A Landmark Victory for Agriculture: Lucas Ranch Protected In a significant stride toward safeguarding California’s agricultural heritage, California Farmland Trust has successfully closed an agricultural conservation easement (ACE) on Lucas Ranch, a beloved 66.93-acre walnut orchard located just two miles west of Gustine in Merced County. This easement closing not only preserves prime farmland but...Read More

Central Valley Farmland Trust is Born ~ By Vicky Boyd    When representatives of four farmland conservation groups met in late 2003, they agreed that the status quo probably wasn’t the best way to protect agricultural land moving forward. Then the discussion evolved around possible new structures. Should the Sacramento and San Joaquin County groups...Read More

Passion Drives Action to Minimize Increasing Growth ~ By Vicky Boyd    With development of prime farmland occurring all around them, a small group of Merced County residents had reached a tipping point in the early 1990s. Led by Linda Macedo, Eleanor Lema and a few other members of the Merced chapter of California Women...Read More

Spring is here and with it, the launch of many certified farmers’ markets (CFMs) across California.  CFMs are a great way for farmers to bring their crops directly to consumers in accordance with rigorous state standards specific to food safety, handling and packaging.  In turn, consumers have the opportunity to shop locally and build personal...Read More