California farms grow pumpkins for fun, not profit

California is the nation's No. 2 pumpkin producer, but the crop is unusual among the state's agricultural commodities, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times by Diana Marcum. Pumpkin farms tend to be small and most pumpkins are sold directly to consumers by farmers at roadside stands or U-pick operations. California pumpkins are more commonly used for jack-o'-lanterns than pie filling.

"Pumpkins are really different," said Tom Turini, a farm advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Fresno. "We're not trying to feed the world pumpkins. It's more about tradition, family. It's farmers just having a little fun."

Fungal Killer of Cypresses Originated in California
John Upton, New York Times

Last month, scientists from UC Berkeley and the National Research Council in Italy reported that they traced Seiridium, the fungus that causes cypress canker disease, back to Monterey cypresses in California. The fungus has caused a deadly epidemic in the world’s forests.

According to the article, Matteo Garbelotto, a forest pathologist at Berkeley and a member of the team of scientists, said that the problem began roughly a century ago when landowners started planting Monterey cypress trees in the California Central Valley and in Europe. Outside of their natural environment, they became weakened and more susceptible to infection. As the trees’ immune systems grew weaker, the fungus grew stronger, until it prevailed.

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