California Ag Network

Tag: Salinas Valley

  • David and Susan Gill Honored for Lifelong Dedication to Salinas Valley Ag and Community

    In a gathering that underscored the enduring spirit of innovation and generosity in California’s “Salad Bowl of the World,” David and Susan Gill received the prestigious E.E. ‘Gene’ Harden Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA). The October 3 event at TPC Pasadera drew more than 275 local leaders, peers, and colleagues, transforming the evening into a tribute to the Salinas Valley’s agricultural legacy. Net proceeds from the event will support causes deeply cherished by the Gills: First Tee Monterey County, which empowers youth through golf and life skills, and the Mission San Antonio de Padua in southern Monterey County, which preserves cultural heritage and community vitality.

    The E.E. ‘Gene’ Harden Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2004, stands as a beacon of excellence recognizing individuals whose exemplary contributions have advanced agriculture across the Salinas Valley and Central Coast while uplifting the lives of those in their communities. Awarded by peers, colleagues, and even competitors who share a first-hand knowledge of the region’s challenges and triumphs, the honor carries unique importance for those whose actions not only cultivate crops but also advance future generations in our region.

    Rising through the ranks with an unwavering focus on efficiency and stewardship, David Gill has pioneered advancements in crop rotation, water conservation, and supply chain logistics, setting enduring benchmarks for California’s vegetable sector and enhancing yields while preserving precious resources. His wife, Susan Gill, has amplified their impact through tireless advocacy for education, workforce development, and health programs. Both have dedicated significant time and resources to local community groups and organizations, supporting students and families in the region. “The Gills are the embodiment of what makes our valley thrive—not just in terms of the crops harvested, but in lives enriched and futures illuminated,” said Christopher Valadez, GSA President and CEO. Joined on stage by GSA Past-Chairman Tony Alameda, Valadez presented the award to the Gills and also honored past recipients.

    Eugene E. “Gene” Harden was a Salinas Valley pioneer whose bold vision reshaped American agriculture. Born in 1892 to Irish immigrants, Harden arrived in Salinas in the 1920s, founding the E.E. Harden Packing Company, where he developed revolutionary crop rotation techniques that boosted yields and sustainability. Harden was a founding architect of the GSA. Ercia Harden, together with her husband Gene, deeply believed in philanthropy and established the Harden Foundation in 1963. Dedicated to bolstering Salinas Valley charities, their joint legacy reflects a belief that agricultural success must nurture community well-being—from education and health initiatives to cultural preservation—principles that continue to inspire awardees like the Gills today.

    About the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California:

    Founded in 1930, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California is a pioneering, independent regional organization that unites farmers, shippers, processors, and harvesters, with a mission to advance families, food, and farming to enhance the quality of life in the Salinas Valley and Central Coast. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, GSA protects the land, its people, and the future of the “Salad Bowl of the World.” For more information, visit www.growershipper.com.

  • Salinas Teen Overcomes Adversity to Win Big at CA State Fair Livestock Competition

    With tears streaming down his face, 18-year-old Luis Gonzalez was speechless when his name was called as FFA Master Showmanship winner at the 2025 CA State Fair on July 13. He also won Reserve Champion Wether Dam Doe.

    “I just couldn’t believe it! There was a lot of tough competition out there,” said Gonzalez. “But I’ve learned that hard work will take you anywhere.”

    In this moving moment during the awards ceremony, Tom Martinez, CEO of the California Exposition & State Fair, witnessed Gonzalez’s raw emotion firsthand. “This young man was shocked when his name was called,” Martinez said. “You could see the pride flowing through his tears of excitement and disbelief. He earned this moment.”

    Gonzalez’s story is one of perseverance, family sacrifice, and resilience. His journey began when he was just nine-years-old, showing animals in local 4-H programs. He started entering more competitive shows in high school. Without access to the necessary equipment to help develop winning animals like grooming supplies, feeding and watering supplies, show equipment, and general supplies, he adjusted his methods and trained harder. His turning point came when he bought a wether and was gifted a doe earlier this year. He started raising and working with her in January of 2025, dedicating countless hours before and after school.

