As Japan suffers from a horrendous death toll and substantial damage to several of its nuclear reactors, trade with California will unquestionably be impacted due to the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.

Japan lies devastated this weekend in the aftermath of a Friday earthquake estimated to be the most powerful to ever hit the island nation in over a thousand years. The earthquake then spawned a massive tsunami, measuring as high as 10 meters (or over 30 feet) in some places, literally sweeping away entire towns in its wake.

Over the past decade, the Golden State has experienced significant growth in the number of its minority residents.  Led by Hispanics, minorities now comprise about three out of every five Californians.

A USDA survey shows that farmers are increasingly using renewable energy to power their operations. Nearly one quarter of the nation's total, 1,956 farms, are in California. The study ended in 2009 so the numbers have certainly increased since then.