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Help clean up the Gilroy Sports Park The next cleanup event organized by the City of Gilroy will take place Oct. 21 at the Gilroy Sports Park, 5923 Monterey Frontage Road, beginning at 9am. City officials will provide trash bags and grabbers. Students can earn volunteer...

A massive federal government land-conservation plan carries

Spaghetti feed benefits GHS choral programs

The Gilroy High School Music Department presents 'An Evening of

Gilroy

If you are considering buying a home in Gilroy, Morgan Hill or San Martin this year, there are steps you can take to make your experience more enjoyable.  Be sure to reach out to trusted professionals whenever you have questions.

Half the farmland that Santa Clara County had 30 years ago has been lost to development but agriculture is thriving and in some cases is more robust than ever thanks to advanced farming techniques, according to a new county report.The report, already circulated at the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and other regional bodies that control land use and promote its preservation, appears to supply arguments to both sides in Gilroy’s debate over annexing 721 acres of farmland to build 4,000 homes.LAFCO, which opposes premature conversion of farmland for development, is expected to rule on Gilroy’s annexation request later this year, and on one from Morgan Hill to annex 250 acres of farmland.It already alerted Gilroy city leaders of major concerns with the proposal, according to LAFCO executive officer Neelima Palacherla.The agricultural economics report was commissioned and released by Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney.It is the first study to analyze the state and viability of the county’s agriculture industry—which is largely based in South County.It concludes that despite a “significant reduction” in farmland, “continued growth of both land and labor productivity has resulted in a county agricultural sector that is gaining in both production value and employment … driven by a shift towards higher value crops, increases in productivity, new technologies, and more efficient farming practices.” The per-acre value of irrigated farmland “has never been higher,” the report states.Deviney commissioned the report to resolve a long-standing debate over the viability of farming in the county and questions about its contribution to the economy.“This report says very clearly that ag is viable,” he said.The county’s 2014 ag production was valued at $276.2 million, up nearly five percent from 2013.The top two crops for 10 years have been nursery stock and mushrooms, which require less land than more traditional crops. Nursery crops brought in $75.5 million, and mushrooms $72.1 million. Bell peppers, a land-intense row crop, were a distant third at $15.4 million. Cherry production was down 70 percent to $2.6 million, according to the recently released 2014 county crop report.The economic analysis comes as county planners and the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority move forward with a grant-funded $100,000 study of the effects of farmland loss on climate in South County and the need to preserve land.OSA general manager Andrea Mackenzie said Wednesday that southern Santa Clara County “is one of our highest priorities,” as the special district created by the state legislature in 1993 goes about its business of land preservation. And that includes, she said, “keeping farms and ranching viable by ensuring there’s a land base for agriculture.”That effort took a powerful new tack when Gov. Jerry Brown, state lawmakers and others added land conservation policy to the arsenal of tools in the fight against climate change, according to Mackenzie.She called the combined Gilroy and Morgan Hill annexation bids “The (county’s) largest proposal for the conversion of farmland at one time in probably more than 30 years.”A recent OSA study also noted a sort of hidden value, beyond crop values, of farm and open space land, according to Mackenzie.“When you look at open space land there is a suite of environmental goods and services provided back to the local economy. We call these natural capital and they are the life-support system of our county,” she said.It includes such things as the value of land in flood control, percolation to the underwater aquifers and improved water quality. Those are valued conservatively at “$1.6 to $3.9 billion to the local economy, just as the agricultural contribution is $1.6 billion,” Mackenzie said.For opponents of Gilroy’s LAFCO application, approved by the City Council but not yet submitted, Deviney’s report states unequivocally that acreage in farming dropped from 40,000 in the late 1980s (excluding range land) to 20,000 in 2014, the year the data was collected.For advocates of development of the 721 acres, page after page of the report is filled with glowing statistics about the state of the county’s agriculture industry in spite of farmland losses.The full report, titled The Economic Contribution of Agriculture to the County of Santa Clara 2014, can be found here:http://adobe.ly/1njbM8L.

“Gilroy is a shopping destination,” said Jane Howard, executive director of the Gilroy Welcome Center, a nonprofit that promotes the city as a tourist destination.“It’s regional, it’s international and as for the Outlets, they are pushing now to get more of a local flavor to it,” added Howard.A draw for tourists, visitors from more than 15 countries came to the Gilroy Premium Outlets in 2015.Tour groups coming to the Outlets can include from 15 to 300 guests at one time, with each person receiving a welcome packet.An economic impact study currently underway found that shopping is the number one reason people come to Gilroy.“From a marketing perspective, we oftentimes do lead with shopping,” added Howard.The Outlets continue to lead the way, generating more sales tax revenue for the city than any other group.Heather Roach, director of marketing for the Outlets, said they look forward to continued success.“The Outlets’ big focus now is to promote the center to local shoppers and find out what Gilroyans want,” she said.Roach, who also serves on the Welcome Center’s board of directors, said she regularly goes out to ask shoppers what they would like to see at Outlets.“One of the exciting things about The Outlets,” she said “is the mix of retailers.”High-end retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Michael Kors offer discounts, making them accessible to range of shoppers, she said, while sporting brands like Adidas, Nike, Puma and Under Armor are also very popular.And for that sought-after millennial consumer?“Charlotte Russeand Forever 21 are fun and exciting retailers for the up and coming millennial group,” said Roach.The Outlets now have 145 stores and this year has seen some changes.Popular retailers Michael Kors, Converse and Skechers expanded to nearly twice their original size. Tommy Hilfiger combined with Tommy Kids into one large family store.And Steve Madden, the brand that brought the world chunky platforms in the ’90s, is expected to open a store in Building A before summer.Gilroy Premium Outlets is also the site of the only Lululemon Athleticaoutlet store in Northern California.Now local shoppers can finally afford a pair of those ubiquitous yoga pants without breaking the bank.Other exciting additions to the Gilroy Premium Outlets over the last couple years include Kate Spade and Abercrombie and Fitch.Gilroy Premium Outlets hold special events throughout the year. Its two most popular are the Halloween Spooktacular and month-long Mission Pink program. During the month of October, shoppers can purchase a coupon book for $10 redeemable at participating retailers. The cost of the coupon book is tax deductible and the $10 is donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness activities.The Outlets’ Halloween Spooktacular invites local children to trick-or-treat at participating retailers. The first 500 costumed children receive a goodie bag at the Outlets’ management office.Coming in May are the Mother’s Day Weekend Sales, which include special giveaways and special retailer offers as well as light bites and refreshments for shoppers.