May 6,2016-
Visalia Aeropostale Will Stay Open
Teen retailer Aeropostale filed for bankruptcy this week and announced plans to close 113 US locations and all their stores in Canada. But the Visalia store will be spared says Richard Feder, the mall manager.
“Visalia Mall’s Aeropostale is one of their better performers and is not expect to closed at this time.”
Visalia Building Permits Bounce Back In April
Building permits bounced back in April vs a year ago and a month ago recording 84 new homes, the largest monthly total in quite some time.Counting all types of permits – valuation hit $38.4 million vs $27.7 million in April 2015 and $19 million in March 2016. Total permit value is up 12% for the year.The city saw 8 new commercial permits valued at $12.6 million in April.For the calendar year to date – commercial permit valuation is up 125% vs last year.
New Rash Of Citrus Pest Finds
Tulare County has experienced a rash of new citrus pest finds in recent days reports the ag commissioner. Some 10 distinct Asian Citrus Psyllid finds were discovered in April but not reported in some cases until May.They include 5 in Tulare,2 in Visalia and 2 finds in Tipton numbering 10 insects.One find was discovered in Terra Bella.The insect can carry dreaded citrus greenin- disease.
Tulare County Almond Acreage Grows
Tulare County farmers planted 1682 acres of new almond trees last year a new USDA almond report says. Total almond acres in the county are now 29,236 acres including 4511 acres of new trees planted in the past three years that are non bearing. Kern County leads the state with 147,000 acres planted.
The value of California’s almond crop has skyrocketed until recently from around $2.3 billion in the 2005-2009 time frame to $4.8 billion in 2012 to $6.4 billion in 2013 and 2014. Almonds are the state’s most valuable agricultural commodity, representing about a quarter of California’s farm exports but were widely scolded for using so much water during the drought.