Northern California

San Diego’s losing avocado market grip

The Gist: Salty water turns avocado leaves brown, curbs root growth and can even stop trees from producing fruit at all. In the past three years, the amount of salt in the water used by most avocado growers in San Diego County has gone up by 20 percent, according to one expert. Like any plants, avocados need water to thrive. But lately, water has been causing a lot…


Escondido Art Beat, April Edition

April is for artists with two of the Escondido ilk spreading the good work about art around town courtesy of awards and community building. Meet mosaic artist Marsha Rafter Marsha Rafter believes in building an arts community in, and around, the Hidden Valley. Her latest project was an outdoor installation of a memorial bench for a 17 year old girl who died of a rare…