California Sets New Agricultural Water Standards Sacramento, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation on June 7, 2025, enacting stringent new water efficiency standards for...
Category: Pacific Plate
THE PACIFIC PLATE (Food & Drink)
* Restaurant Guides: Curated lists and reviews for major cities (LA, SF, Portland, Seattle).
* Wine & Vine: Deep dives into wine country across all three states.
* Craft Culture: The world of craft beer, coffee roasting, and artisan spirits.
* Farm-to-Table: Stories that trace food from its source to the consumer, highlighting sustainable farming.
West Coast Seafood Industry Sounds Alarm on Labor Costs: AB 123 Precedent Sparks Concern
West Coast Seafood Industry Navigates Rising Labor Cost Fears Amidst Legislative Scrutiny The vibrant and economically vital West Coast seafood industry, stretching across the coastal states...
California’s AB 123: Farm Labor Bill Sparks Fears of Soaring Food Costs and Restaurant Strain
California’s Assembly Bill 123: A Deep Dive into the Controversial Farm Labor Proposal California Assembly Bill 123, a piece of legislation poised to significantly reshape the...
Beyond Wages: California Fast Food Council Finalizes Sweeping Worker Mandates for 2025
California Approves Major New Fast Food Worker Regulations Effective 2025 Sacramento, CA – The California Fast Food Council today marked a pivotal moment for the state’s...
Seattle Restaurants Sound Alarm: ‘Crisis’ Predicted Over Proposed Tipped Wage Elimination
Seattle’s vibrant restaurant scene is facing a significant potential upheaval, according to the Seattle Restaurant Alliance, which issued a stark warning this week regarding a proposed...
Early Closure Mandated for West Coast Dungeness Crab Season Over Escalating Whale Entanglement Risk
Federal Regulators Order Abbreviated Dungeness Crab Season Washington D.C. — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued new emergency regulations on May 28, 2025, mandating...
Central Valley Farmers Protest Critical Water Cuts, Demand State Relief Amid Drought Crisis
Protests Erupt Across the Valley Hundreds of farmers from California’s vital Central Valley region staged widespread protests on May 24th, a day after the State Water...
California Drought Emergency: Central Valley Farms Face ‘Unprecedented’ 75% Water Cut
California Implements Severe Water Cuts for Central Valley Farms Amid Deepening Drought Sacramento, California – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced on May 23,...
Landmark Contract Ratified: California Farm Workers Secure Historic Wage Increase, Enhanced Heat Safety
Historic Agreement Reached: California Farm Workers Win Landmark Contract SACRAMENTO, CA – After weeks of intense and sometimes fraught negotiations, a watershed moment for agricultural labor...
California Drought: Central Valley Farms Face Severe Water Cuts as Tier 3 Restrictions Loom
California Drought Crisis Deepens with Severe Water Cuts for Central Valley Agriculture Sacramento, CA — State officials on May 17 delivered a significant blow to California’s...