranges that were developed in North or South America. Rangpur limes are actually sour Mandarin oranges that are somewhat less perishable because their skins happen to fit more firmly.

Calamondins, which are odd but likely natural hybrids of Mandarin oranges and kumquats, are diminutive tangy fruits that do not last much longer than Mandarin oranges.

Bearss limes are preferably harvested right as they grow to mature size, but just before they ripen

READY FOR PICKING Kumquats are now in their prime.

Sour and bitter oranges, which are very rare here, are mostly Citrus auranticum. Sour oranges, such as Seville, are used for marmalades and confections. Bitter

oranges are used for flavorings and fragrances, such as Bergamot for Earl Grey tea. Both bitter and sour oranges were less rare a century ago, when some were appreciated for

alluringly fragrant bloom and handsome foliage.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

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STATE

Parties join to support ag bill BIPARTISANSHIP NO GUARANTEE OF SENATE APPROVAL Staff Report

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19) and four republican members of Congress passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a 260-165 vote.

But the fate of the bill in the Senate, despite the bipartisan support, is uncertain.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a bipartisan solution for the country’s agriculture industry and farmworkers seeks to provide “stability, predictability, and fairness to one of the most critical sectors of our nation’s economy.”

After months of negotiation and input from members in the agricultural industry and labor organizations, the

legislation was introduced with the support of 26 Democrats and 23 Republicans.

“The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a critical, bipartisan step forward for both our farmers and farmworkers,” Panetta said. “I am thankful that the House advanced this effort to protect our existing farmworkers and promote an enduring workforce for agriculture. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to get this bill passed into law.”

Lofgren said the bill would be a win for farmworkers “who feed the nation.”

“Our bill offers stability for American farms by providing a path to legal status for farmworkers. In addition, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act addresses the nation’s future labor needs by modernizing an outdated system for temporary workers, while ensuring fair wages and workplace conditions,” she said. “I urge the Senate to follow the House’s

lead and swiftly pass the first-of-its-kind bipartisan immigration compromise in decades that improves America’s agricultural labor programs and laws.”

The bill garnered the widespread support of more than 300 agriculture groups and labor organizations.

“Today is a milestone because this is the first time in decades that the full House, under either party, has enacted an agricultural labor immigration bill,” said Arturo S. Rodriguez, president emeritus of United Farm Workers. “This bill will help bring stability to agricultural workers and to the agricultural industry.

Experienced and professional agricultural workers— who have earned the right to a stable future in the United States for themselves and their families—will be liberated from the pervasive fear they face every day while performing one of the toughest jobs in America.”

JANUARY 2020