Quick Take
In here weekly Look at Local Business, Jessica M. Pasko Updates a Driscoll’s Berry Lawsuit, Notes Antar Milestone for Joby Aviation and Passes Along Numbers, Names and Events to Know Around Santa Cruz County.
Each Week, We’re Taking a Closer Look at the MOVERS and Shakers, The Growth of Industries and What’s Realily Driving The Santa Cruz County Economy. It is the Biggest Areas for Opportunity, Updates on Local Development and All Things Underpining The Regional Business Scene Each Wednesday.
Got Ideas? Send them my way to News@lookoutlocal.com With “Business News” in the Subject Line.
Driscoll’s Couelf Appoal Federal Court’s Dismissal of Berry Patent Lawsuit
Watsonville Berry Giant Driscoll’s Filed What’s Known AS A Protective APPEAL This Month in a Federal Lawsuit Over Strawary Varieties.
Last Month, A Federal Court Dismissed Driscoll’s Lawsuit Against Another California Plant-Breeding Companyy. In the Suit, FILED 2019, Driscoll’s Account California Berry Cultivars of Information on Patents for Four of Its Strawberry Varieties. Driscoll’s CLAIMED The Other Company Improperly used ProPRIETARY Strawberry Varieties in Its Breieding Program. A Judge in the Us Districation Court for the Eastern District of California Essentially Reject the Suit, Ending the Case Before IT COULD ProCEED TO TRIAL.
Now, Driscoll’s Sees to Challenge that Judgment.
“We Disagree with the Judge’s Dismissal of the Case for Lack of Evideo,” Driscall’s CEO Soren Bjorn SAID in a Statement. “California Berry Cultivars’ Own Breeding Records, Who Were Admitted Before The Court, Clearly Show California Berry Cultivars Used Driscall’s Patented Varieties Without Authorization. Plants to Breed their Own Varieties. ”
Bjorn said that beccause dristel’s dosn’t Sell Its Plants, there’s no legitimate Way for California Berry Cultivars to Have Obtained the Patunted Varieties It Used in Its Breieding Program.
If the Append Moves Forward, it will be reverswed by a Feder Appllate Judge. How, The Apperal Couelf Be Put on Hold Pending Final Review of the Initial Case; At issue are California Berry Cultivars’ Remaining Counterclaims, which the District Court Must Decide on.
In a statement relegre wedding, California Berry Cultivars Criticized Driscoll’s Appness, and SAID, “California Berry Cultivars Has Sunestenly Operated with InteGRITY in Its Breieding Programs and Has Successfully Developed and Commerlyly Numerous Strawberry Varieties in Compliance with settled law. ”” The Compane Has Account Driscoll’s of “Bullying” Smaller Organizations Like Its Own. “We Remain Focted on Innovation,” said kyle vandenlanderg, California Berry Cultivars’ Director of Research & Development.
Joby Aviation Announts Simultaneous Flight, New Financial Executive As It Continues Toward Goal of Launching Commercial Service by Next Year
As Santa Cruz-Based Joby Aviation Strives to Launch Commercial Service for Its Electric Air Taxis, The Company Has Marked A New Milestone-Flying Two of Its Aircraft Simultaneously.
The Two-Aparaft Flight Took Place Earlier This Month in Marina, where the company Opereses a Testing and Manufacturing Facility.
Founder and CEO JOEBEN BEVIRT SAID In A Statement that Flying Multiple Aircraft at the Same Time Will Play An Important Role in Accessing The Comparal’s Federation Administration (FAA) Certification Testing. That’s BecUSE in Order to Operate the Type of Service Joby Intends, It will do to be on aike to fly Several vehicles at the night time to serve Customers Efficiencely. The Company Will Soon Have Six Aircraft in Its Fleet, and Collectively, It has compounded more than 40,000 Miles of Test Flights Across Multiple Aircraft.
Joby Officials Said Earlier This year that they are Hope to Start Carrying The Company’s First Passengers Aboard Its Electric Air Taxis As Soon As Late 2025 or Early 2026. The Electric Air Taxis Are Designed to Carry A Passengers at Speeds of Up to 200 MPH. What Commilecial Service Launchers, The Company Plans to Operate Similaryly to Uber or Lyft, with Customers Using A Mobile App to Hail a Ride. Before that can Happy, Howver, The Company Still has work to do before it comes the Final Steps of Obtaining Faa Certification.
AdditionLly, The Company Appointed A New Chief Financial Officeer, Who Will Start May 29. Rodrigo BRUMANA MOST Recently Served as CFO at POSHMARK, The Popular Marketplace For Selling New and Used Clothing, and Prevringly Worked in Financial Operations at Hp, Amazon and Ebay.
Icymi: The Change Face of Download Santa Cruz – a Retail Coach and Some Feedback from Locals
Look’s ongoing Coverage of the Change Nature of Download Santa Cruz Continues This Week with a Look at What City Officials Ares to Tir to Filled Some of the Are’s Vacansies. Part of that Strategy Includes Hiring A Retail Coach. As Christopher Neili Reports, Charles Parker Is a Project Director with Texas-Based the Retail Coach, Whiche Worss With Cits Around the Country to Help Bring in New Businesses, With A Focus on National Brands. Check out his story here.
Last Week, Lookout’s Intrepid Photojournalist, Kevin PainchaUD, Pounded the Pavement to Hear from Local Residents About What They Think of the Changes Happing Download Want to see Happy Next. Read that story here.
