Despite the economic downturn, the aggregate value of Santa Cruz County crops grew more than $6.31 million in 2009, according to an annual report by the Santa Cruz County Agriculture Commission.

The total gross production value for the year was $491.64 million, with strawberries holding the top value slot for the year and raspberries coming in second.

"I was surprised the market was as good as it was during the economic hardships that we're having," said Vince Gizdich of Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville. People are still buying fruit rather than foregoing it as a commodity. "I think people are thinking fruit is essential for good health. I think that's what kept the prices going well."

Chris Newman remembers when greenhouses ruled the Pajaro Valley and California's cut-flower business flourished worldwide.

Lamenting the industry's decline, Newman, 58, sees a way to make use of the now-empty nurseries done in by foreign competitors and restore the glory of the once regal greenhouse. It's called aquaponics, a combination of aquaculture fish farming and hydroponics growing plants in water, and Newman has set out to do it in a former rose-growing facility off Casserly Road.

City leaders on Wednesday expressed frustration with state-requested goals to rein in greenhouse gas emissions that council members say are baseless but fear could be used against them if not met.

"This is nuts that we're even having this discussion," said Scotts Valley City Councilman Dene Bustichi. "We don't have any data. What we do if we don't make it?"

A California judge has ruled that two affluent enclaves south of San Francisco may not pursue a lawsuit over the state's planned high-speed rail route.

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny on Monday affirmed his preliminary ruling from last week against reopening the lawsuit by Menlo Park and Atherton...

The proposed rail system would enable passengers to speed the 430 miles between Los Angeles and San Francisco in under 3 hours.

As PG&E ramps up installation of SmartMeters across Santa Cruz County, at least one county leader is stepping up his opposition.

County Supervisor John Leopold, who says he gets calls every day now from people worried about potential health and accuracy problems with SmartMeters, is laying the groundwork for a moratorium on the new technology.

"I and many of my constituents have been very concerned that PG&E, rather than deal with the issues of the SmartMeters, have accelerated the installation," Leopold said, adding that public concerns should be addressed before the installation continues.

Tuesday the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to decide whether to seek county counsel about a possible ban on SmartMeters in the unincorporated communities.

Local government leaders from across the Monterey Bay area meet tonight to discuss what level of greenhouse gas emissions is appropriate for the region.

The emissions target recommended by planners with the Association of Monterey Bay Area Government is 0 percent per capita growth through 2035. The target - which pertains only to transportation sources, not industry - would permit an increase in total emissions only as the population grows.