SPREADING THE WORD ON AG Steve Malanca Cofounder, My Job Depends On Ag
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You’ll also read about farmers markets, subscription farming, hemp and more.
We’ve been humbled by the response this publication has received from the business community in the run up to its publication, and we sincerely hope it offers a fresh look at the industry that will form the backbone of our economy for generations to come.
If you have feedback or story ideas for future editions of Central Valley Ag, please contact me at [email protected] or 559-490-3467. Thank you for reading, Gabriel Dillard
Table of Contents 4 Changing the face of agriculture in the Valley: Scott Family Farms PUBLISHER Gordon M. Webster, Jr. 8 Exporting the message: ‘My Job Depends on Ag’ reaching a global audience 12 On borrowed time? The future of Roundup in question as legal challenges loom COVER DESIGN 16 Farmers markets create benefits for small growers, shoppers alike Harold Foster, Jr 19 Food Commons Fresno raises funds for $4.5 million food hub 22 High hopes for hemp MANAGING EDITOR 26 Will cows fly or fall? Contente Dairy, milk industry face uncertain future Gabriel Dillard 28 Five generations working the soil: Schafer Ranch 30 The best (and only) spot for citrus agritourism: McKellar Family Farms SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Kaysi Curtin 33 Fresno County Commodities List [email protected] 34 Kings County Commodities List 35 Do you run an agricultural operation? You should be aware of these environmental issues 36 Madera County Commodities List 38 Tulare County Commodities List
CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 3 Changing the face of agriculture in the Valley: Scott Family Farms
Fresno County Ag Commodities List page 33
Bridget Butler-Sullivan – STAFF Scott, farm life is about far more WRITER than the crops. He’s on a mission to change the stigma of farming Though not the South, Fresno’s within the African American farmland has a place where community. traditional Southern cuisine can “When a lot of young black be found from its very roots. Here people hear the word ‘farming’ the crops grow, the community they immediately think of gathers and the culture brings a slavery. But we’re trying to new view to the Valley. change their minds and realize Scott Family Farms owner that maintaining a farm is about Will Scott has been accustomed far more than the labor,” he said. to the farm life for as long as he According to Scott, part of can remember. After moving this means removing the word from Oklahoma to California “farming” from the vocabulary in 1952, his family made the when speaking with younger transition from sharecropping generations. “Instead, we try to farming. Despite his love of to say agriculture because that the soil, Scott’s parents were covers every part of the process.” adamant he and his 14 siblings To further enlighten today’s work towards an education. He youth, Scott volunteers at a Photo by Harold Foster Jr. | Will Scott Jr. worked for decades as an attended college, entered the variety of different youth- engineer, but decided to follow his dream of farming after his retirement. Navy, and became an engineer oriented activities and programs. His grandfather was a sharecropper, and his father picked grapes and cotton in the Central Valley. for a telephone company. That is Most notably, he is president until 2005 hit, and Scott realized of the African American that while these were all worthy Farmers of California (AAFC), approximately 30 African even part of the census. It investments, they were no longer an organization that guides American farmers in the San wasn’t acceptable. If somebody a part of the life he wanted for new and experienced farmers Joaquin Valley, and around five is providing food for people, himself. through farming, marketing and of them grow Southern crops, that should be recognized.” “I knew I wanted to return selling their produce. Scott has according to Scott. This wasn’t Making sure farms to farming. It’s in my DNA. been involved in many projects always known, however. received recognition is one Whatever your mission is, it’s conducted on the 16 acres of land “Fifteen years ago, if you of many accomplishments gonna come back to find you,” he owned by the AAFC, including were to ask how many African Scott has done over the said. the Sweet Potato Project, a American Farmers were in the years. In honor of his work in Spanning about 40 acres program that teaches African San Joaquin Valley, most people agriculture, the Foundation of land, Scott Family Farms is American middle and high would say none, and they of the Fresno County Office home to more than 10 Southern school students the ins and outs wouldn’t be that wrong,” Scott of Education recognized him specialty crops including okra, of farming the crop. said. “Before I started getting as part of its annual Honors sweet potatoes and — the most As of now, there are involved, black farmers weren’t Gala. popular — black-eyed peas. For Scott | page 6
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www.agrivalley.com facebook.com/agrivalleyirrigation Scott | From 4 For the past immune systems — kept us healthy and Due to such high demand, Scott is now 20 years, Scott and his brothers, Marvin strong. We hope to pass it on to sustain the beginning to reconsider the allocation of his and Charles have religiously attended the next generation.” resources. Oakland farmers market on Saturdays in the In recent months, Scott Family Farms have “I’ve gotta make a decision; I’m not attempt to bring fresh foods to areas where been blooming in business. Especially since maximizing the use of my land.” In the they can’t be found locally. With health at the they’ve come into season, black-eyed peas coming months, Scott wishes to expand his forefront of his beliefs, Scott explained why have been in consistent high demand. Scott black-eyed peas collection and in the process his farm has remained organic. said he receives at least 20 calls a day from begin selling his produce at local farmers “Back [when my ancestors farmed] people requesting the produce, and because markets, likely in Fresno. they didn’t use chemicals,” he said. “The of this influx, he has even begun growing This conversation has even expanded into nutritional value of these crops was passed some of the crop on his 2-½ acre property at agritourism — something that the farm has down the generations. It helped build our home. experimented with in the past but never truly solidified. As of now, visitors are fairly rare and typically hail from the Bay Area. When they do make the journey, Scott ensures that it is an education-oriented endeavor where guests get down in the dirt and harvest or plant something themselves. After looking forward, the farmer once more began reflecting on all his reasons for entering the farm business. “I’m here to serve my fellow man. I’ve been blessed, and when you’re blessed, you help people.”