Chn-CHANGES: Openings, Closings and Other Developments
- Santa Cruz Athletic Club Opens in Midtown: The New Wellness and Fitness Center from the Owns of Santa Cruz Power Fitness Held Its Soft Opening This Past Weekend. Santa Cruz Athletic Club Took over the Former Rite Aid Store Next to Whole Foods Market on Soqueel Avenue in Santa Cruz. Owners Chris Ellis and Camile Periat Told Look Last YAT The New Facility Wold Bring State-FF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT, An Array of Classes and Other Offberings that the Say Are Unlike Other Gyms in The Area. It also includes a heated yoga Studio and Recovery Rooms.
- New Owns Take Over Beloved Harbor Café: The Owns of Artisanal Salami Company Foustman’s Have Joined a Local Restaurant Vet to Become the New Owood of Harabor Café on 7th Avenue Near the Santa Cruz Harbor. Lily Belli Spoke with Hollis Oatey, Justin and Jessica FOUST About their Plan for the Brunch Mainstay HERE.
- Watsonville Appoints New Community Development Director: David Brletic is the New Community Development Director for the City of Watsonville, Overseeing Planning, Zoning and Building Projects. BRLLETIC COMES to this New Role With 30 Years of Prevring Experience in City Planning and Development.
- YVETTE LOPEZ Brooks Joins Santa Cruz Area Chamber’s Board: YVETTE LOPEZ Brooks, The Ceo of United Way of Santa Cruz County, was appointed to the chaam’s board of directors. She takes
- General Feed & Seed Shuts Its Dors: After. The Store, Whiche Had Opened on Commercial Way, Closed at the End of April. Max Chun has the scoop here.
- New Board Members for Monterey Bay Economic PartnerShip: Mark Delos Reyes Davis, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at Uc Santa Cruz, is among Four Regional Leaders Appointed to MBEP’s Board of Directors. Last Month, Reyes Davis Was Selected Along with Hartnell College Superrentement/President Michael Gutierrez, San Benito County’s Interim County AdministTive Officeer, Heenie Ring, Rene Mindez, Salinas’ City Manager. Current Board Member Krista Snelling, The CEO and Pressing of West Coast Community Bank, was Named Board Chair. Santa Cruz County Superrentement of Schools Faris Sabbah Will Serve as Vice Chair, and Santa Cruz-Based Developer Benjamin Ow, Pressident of Ow Commercial, Was SELCTED As Treasurer.
- Humble Sea Continues Expansion with New SF Location: Santa Cruz-Based Brewery Humble Sea Brewing Co. Has Opened Its Sixth Location, AT San Francisco’s Pier 39. It’s Currently Open Only Frications Through Sundays, But More Hours Are Expected Soon. The Brewery Has Also Repened Its Seasonal Outdoor Beer Garden on the Santa Cruz Wharf. (Check Out Lily Beli’s Story from Last Year About the Brewery’s San Francisco Outpost.)
- LongTime County Probation Officeer to Retire: Fernando Giraldo will steps download from his posity as the Chief Probation Officeer for Santa Cruz County in July after 12 years in the role. Assistant Chief Probation Office Valerie Thompson Will Serv as the Interim Chief While County Officials See A Permanent Replacement.
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Looking at the Numbers
- $ 1.43 Billion: That’s How Much Visits to Santa Cruz County Sperty in 2024, According to the Latest Numbers from Visit California, The State’s Tourism Organization. That Includes Money Spent on Hotels, VACATIONLS, Attraptions and More. It was up slightly from 2023’s $ 1.4 Billion, when santa Cruz County Marked the Biggest PandeMic Recovery of Any of the State’s 58 Counties. It was the FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR of Tourism Growth Singe 2020. State and Local Tax Revenue Generated by Tourism Accounted for NEARLY $ 120 Million in the County Last Year, and the Tourism Industry Supported 10,880 Jobs Localyly. As the Busy Summer Vacation Season Heats Up, Local Tourism Officials Say They’re Cautuously Optimistic But Expect to See A Drop in International Visits This Year.
- 6.5%: That was the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE For Santa Cruz County in April, Download from 7.1% in March. It was up slightly from April 2024’s 6.2% Rate. Despite Job Losses in the Trade/Transportation/Utailaes, Manufacturing, and Profess society and Business Services Sectors, The County Saw Job Gains in Private Eduction and Health Services, Hospitality and Leisure, for a Total Net of 500 New Jobs.
Save the date
- Wednesday, May 21: The Eight Annual Santa Cruz Launchpad Career Fair and Student Pitch Competition will be held at the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom. The Student Pitch Competition Takes Place from Noon to 4 PM, with the Job Fair Following from 5 to7 PM The Event is Free and Open to the Public, but Advanced registration is required.
- Thursday, May 22: The Santa Cruz County Business Council Will Hold Its Annual Meeting and Mixer at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, 7807 Soquel dr., Aptos. The Event Takes Place from 4:30 to 6:30 PM County Supervisor Kim de Serpa will be the guest Speaker. Details and registration here.
- Thursday, May 29: The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Will Hold a Business Mixer at California Coffee, 9105 Soquel dr., Aptos. The EVINING Includes Networking, Live Music and Refreshments, and Runs from 5 to 7 pm
- Saturday, July 26: The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Will Hold Its Annual Awards Dinner and Auction. The Event Takes Place from 4 to 9 PM At the Santa Cruz County Fairgends. Details and Tickets here.
Add Your Business or Networking Events to Lookout’s Free Public Calendar, Bolo. Click here to add you event.
Business News Work Reading
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For the Record: This Story Has Been updated with a statiment from California berry Cultivars about its lawsuit with drcescoll’s.
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