Contra Costa Times: April 6, 2008 In the inner cities of western Contra Costa County, where corner liquor stores far outnumber grocery stores, it's easier to buy a beer than a fresh apple.  That's according to a new PBS documentary series that explores the relationship between where people live and their health...read more Brentwood Press: April 4, 2008 Here in East County, where 12,000 acres of abundant, fertile soils offer a year-round bounty of fruits and vegetables, a mere 30 or 40 miles away in west and central counties, school children are going without farm-fresh foods, and consumers continue to pay top dollar for imported Chilean strawberries and bananas...read more Contra Costa Times: March 26, 2008 You don't need a calendar to know spring has arrived in eastern Contra Costa.  The fertile soil on the county's eastern edge is coming alive with the fruits of the upcoming summer harvest as sunny days, mild nights and a decent amount of rain have combined to create ideal growing conditions...read more Brentwood Press: February 22, 2008 The Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust (BALT) has secured 80 acres along the Hannah Nicole Vineyards in Brentwood as an agricultural conservation easement, a move intended to preserve the property for future farming use in perpetuity...read more Contra Costa Times: November 11, 2007 A transportation taxing board has decided to decrease fees on East County wineries and olive oil producers - a move that could encourage growers to move their businesses to Contra Costa...read more Brentwood Press: September 7, 2007 Tickets are selling fast for the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust's third annual fundraiser.  This year's event, A Harvest Celebration, will be held Saturday, September 22 from 6 to 10 pm at the beautiful and historic Taylor Ranch...read more Brentwood Press: July 6, 2007 According to Knightsen farmer Ken Smith, “Probably to some degree, everybody is waiting for somebody else to go first.”  What they are waiting for that “somebody else” to do is be the first roadside farm stand operator in East Contra Costa to expand the operation under the county’s new law that took effect yesterday...read more Brentwood Press: June 29, 2007 Amid the bustle of the Brentwood Farmers' Market Saturday morning, local farmers held a breakfast to celebrate local farming and showcase the new Buy Fresh Buy Local logo that will help Bay Area consumers identify the fresh fruits and vegetables from the Brentwood region when they purchase food...read more East Bay Express: June 20, 2007 Pick-it-yourself fruit is a fun way to get in touch with the land, and, for small Brentwood farms, a necessary tactic to stay afloat...read more Contra Costa Times: June 8, 2007 East Contra Costa farmers soon will be able to operate larger roadside stands as well as farm markets, giving them more opportunities to sell their fruits and vegetables...read more Contra Costa Times: May 13, 2007 You might have to traverse minor detours around the Highway 4 bypass construction to get to some of the U-Pick farms in East County.  But local farmers say it will be worth the trek...read more Brentwood Press: May 11, 2007 Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust (BALT), is neither broken nor bowed in the wake of the City Council's decision not to fund it after June 30, according to its chief administrator...read more Contra Costa Times: April 29, 2007 Meredith Nunn is ready to fence up her 19-acre fruit orchard and quit farming in East Contra Costa County.  Because her property is within the county's protected agricultural core, Nunn is not allowed to operate a bed-and-breakfast on her farm.  She can't build a small restaurant or host events there, either...read more Contra Costa Times: April 29, 2007 Maybe in 15 years, Michael Stonebarger will come back to help run his family farm in Brentwood...read more Contra Costa Times: April 19, 2007 Members of East County's agricultural conservation organization said Wednesday they plan to continue preserving farmland and promoting local produce, with or without Brentwood's financial support...read more Brentwood Press: April 13, 2007 Citing the need to preserve the city's limited agricultural enterprise funds for land preservation, the City Council Tuesday voted to end administrative funding for the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust as of June 30...read more Contra Costa Times: April 12, 2007 The future of East County's agricultural land conservation group is in doubt after Brentwood city leaders decided to strip city funds from the organization...read more Brentwood Press: March 23, 2007 Merry Nail finally said her goodbyes to the home and land she's grown to cherish all her life, as she boxed up her belongings to move in temporarily with friends nearby...read more Daily Business News: March 7, 2007 Farmers in the Brentwood Region of Contra Costa County Are Poised to Take Advantage of Consumer Demand for Local Food, New Report Finds...read more Brentwood Press: February 23, 2007 Local farmers will soon be able to sell what they grow - and even what they don't grow - with more ease and less regulatory red tape if plans for a new farming ordinance come to fruition.  County officials met with area growers recently to continue the ongoing process of drafting new regulations...read more Contra Costa Times: February 18, 2007 Give it six more months, and Meredith Nunn says she will have to shut down her Brentwood fruit farm after more than 20 years in operation.  The county's restrictions on agricultural land have crippled East County farmers such as Nunn, who says she is not making enough money to survive...read more Brentwood Press: January 26, 2007 Creating a vibrant agricultural economy is essential to preserving our local farms and prime farmland.  Established in 2002, the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust (BALT) ensures the protection and preservation of local farmlands through several projects, foremost of which is its Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign...read more Brentwood Press: January 26, 2007 The City Council jumped enthusiastically on the conservation bandwagon this week, joining a diverse coalition of supporters backing the East Contra Costa Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).  In the works for nearly a decade, the HCP streamlines the development process and provides for more orderly conservation of wildlife habitat...read more