A federal court has effectively ended a Driscoll’s lawsuit against a rival strawberry breeder, rejecting the Watsonville giant’s claims that California Berry Cultivars infringed on its proprietary fruit varieties.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for almost two decades. She cut her teeth in journalism as a reporter for the Associated Press in her native Albany, New York, where she covered everything from plane crashes and arts & culture to state politics, including assisting with the coverage of former New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. After getting her master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she moved to the West Coast and covered crime and breaking news for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has also worked for KION and written for a variety of local, regional and national publications on both coasts, including Evanston Patch, The Good Times, Santa Cruz Waves and many others.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New Toadal Fitness opens downtown as Lincoln Ave. location shutters; uncertain times for day laborers
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko has an update on Toadal Fitness’ moves, what Santa Cruz County day laborers are seeing and names, numbers and dates to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County agriculture industry faces uncertainty over Trump’s looming tariffs
With President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and Canada set to go into effect next month, Santa Cruz County agricultural leaders are struggling to predict the consequences for the region’s farming sector.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Local agriculture mulls impact of proposed tariffs; cannabis lounges’ future in county
It’s still unclear exactly how President Donald Trump’s promised tariffs – and retaliatory measures from Mexico and Canada – will affect Santa Cruz County agriculture and particularly the all-important berry crop, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Capstan’s first heart valve replacements in humans; gazing at the future of downtown Santa Cruz
A milestone for Santa Cruz medtech firm Capstan leads Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly survey of local business. She’s also got news on downtown development, coming events to put in your calendar and more.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby moves closer to launching passenger service, Moss Landing restaurant owners sue over battery plant fire
In her weekly roundup of local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports that Santa Cruz-based Joby Aviation is eyeing late this year or early 2026 for carrying the first passengers aboard its electric air taxis. She also has news on the aftermath of the Moss Landing battery plant fire and national honors for Santa Cruz Metro, plus names, numbers and events to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
SwellCycle, creator of sustainable surfboard tech, nets new funding to expand to more industries
With an injection of $1 million, the Westside’s SwellCycle aims to pivot from a focus on selling boards directly to consumers to instead working with surfboard shapers and licensing its technology to “micro-factories” to produce the surfboards.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz Area Chamber names former Capitola mayor Kristen Brown new executive director
Kristen Brown, former Capitola mayor and a woman with extensive experience working with a variety of business organizations, takes over this week as the executive director of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New funding for SwellCycle, a deeper dive into the local fishing industry
In her weekly roundup of Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko relays word on a boost for a Westside company pioneering sustainable surfboard technology, examines the woeful outlook for the local fishing industry and runs down names, numbers and events to know.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New old name for local chamber of commerce; $50M in funding for Santa Cruz-founded beverage company
The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce will once again be known by its original name, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business. She also notes next steps for Olipop, the prebiotic soda company that got its start in a makeshift lab in CEO Ben Goodwin’s Santa Cruz home.