A look at Salinas, California, farm-rich but expensiveMonterey County Farm Bureau - Salinas Valley History

The Salinas Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in California.South of San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley is where it is located.

The Salinas River, which geologically formed the fluvial valley and generated its human history, flows to the northwest along the principal axis and the length of the valley.

During the late 18th-century Spanish colonial Alta California period, the valley was named after a salt marsh, salt lake, or salt pan.The Salinas River had tule ponds in depressed areas during the season.

There is a southeast to northwest alignment for the valley.It begins south of San Ardo, framed by the central inner California Coast Ranges, and continues northwestwards until it reaches the river's mouth at the Monterey Bay.

The setting of the novels East ofEDEN and OF MUSE and MEN is here.

The Salinas Valley runs southeast from the Salinas River mouth to King City and San Ardo.The valley is named after the geologic province in which it is located.The cities and populated places in the Salinas Valley are Bradley, Castroville, Chualar, Gonzales, Greenfield, Jolon, King City, Salinas, San Ardo,San Lucas, Soledad and Spreckels.The Salinas Valley is located between the Santa Lucia mountain ranges and the Gabilan mountain range.

Before colonization, the valley was inhabited by indigenous Salinans who lived by hunting and gathering.

The city of Soledad was founded by the Spanish in the late 18th century.

The commercial farming sector of the Dust Bowl era forms the backdrop for several John Steinbeck stories.

At a railroad crossing south of Chualar in 1963, a bus carrying Mexican migrant workers collided with a train, killing 32 passengers and injuring 25.The most serious road accident in U.S. history helped spur the abolition of the bracero guest worker program.TheBracero Memorial Highway was named at the 50th anniversary of the accident.Two survivors of the crash were still alive.It was [1][2].

The economy of the valley is dominated by agriculture.The Salinas Valley is referred to as the Salad Bowl of the World for the production of lettuce, broccoli, peppers and many other crops.The flower industry and grape vineyards are ideal for the climate and long growing season.

The majority of salad greens consumed in the U.S. are grown in this region.Fruits and vegetables are the main crops in the valley.Other crops include broccoli, cauliflower, wine grapes, and artichokes.The area has earned the nickname "America's Salad Bowl" due to the intensity of local agriculture.Matsui Nursery has been a major benefactor to Salinas and has dominated the flower industry.

The Salinas Valley is an important viticultural area.The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA is located in the Salinas Valley and is part of the American Viticultural Area.[3][4]

More than 100 manufacturing firms call Salinas home.Dole Fresh Vegetable, the County of Monterey, and Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital are some of the largest employers in the area.

The Salinas Valley farms are fed by an underground water supply.Nacimiento and San Antonio stores and releases water for various purposes.There are 275,000 acres of fruits and vegetables that can be supplied by the wells.The Salinas River is a sand river, so water can't be seen on the surface during heavy rains or when water is released from the upstream reservoirs.seawater is being pulled under the coastal area by increasing demand for water near the mouth of the valley.The Salinas Valley Water Project will use an inflatable dam near Salinas to capture more water during wet periods.Monterey County Water Recycling Projects started delivering recycled water to fields near Castroville in 1998.The projects reduce pumping of water.

The weather in the Salinas Valley varies from north to south.The cool coastal waters of the Pacific and proximity to Monterey Bay keep it relatively mild in the winter.The southern part of the valley has warmer summers and cooler winters.