The Northern San Joaquin Valley is home to lots of nuts. All those nuts, particularly almonds, continue to provide the fuel that helps power the region's economic engine. So it's no surprise that a two-day gathering for the 37th annual Almond Industry Conference at the Modesto Centre Plaza this week was packed with growers, suppliers, equipment companies and related businesses.
Gold futures hit record highs again this week, giving another nudge to the gold rush on Main Street as some people scramble to turn in their old jewelry for cash. The price of the gold futures hit a record $1,139.20 on Monday, confounding market analysts who thought there was no way gold would remain so expensive when it first cracked the unheard-of $1,000 mark last year. The remarkable run has implications far beyond savvy investors.
The Northern San Joaquin Valley could be home to biotechnology firms employing thousands of area residents in all kinds of science and technology jobs.
