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Kristin Platts

Multimedia journalist specializing in agriculture with nearly two decades of professional experience. 

 Editor at JCS Marketing Inc.

2023 CSU Stanislaus graduate of Creative Media.

Enterprise Ag Magazine •

Can Institutional Markets Scale for California Growers?

How ‘farm to corrections’ is creating new opportunities for California growers, and where it could grow next.

California’s Harvest of the Month — a “farm to corrections” program — now brings locally grown produce into 29 state prisons, opening a new institutional market for growers under AB 778, a 2022 law requiring prisons to source 60% of their food from California-grown products. Food hubs like Davis-based Spork aggregate produce from roughly 120 farms, selling about $20,000 a month to each...
Apple Podcasts •

5/8/26 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 28: Title: Solar Over Canals: Inside TID’s Project Nexus with Bill Penney

In this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Bill Penney of the Turlock Irrigation District breaks down Project Nexus, a first-of-its-kind effort to install solar panels over irrigation canals.Developed with UC Merced and state partners, the project aims to conserve water while generating renewable energy without taking farmland out of production. Early results point to reduced evaporation, minimal operational impact and fewer issues with aquatic vegetation. The conversation also looks at what’s next...
JCS Marketing •

Inside California's Farm to Correction's Program - Part 2

Could institutional food programs create new opportunities for California growers?

In Part 2 of this MyAgLife series, we look at the grower and local food system side of California’s Farm to Corrections program, including how food hubs, institutional buyers and diversified markets are creating new pathways for California-grown produce.

Featuring interviews with growers and program participants, this video explores how programs like CDCR’s Harvest of the Month initiative could help connect growers with more stable, long-term outlets for local food.

Video by MyAgLife

Photo attribution for select still images:
© UC Regents/NPI/Evett Kilmartin
JCS Marketing •

Inside California’s Farm to Corrections Program | Local Food, Growers and Fresh Produce - Part 1

What happens when California growers, food hubs and institutions work together to bring fresh, locally grown produce into the prison system?

In this MyAgLife Field Notes feature, we take a closer look at California’s Farm to Corrections program and CDCR’s Harvest of the Month initiative, which connects growers with institutional food programs while increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables inside state prisons.

The program brings together growers, food hubs like Spork Food Hub in Davis and organizations like UC ANR to create new pathways for California-grown food to reach institutional buyers.

Video by MyAgLife
Photo attribution for select still images:
© UC Regents/NPI/Evett Kilmartin
Apple Podcasts •

5/8/26 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 28: Title: Solar Over Canals: Inside TID’s Project Nexus with Bill Penney

In this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Bill Penney of the Turlock Irrigation District breaks down Project Nexus, a first-of-its-kind effort to install solar panels over irrigation canals.Developed with UC Merced and state partners, the project aims to conserve water while generating renewable energy without taking farmland out of production. Early results point to reduced evaporation, minimal operational impact and fewer issues with aquatic vegetation. The conversation also looks at what’s next...
Apple Podcasts •

4/10/26 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 27: AI and Pollination: A Conversation with Omer Davidi, CEO and Co-Founder, BeeHero

Omer Davidi, CEO and co-founder of BeeHero, joins Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci to discuss how AI and in-hive sensor technology are transforming pollination management. The conversation explores almond pollination trends, bee health, logistics challenges and how real-time data is helping growers and beekeepers improve decision-making and sustainability across agriculture.

Omer Davidi, CEO and co-founder of BeeHero, joins Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci to discuss how AI and in-hive sensor tec...
JCS Marketing •

Farmworker Appreciation Event Honors the People Behind Agriculture

(All filming done by me)

An annual Farmworker Appreciation Event in Modesto brought together growers, industry leaders and the community to recognize the people who keep agriculture moving.

This year’s top honor, Farmworker of the Year, was awarded to Paty Lopez of Duarte Nursery, recognized for her leadership, dedication and impact in the field.

The event was supported by Modesto Rotary Club, Modesto Rotary Club Foundation, Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, AgSafe and Central Valley Opportunity Center.

Stay connected with MyAgLife for more coverage from the field.

#MyAgLife #FarmworkerAppreciation #CaliforniaAgriculture #AgIndustry #Farmworkers #AgCommunity
Apple Podcasts •

3/13/26 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 26: Interview With Renee Pinel on Sustainable Pest Management, PCA Myths and What’s Ahead for California Ag

Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci talk with Renee Pinel, president and CEO of Western Plant Health Association, about Sustainable Pest Management (SPM), common misconceptions about pesticide recommendations and the importance of maintaining a full toolbox of crop protection tools. Pinnell also discusses how research is challenging assumptions about PCAs and what policy developments growers should watch in 2026.

Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci talk with Renee Pinel, president and CEO of Western Pl...
Enterprise Ag Magazine •

Hard Decisions, Fewer Acres

Water has become the primary constraint shaping agricultural decision-making — often before labor, inputs, or market conditions enter the equation. How Kern County grower Jason Giannelli, UC ANR's Moneim Mohamed, and WaterOne.AI's Tomo Kumahira are navigating SGMA reality.

Under SGMA, water has overtaken labor, inputs, and markets as the first decision California growers make. Kern County grower Jason Giannelli is fallowing ground despite carrying tax and overhead on idle acres because lenders...
JCS Marketing •

Chef Robert Danhi’s 2-Ingredient Walnut Cream | California Walnut Conference

MyAgLife’s Kristin Platts talks with Chef Robert Danhi, chef in residence for the California Walnut Board & Commission, about how culinary innovation can add value for growers.

Danhi demonstrates his simple two-ingredient walnut cream and explains how it can be used in everything from ranch dressing and pasta sauce to dips, smoothies and cocktails. By transforming walnuts into a versatile, functional ingredient, the goal is to move them beyond the baking aisle and create new demand. #walnuts #californiaagriculture #chef #cooking
Apple Podcasts •

Farm Bureau Friday Episode 25: Interview with FELS’ Bryan Little on the 2026 Regulatory Outlook

On this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci sit down with Bryan Little, Chief Operating Officer of Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), to discuss the key regulatory issues ag employers should watch in 2026.nFrom H-2A changes and rising labor costs to ag overtime, indoor heat rules and autonomous equipment, Little outlines what’s ahead and how employers can prepare, while highlighting how FELS supports compliance and workforce management across California agriculture....
JCS Marketing •

North Valley Nut Conference 2026: Event Highlights and Key Takeaways

A look inside the 2026 North Valley Nut Conference in Chico, where growers, PCAs and industry leaders gathered for a morning of research updates, market insights and practical management tools. The event featured speakers from the Almond Board of California, California Walnut Board and Commission, and regional experts covering labor, pests, water and more. Watch the highlights and stay tuned for coverage of conference topics on MyAgLife and in upcoming issues of West Coast Nut Magazine.
Apple Podcasts •

Farm Bureau Friday Episode 24: Interview with Bayer’s Dr. Eliza Lockwood, on Pesticides, Public Health and the Future of Food Security

In this episode of Farm Bureau Friday, Kristin Platts and Anna Genasci talk with Dr. Eliza Lockwood, Medical Affairs Lead at Bayer's Crop Science Division, about the role pesticides play in public health and modern food security. Lockwood shares how her path from emergency medicine to toxicology shaped her perspective and breaks down the scientific rigor behind today’s crop protection tools. The conversation explores misinformation, glyphosate safety, and why sound agricultural policy matters fo...

Almond Industry Leaders Cite Challenges and Gains as New Year Begins | West Coast Nut

Listen to the audio version of this article. (Generated by A.I.)The California almond industry enters 2026 facing a mix of challenges sprinkled with signs of recovery. Growers continue to grapple with rising production costs, regulatory pressure and shifting global demand, even as key markets stabilize and long-term investments in research and marketing begin to show results. Leaders across the sector say the coming year will require both resilience and strategic focus to protect grower returns....
Apple Podcasts •

12/5/25 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 23: Interview with California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass on 2025 Progress and Membership Outreach Priorities for 2026

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass to discuss the organization’s key challenges and achievements in 2025 and what they mean for California agriculture. Douglass highlights how Farm Bureau is addressing regulatory pressures, strengthening advocacy for growers and expanding its support for growers and ranchers statewide.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kris...
Apple Podcasts •

12/5/25 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 23: Interview with California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass on 2025 Progress and Membership Outreach Priorities for 2026

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass to discuss the organization’s key challenges and achievements in 2025 and what they mean for California agriculture. Douglass highlights how Farm Bureau is addressing regulatory pressures, strengthening advocacy for growers and expanding its support for growers and ranchers statewide.

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kris...
Apple Podcasts •

11/14/25 - Farm Bureau Friday Episode 22: Interview with Modesto Junior College's Troy Gravatt about Building a Pipeline of Skilled Students for California's Ag Workforce

Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Anna Genasci and JCS Marketing’s Kristin Platts sit down with Troy Gravatt, dean of agriculture, environmental sciences and technical education at Modesto Junior College, to discuss how the college's agriculture program continues to build a strong pipeline of skilled, career-ready students entering California’s ag workforce. The conversation also looks ahead to future plans for the School of Agriculture and how the college is adapting to meet the industry’s evolvi...

DPR’s New Pesticide Review Process Could Reshape Product Availability | West Coast Nut

California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is preparing to launch a new pesticide prioritization process that could determine which crop protection products remain available to growers in the years ahead. According to Western Plant Health Association President and CEO Renee Pinel, this process is beginning to move quickly, and growers and consultants should be paying attention.
“The process is now really starting to ramp up,” Pinel said during an interview at the 2025 Crop Consultant...
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