Every year, California produces millions of tons of agricultural and food residues. Most of that material has limited economic value at the moment. Thanks to the state’s emerging bioeconomy, though, researchers have identified ways to unlock new value from agricultural byproducts previously seen as waste. Renewable natural gas. Biofertilizers. Bioproducts. […]
Is your wine grape harvest looking lighter than expected? Don’t worry. The grape harvest experienced a very early start in 2026, followed by unusual springtime weather that left many grape clusters sparse or uneven. Overall numbers are certainly down, but experts say that a lighter harvest this year will help […]
June was California Avocado Month — a celebration of a harvest that’s expected to reach 330 million pounds this year, as well as a showcase of the growers and agricultural workers who keep the industry thriving. In a market still dominated by imported avocados, California-grown avocados stand out for their […]
Be sure to wash your fresh produce before you eat it! That’s good advice for any time of the year, but it’s particularly important this summer, as food-borne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis continue to climb in America. An intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, cyclosporiasis’ recent spread has been […]
California’s strawberry, blueberry, and cherry crops are all underperforming this year, despite early predictions of a productive — and, in some cases, record-breaking — season. Blueberry production was projected to reach 88 million pounds in 2026, an all-time high that would have considerably exceeded last year’s haul of 83 million […]
Protecting your crops from weeds and pests doesn’t just require time, money, and manual labor — it often requires herbicides and pesticides, too. If you’re looking to reduce your chemical use and labor costs without harming your crops, there’s good news. Carbon Robotics and TRIC Robotics, two companies that frequently […]
As much of California continues to face hotter-than-normal temperatures, it’s more important than ever to save water in our drought-prone state. That’s why a new conservation project is focusing on California’s canals. Stretching across the state for 2,500 miles, these open canals are exposed to high levels of sun and […]
After years of declining production, California’s strawberry crop is ripe for an industry turnaround. 2026 could be the crop’s most productive year in a decade. Record-setting temperatures in February and March led to springtime harvests that began much earlier than expected. “It bumped the season up by two or three […]
California almond growers are heading into the 2026 season with a slightly smaller crop forecast than last year. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service projects California’s almond harvest at 2.7 billion pounds, down about 1% from 2025. Despite the small decline in total production, yields across the state are expected […]
Ongoing research at UC Riverside could reshape the way California’s growers water their trees. In dry climates, irrigation couldn’t be more important — or, if improperly handled, more expensive. That’s why the University of California has developed a system that creates detailed, tree-by-tree maps of soil moisture levels. Under this […]