Growing Coachella Valley

08/19/2026

It is really a shame CA growers feel the pain when a foodborne illness occurs outside the country. Buy CA grown!

California lettuce was not implicated in a sprawling cyclospora outbreak that sickened thousands of people and made frequent headlines this summer.

But farmers in the state—who produce most of the country’s lettuce—are shouldering much of the economic pain as wary consumers ditch lettuce and other fresh produce. Last month, lettuce prices declined 16.4%, the largest month-over-month drop on record, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, market research firm NielsenIQ reported that from July 18 to Aug. 8, sales of iceberg lettuce fell 25.4% and prepacked salads dipped 34.2%.

Growers said they were left with little choice but to destroy about a third of their lettuce crops that were ready to harvest. “It’s been really bad,” said Ryan Kelly, vice president and general manager of Salinas-based Boutonnet Farms in Monterey County. Since mid-July, he said, the collapse in lettuce sales had erased the farm’s entire profit margin for the year.

📸: Vicky Boyd

Read more in Ag Alert: bit.ly/4gbg8uw

07/25/2026

Good information to know. Keep eating fresh produce, practice safe handling habits.

07/10/2026

Harvest season is underway, and crops like tomatoes are a reminder of the vital role reliable water plays throughout the growing season. Supporting California’s water supply means supporting the farmers, communities, and agricultural economy that help feed our nation.

Photo source: Los Gatos Tomato Products

07/08/2026

Ancient Romans ate artichokes after large feasts to settle their stomachs and modern science actually backs this up, as artichokes are known to support liver and digestive health! Make sure to add some to the menu of your next summer festivity!

07/08/2026

Great information here.

07/08/2026

California Celebrates National Blueberry Day with a Sweet 2025 Harvest 🫐

July 8 is National Blueberry Day, and California has a lot to celebrate. In 2025, the Golden State harvested 81.47 million pounds of blueberries, which is a remarkable milestone that reflects the hard work, care, and dedication of growers, harvesters, packers, shippers, and everyone who helps bring this delicious crop from the field to families across California and beyond.

Blueberries may be small, but they represent a big part of California agriculture. On National Blueberry Day, CDFA is proud to recognize and thank California’s blueberry growers and all those across the supply chain who make each season possible. Your work supports local communities, strengthens our agricultural economy, and helps showcase the quality and abundance of California-grown produce.

Here’s to a berry good National Blueberry Day — and to the people behind every pound harvested. 🫐

07/07/2026

That's one way to figure it out!

07/04/2026

Happy 250th! Enjoy this special time and give thanks for our freedom, food, and for those that provided it all!