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.
Santa Cruz County business roundup
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Watsonville grower settles over labor complaints; local wineries waiting for export updates
Bonnie Plants, an Alabama-based greenhouse growing company, will pay workers who say they were unfairly fired from its Watsonville facility more than $114,000. In her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko also covers area wineries in the tariff crossfire, honors for Driscoll’s and Annieglass and numbers and events to know.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Pacific Valley Bank looks north to Santa Cruz; deportation fears stalk Watsonville business
In this week’s local business roundup, Jessica M. Pasko spotlights a move by Salinas-based Pacific Valley Bank to open a branch in downtown Santa Cruz, notes the impact of Donald Trump’s immigration policy on Watsonville businesses and passes along other news, numbers and events to know.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: City looks at new ways to fill vacant retail space; wharf restaurants scuffle after shutdown
In her weekly roundup, Jessica M. Pasko talks to Santa Cruz’s economic development manager about how the city is trying to boost downtown business, notes struggles for wharf restaurants and passes along names, numbers and events to know.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: More changes ahead downtown, closer look at Wrigley Building and fundraising for L.A. fire relief
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko runs down comings and goings in downtown Santa Cruz, including fintech company Paystand moving its headquarters to the Rittenhouse Building. She’s also got names, numbers and events to know.