    Gonzalez’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. In August 2023, while returning from the California Youth Ag Expo in Tulare, his family’s vehicle was t-boned and flipped five times. Luis was in a coma for a week, suffered a foot injury, and missed the first two weeks of his junior year while recovering in a medical boot. But instead of giving up, he came back stronger.

    “If you stay focused and put in the effort, you can achieve anything,” said Gonzalez.

    His success didn’t come alone. His entire family played a role in his achievements. His mother works long hours harvesting lettuce in the Salinas Valley, and his father supports the household through tree service labor. His older brother Jesus has been by his side every step of the way, attending shows, and motivating him to keep pushing forward.

    A recent graduate of Salinas High School, Gonzalez will attend Modesto Junior College this fall, continuing his agricultural journey with a focus on animal science. To other young agriculturalists, Gonzalez offers this advice, “Always be around people who make you better. Ask questions. Learn everything you can. That’s how you grow.”

    “The California State Fair is proud to celebrate young leaders like Luis,” said Martinez. “These are individuals who represent the best of California’s agricultural heritage, dedication, and heart.”

    About the California State Fair

    The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future.

  • Techniques in Organic Farming that Influence Soil Health

    Soil organic matter has long been known to benefit farmers. The carbon in this organic matter acts as a food source for soil microbes, which then provide other nutrients to the crops grown. Microbes, insects and small soil critters produce materials that can improve soil structure and water retention. It’s a healthy ecosystem every farmer wants to encourage.

    Measuring changes in soil organic matter can be a challenge in intensively tilled soil that is used for vegetable production. Even in production systems with less soil disturbance, soil organic matter changes slowly. But, Eric Brennan and Veronica Acosta-Martinez are testing for soil enzymes as early indicators of improvements in soil health in a long-term systems study.

    Brennan manages the study in an area of California known as the “Salad Bowl of the World.” The Salinas Valley has high-input, organic vegetable production systems. “Farms in Salinas usually need to produce two or more vegetable crops per field annually to be profitable,” says Brennan. “This production intensity complicates the adoption of winter cover cropping. This is why many farmers in this region prefer to use compost to add large amounts of organic matter to the soil.”

    Specifically, the team compared farming systems that received different amounts and types of organic matter. The sources were from compost and cover crops. They recently published their results in the Soil Science Society of America Journal.

    “Our results on soil enzyme activity illustrate the importance of frequent cover-cropping in tillage-intensive, organic vegetable production,” says Brennan. “This raises questions about the sustainability of organic and conventional vegetable systems if cover crops are seldom used. We need to find innovative strategies to help farmers increase cover cropping. The practice is shown to improve soil health. It also provides other benefits like reducing nitrogen leaching into ground water.”

    It’s not that organic or conventional farmers in this region are against cover cropping. It’s that their use can complicate many aspects of vegetable production.

    Brennan’s study showed that cover cropping annually – no matter the type of plant grown – greatly benefits the soil. The study found that annual inputs of compost have relatively small benefits. There was an increase in microbial activity with compost, but not as much as with annual cover crops.

    There are some caveats in the study. This research was conducted in a loamy sand soil in Salinas Valley. Organic farmers in different regions may have different results. Using different types of fertilizers could impact results, as well.

    “The growing body of information from this long-term trial challenges the overly-simplistic notion that certified organic management improves soil health or quality,” says Brennan. He adds that the USDA organic standards require that certified farms show that their tillage and cultivation practices maintain or improve soil conditions. This refers to physical, chemical and biological factors. It also refers to minimizing soil erosion, which can worsen with intensive tilling.

    The team hopes that future research will focus on different soil types, such a clay or loam soil. Evaluating changes over shorter increments would provide useful data, too. The soil enzyme data tells one part of the interesting story of this relatively long-term experiment.

    Read more about this research in the Soil Science Society of America Journal. This research was funded primarily by the USDA-ARS, but also received 2 years of initial funding from a Specialty Crops grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

    To watch a 5-minute video of Eric Brennan explaining the Salad Bowl of the World, visityoutube.com/watch?v=M-8tCXXKqNA.