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Solano County Business Journal

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SUNDAY | July 30, 2023 | $1.50

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Tomato crop hits all-time high, overall ag value down Daily Republic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic photos

A new KC-46 Pegasus sits on the Travis Air Force Base flight line as onlookers watch the crew disembark, Friday.

Pegasus lands mission-ready AT TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County tomato crop has been a top-five value commodity since the 1950s, and in 2022, the gross value hit a record high of $47.35 million, the 73rd annual Crop and Livestock Report states. However, the overall gross value of crops and livestock in the county was down nearly 4.12% from 2021. That overall value was reported at $390.881 million, down $16.971 million from 2021’s value of $407.642 million. Still, the 2022 total is the second highest in the past decade. The report will be

presented to the Board of Supervisors when it meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the first-floor chamber of the government center, 675 Texas St., in Fairfield. Tomatoes – with 439,000 tons harvested from 9,500 acres, at $107.88 per ton – moved up from the second highest valued crop in 2021, to the top spot in 2022. Almonds, the county’s perennial topcrop, fell to sixth with a value of $21.29 million – a 70% decline of nearly $49.83 million from the 2021 value of $71.12 million, the report states. “Extreme weather events throughout the See Crop, Page A8

Daily Republic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The first of the long-awaited KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers landed Friday to cheers and applause at Travis Air Force Base. And with the 11:01 a.m. landing, the security and future of the base felt more secure for many. Col. Derek Salmi, commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis, said the Pegasus is the key for Travis moving forward, but took the time to recognize the yearslong efforts of individuals, various Air Force wings and the many others who brought the plane to the airbase. With the KC-46 comes 100 operator and support personnel, Salmi said, creating the newest “power projection platform” in the U.S. Air Force. Salutes were snapped inside the civilian contingency, too. “It’s great for Fairfield, it’s good for Travis and good for the nation,” said Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy, adding she was more excited than if it was her own birthday. “And, of course, the local economy depends on Travis; it’s like $2.7 billion,” Moy said.

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Tomatoes grow on Robledo’s Farm in Fairfield, Friday.

Travis airmen, families and local officials celebrate the arrival of the new KC-46 Pegasus tanker at Travis Air Force Base, Friday. That is the centerpiece to why Moy, three other mayors and a host of local officials attended the event along with state and national machers. Keeping Travis open and vital is absolutely necessary for the health and well-being of Solano County. It is also why Moy said solving the housing shortage and expanding childcare to serve the base personnel must be high priorities. “They keep saying it over and

over again,” Moy said of the Travis officials, “we need childcare and we need housing.” Equally important, as Air Force officials described during the arrival ceremony held inside the aircraft’s 174,300-square-foot, three-bay maintenance hangar, the security of the nation also was upgraded. The Pegasus is a “total force” See Pegasus, Page A8

Harry Potter fans wish him a happy birthday with scavenger hunt event Susan Hiland

SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — A little magic was in the air Saturday for visitors to Legendary Letters, which hosted a birthday party for the “boy who lived.” The theme for the Harry Potter-themed event’s second year was the second book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” Stacy Rose, owner of the establishment celebrating the magical boy, has been a fan of the series since she was 24. That was a few years ago. “My mother-in-law introduced me to the first book,” Rose said.

Susan Hiland/Daily Republic

Kaylee Bukovics, 6, of Vacaville, brushes a “unicorn” during the second annual “The Boy Who Lived” birthday celebration at Legendary Letters in Fairfield, Saturday. “I remember having to wait a full year for each book to come out. It was excruciating.” Her goal was to see

happy Harry Potter fans out enjoying the day. “I plan to do a theme from the title of the books over the next few

years,” Rose said. The scavenger hunt allowed visitors to travel to 17 downtown businesses and receive a stamp and return with it to Legendary Letters. This year, a magical “unicorn” with flowers in her hair gave children or adults a chance to pet it and grab some pictures. Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without the opportunity to buy some butter beer and a wand. Legendary Letters handles all outgoing mail for the magical community. Yes, you read that right. They sort mail for See Potter, Page A8

WEATHER 91 | 58 Sunny. Five-day forecast on A10.

State GOP gives Trump a boost by overhauling state primary rules Tribune Content Agency LOS ANGELES — In a move backed by former President Donald Trump’s campaign, the California Republican Party on Saturday changed its rules for allocating delegates in the state’s presidential primary – a shake-up that could discourage other GOP candidates from campaigning here and make the state less competitive in next year’s nominating contest. Tensions flared as the California GOP’s executive committee approved the plan, with pro-Trump protesters denouncing the move, police getting

called and two factions nearly coming to fisticuffs. While they argued that the state party leadership was trying to undermine the former president, the decision by the California GOP’s executive committee reflects a concerted effort by the Trump campaign to mold state party rules across the country to benefit his candidacy. The Michigan Republican Party also recently changed its rules for awarding delegates in a way that’s expected to benefit Trump. Republicans in Idaho, Nevada, Louisiana and Colorado See Rules, Page A8

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