Imperiled Aquifers: AP investigation on California TV stations

I had the pleasure of working with our SF-based environmental reporter Ellen Knickmeyer on this investigation of dumping into protected aquifers in the Central Valley. Packaging such a technical, document-based investigative piece for video was a challenge. But it’s not the first time I’ve made a farmer cry on tape (scroll to 7:40). The package got great play. […]

The birthplace of the pluot: Floyd Zaiger’s farm

California fruit breeder perfects peaches and plums By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON | Associated Press MODESTO, Calif. (AP) – Enjoyed a crisp white peach or a juicy plum this past summer? Chances are that 85-year-old Floyd Zaiger was behind them in some way, through his disease-resistant root stocks, groundbreaking hybrids or commercial varieties that arrive in […]

Outlaw Urban Farmers

VIDEO: City chickens in the shadow of downtown LA Urban farmers fight nationwide to sow green biz By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON | Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Tara Kolla fancied herself a green thumb-turned-green businesswoman when she planted an organic flower plot in her yard and sold poppies, sweet peas and zinnias at […]