California Heartland - Season 9 Summaries

Episode 901
In our premiere show, reporter Melanie Kim visits Clear Lake where water officials fear an invasion by the Quagga Mussel—a potential billion dollar threat. Food expert Laura McIntosh and guest Chef Rajko Marin cook up a scrumptious Cioppino with fresh California seafood. Meet a former pro baseball player who is now producing his own olive oil. Reporter Chris Burrous dives into Heritage of the Heartland introducing you to the Lodi family behind Jessie’s Grove. Master Gardener Fred Hoffman gives tips for creating drought-resistant gardens.

Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 901 page to watch video segments.

Episode 902
Reporter Jennifer Harrison visits a dairy where new technology creates usable energy from cow manure. Food expert Laura McIntosh and guest Chef Dana Jaffe cook up some fresh Halibut with sweet California corn. We visit with one of the Bay Area’s best kept secrets: Annie of Annie’s Annuals. The ag-traveler Melanie Kim steps out of the car and tours the Napa Valley on foot. Master gardener Fred Hoffman gives you the secret to a healthy garden: mulch.

Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 902 page to watch video segments.

Episode 903
Reporter John Lobertini takes us to the small Sierra town of Georgetown—where inmates are fighting wildfires and caring for our forests. Life-style expert, Laura McIntosh and guest Chef Dana Jaffe prepare a fabulous side dish, three potato gratin. Meet a woman who traded her Hollywood producing career for a life making ice cream from goat’s milk. Heritage of the Heartland reporter John Alston introduces you to the Swickard family ranch, where an interstate highway system almost took the cattle producers off the map. Master gardener Kristine Hanson shows you the homegrown remedies of lavender.

Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 903 page to watch video segments.

Episode 904
Reporter Jennifer Quinonez is in Los Angeles on a quest to find the city’s most delicious fallen fruit. Food and Lifestyle Expert Laura McIntosh and guest Chef Darren McRonald are bringing it home with the perfect “Pear Puree.” Reporter Toan Lam visits a San Francisco neighborhood where residents are growing their own food. The Ag Traveler Melanie Kim ventures into the Napa Valley by bike. Master gardener Fred Hoffman gives tips on growing citrus trees in containers.

Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 904 page to watch video segments.

Episode 905
Honeybees are taking a big sting in California. California Heartland’s Abbott Dutton talks with an Almond Farmer in Hughson to see how this is hurting the state’s almond industry. Tra Vigne Executive Chef Nash Cognetti joins Food and Lifestyle expert Laura McIntosh to whip up a delicious Zucchini Tagliatelle. We visit Los Angeles urban poultry farmer Carl Hunter to see his collection of exotic chickens. Ernest and Julio are well-known names in the California wine business. Reporter Manny Ramos drives into “Heritage of Our Heartland” and introduces us to the other side of the Gallo family, Joseph Gallo Farms, the state’s largest cheese producer. Looking to add a little zest to your garden? Master Gardener Kristine Hanson shows us how to build a salsa garden.
Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 905 page to watch video segments.

Episode 906
She escaped the Fall of Saigon and later used that courage to build the lives of immigrant farmers, by hiring them. California Heartland’s Chris Burrous introduces us to Mai Pham, a renowned chef, owner of Lemon Grass Restaurant. See how her journey through life created the perfect recipe for success. Food and Lifestyle Expert Laura McIntosh and guest chef Dana Jaffe cook up a mouth-watering Prime Rib feast. Meet a Southern California family who makes some of the state’s best fruit jams. Join Melanie Kim as she ventures into Petaluma and uncovers three of the city's best kept secrets. Master Gardener Fred Hoffman gives tips on growing the perfect vegetable garden in raised beds.

Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 906 page to watch video segments.

Episode 907
California Heartland’s Abbott Dutton visits the small Sierra town of Portola, where pike invaded Lake Davis back in 1994. See how this small town and fishery are making a comeback after losing millions of dollars to the predator. Food and Lifestyle Expert, Laura McIntosh joins chef Rajko Marin from the Tadich Grill in San Francisco to serve up a poached sea bass topped with sautéed veggies, a simple, fresh seafood dish that you can make at home. Meet the 7 young girls who started Yummy Dummy Chocolate Company and turned it into a sweet success. Take a trip with Jennifer Quinonez into Heritage of Our Heartland to meet the four-generation family of San Antonio Winery. Master Gardener Fred Hoffman goes on pest patrol in your garden.

Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 907 page to watch video segments.

Episode 908
Reporter Jennifer Quinonez introduces you to one city farmer who turned his suburban lawn into an organic oasis. Meet the Los Angeles farmer who produced three tons of food right out of his own backyard. Food and Lifestyle Expert Laura McIntosh and chef Michael Fagnoni of Hawks Restaurant in Granite Bay, CA prepare a delicious cornish game hen. Meet the journalist who traded in her magazine job to produce cheese. Ag Traveler Melanie Kim takes a tour of hidden roof-top gardens in San Francisco. Plus, Master Gardener Fred Hoffman shows how planting one tree can save you hundreds of dollars.

Watch the entire episode online or visit the Episode 908 page to watch video segments.

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