The California Water Alliance announced today the addition of John Duarte and Arshdeep Singh to its Board of Directors, strengthening the organization’s leadership as water reliability and infrastructure remain key priorities for the state. The new board appointments come at a time when California continues to face long-term water supply uncertainty and growing competition among agricultural, urban, and environmental water users. According to the Alliance’s announcement, Duarte and Singh bring experience spanning agriculture, public service, and water policy, providing perspectives... Read More
Pistachio growers in California may soon have a powerful new tool to reduce crop loss thanks to groundbreaking research from scientists at the University of California, Davis. A recent study led by plant scientists at UC Davis sheds light on a long‑standing challenge for the state’s $2‑billion‑a‑year pistachio industry — pre‑harvest hull split. What Is Hull Split and Why It Matters Hull split occurs when the outer green hull of a pistachio nut cracks before the nuts are harvested. While some degree... Read More
The 2026 California Processing Tomato Report, released by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) on January 23, 2026, reveals a notable downturn in contracted production and acreage for the upcoming processing season. This early industry snapshot underscores structural adjustments underway in one of the nation’s most critical vegetable processing sectors. Sharp Decline in Contracts and Acreage According to the 2026 report, California tomato processors report contracts for approximately 9.8 million tons of processing tomatoes, marking... Read More
