News and Articles

New law may generate small farms across the country

i Jan 30th No Comments by

Article from the Coast News – Richard Winkler has witnessed how small gardens can breathe new life into neighborhoods across San Diego County. And he’s hopeful the recent passage of the California Urban Agriculture Zones Act will encourage the trend. Read more about new State law from the Coast News.

Water partnership stepping up recycled water production

i Jan 30th No Comments by

Escondido water utilities is looking to link up water districts in North County by identifying who has a need for recycled water. Escondido is planning to build a pipeline that would redirect water bound for an ocean outflow and convert it into recycled water for avocado farms. Read the rest of the story at The Coast News

Water line could save Escondido ag

i Jan 30th No Comments by

Article from UT San Diego: Aiming to help Escondido’s struggling farmers get cheaper water, city officials are moving forward with a $12 million pipeline expansion that will bring treated sewer water to hundreds of citrus and avocado groves.

Farmers, who have faced sharply rising water rates in recent years, have been lobbying the city for the expansion. Escondido’s agricultural industry employs more than 2,000 people and accounts for $81 million a year in revenue, according to Escondido Growers for Agricultural Preservation, an advocacy group.

Read more from UT San Diego

Reed Avocados

i Jan 30th No Comments by

Avocado Tree

Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable, belonging to the genus Persea in the Lauraceae family.

  • Avocado orchards help renew our air supply and keep fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
  • In one year, a single California avocado tree can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.
  • Two mature avocado trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four.
  • One avocado tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year.
  • A one acre avocado orchard removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
  • Southern California avocado orchards remove 25 – 88 pounds of (dry nitrogenous) pollutants per acre from the environment. (based on University of California deposition data).
  • Orchard trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
  • Avocado tree roots stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
  • Avocado orchards can reduce storm run-off and the possibility of flooding. By slowing runoff and filtering rain water, orchards can improve water quality.
  • Avocado orchards provide shelter for wildlife.
  • For more information on avocado facts go to Fun Facts About Avocados from The Hand Grown in California website

Work to start on new sewer building

i Jan 30th No Comments by

October 13, 2013

ESCONDIDO — Escondido will break ground this winter on a $6 million, three-story sewer administration building that’s a key step toward a city goal of recycling sewage into drinking water, city officials said. Read the entire article at UT San Diego