San Joaquin County is one of 302 counties in the nation where every resident is a minority.

New Census Bureau figures show that the largest single racial group, whites, make up only 39.5 percent of the county's population estimated at 670,990 in 2007.

And the number of whites in terms of numbers and as a percentage of total population has fallen steadily since 2000. Meanwhile, the percentage of blacks, Asians and Latinos continues to grow, with Latinos increasing the fastest (from 30.7 percent in 2000 to 36.4 percent last year).

Other than the obvious - the county is growing more diverse - what do the new numbers show? They show that San Joaquin County is among those select American counties that are today what this state and this nation will be tomorrow: a diverse, majority-minority landscape.

That diversity brings its own kinds of challenges. It also brings huge opportunity for the added energy and innovation it represents.

Winegrape growers seize the day

Lodi winegrape growers are no doubt giddy about the prospect of increasing wine sales in China, home to 1.3 billion people.

A delegation from the Chinese counsel in San Francisco toured the Lodi-Woodbridge area last week suggesting in no uncertain terms that China is a growing market and area growers should make their move.

Some already are. A number will attend an international wine fair in Hong Kong later this month.

Agricultural Center setting up shop

They're still moving in boxes, but the county's new one-stop Agricultural Center is getting up and running just off Arch-Airport Road, west of Highway 99.

The two-story building houses the Agricultural Commissioner's Offices as well as the UC Cooperative Extension Service and the county's Office of Emergency Services.

When you have a diverse, $2 billion industry - and that's what agriculture is in San Joaquin County - it only makes sense to put the tools that farmers and ranchers need at one address.

That new $29 million address is 2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton. It opens officially Sept. 11.

Timing off on license suspension

The Stockton Arena situation gets more bizarre every day.

Now it's the state Alcohol Beverage Control that's done it. The ABC has suspended the beer license of the arena until Aug. 21.

Wow! That will hurt. Might hurt more, though if the arena lights were on.

There are no events scheduled at the arena until Sept. 18 when the circus comes to town.

Seems obvious, but if you're going to send a message about selling alcohol to a minor, the message oughta have some sting ... like at least a suspension that takes place when something is actually taking place.

Festival worth the price tag

The 2008 edition of the Stockton Asparagus Festival raised a record $461,912 for charity.

But balanced against that is the estimated $526,299 city taxpayers paid to help put on the annual event. The bulk of the tax cost was the roughly $311,000 spent for police services.

The City Council last week approved a new cost-sharing contact with the festival organizers that increases over time the money the festival kicks back to the city.

Is the festival worth something beyond the cost? Or should the city just cut the various charities a check?

The short answer is, yes, it's worth it. It is Stockton's premier event, last year attracting about 110,000 people.

The festival brings people downtown - where the city has spent millions to attract people - to a safe, fun event that shows off some of the city's best qualities.

And that's why the city should not just cut a check. Charities earn a chunk of the festival profits by the amount of volunteer work they put in.

The fact that hundreds and hundreds of volunteers put in thousands of hours to raise money for a host of good causes says volumes about the kind of people who live here and our ability to work together for the greater good.

It's hard to put a price on that.

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