Photo by Harold Foster Jr. | Marvin Scott, brother of Will Scott Jr., works on the family’s 40-acre plot near Fresno. For the past 20 years, the Scott brothers have attended the Oakland farmers market on Saturdays.
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160 N. Broadway St. Fresno, California 93701 Photo contributed by Steve Malanca | Prior to the start of “My Job Depends on Ag,” Steve Malanca organized this aerial photo of all the Del Rey people and equipment it takes to produce one bale of alfalfa hay in 2013. Packing Co. MJDOA | From 8 Driving Job Depends on Ag” comes from is a family along any Central Valley street, a video produced by farmwater. owned raisin freeway or dusty county road, it org in 2013 called “Farm Water is not uncommon to see vehicles and the Business Crisis” which packer that is with a “My Job Depends on Ag” featured local residents telling celebrating 90 decal plastered on a window, and the camera “my job depends on while it might be easy to dismiss ag”. years of packing it as something akin to a political In 2013, Malanca was selling California Raisins. bumper sticker, the decal tells a tractors for John Deere and saw bigger story. some friends and clients lose For Steve Malanca, co-creator their farms because they were of the “My Job Depends on Ag” not getting enough water from movement, the story starts with allocations to maintain their Del Rey Packing Company an issue important to all of us: crops, and didn’t have wells to 559-888-2031 water. pump water. delreypacking.com Malanca said environmental “I made a decal because my and water regulations covering buddies lost their farms,” Malanca the Sacramento-San Joaquin said. “I made it a California decal River Delta introduced in the and not a Valley decal because 1980s prevented water from all of us in agriculture need to Agriculture’s being pumped south to the unite. There’s different issues in Dependable Central Valley, forcing farmers to ag up and down the state, and if pump groundwater from wells we all bonded, and our passion Insurance Partner after they had used their surface that we have for this business all water allocations. However, came together, we’d have a huge groundwater from the western following.” Your Insurance Experts for 3 Generations side of the Valley is salty and not According to Malanca, not Commercial General and Personal conducive to plant life. enough credit is given to the In 2013, Malanca wanted farming industry for how much Agri-Business Crop Insurance to create a visual to show how it contributes to the economy. The many jobs depend on ag to U.S. Department of Agriculture Our team WILL find the products bring awareness to the industry. states on its website that farming that work for you! Call us Today! He assembled more than 80 is about 1 percent of our total Gross people in the ag industry, along Domestic Product, but Malanca Jerry Baird Insurance Agency and with farming machinery, in an says that since the that number Baird Crop Insurance Agency empty lot to show what it takes to is based on the gross receipts on produce one bale of alfalfa hay. how many crops a farmer sells, 559-448-8030 Around that same time, a it ignores the money brought in farmer from Firebaugh made a from ag related business such as www.bairdinsurance.com decal of a brown “V”, a spin off of tractor, seed and fertilizer sales. License #791605 the green “V” on the helmets of The variety and richness of the Fresno State Bulldogs football our crops is really unique to the team, the brown “V” representing Central Valley, and Malanca the ongoing drought plaguing the wants people to be more aware state. of how food gets onto our Malanca thought that the water plates. Without an adequate issue was a California Issue and water supply, we would have to wanted to make a decal with the get our food from somewhere shape of the state. The phrase “My else, he said.
10 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture “The other thing we want people to know about farming in Central California — we have the only dry Mediterranean type climate in the USA, Malanca said. “We grow 400 different crops here; you can’t do that anywhere else in the country, and if they’re not going to give us the water, we are going to have to import the food.” In the summer of 2015, Malanca paid a visit to FastSigns in Fresno and drew a sketch on a napkin of what he wanted and ordered 200 decals for $3 dollars each and sold the first ones to his friends for $5 dollars each. The first 200 stickers sold out in four days, and Malanca made an order for 1,000 more stickers at a discount price and sold all of them. In a matter of 14 days, he had made $5,000. Today, the decals are sold all over the world. At the same time, friend, local farmer, and co-founder of the “My Job Depends on Ag” movement, Erik Wilson, started a Facebook page that quickly blew up and received 10,000 likes in the first eight days it was set up. There Photo by Harold Foster Jr. | Steve Malanca’s first run of “My Job Depends on Ag” decals was 200. is also a “My Job Depends on Ag” public group He purchased them for $3 and sold them to friends for $5. They sold out in four days. Proceeds from Facebook page that has over 83,000 members. sales go to scholarships for ag students. Wilson said that because of all the likes and members that the pages bring in, there “Everybody has this organic, non-paid Wilson said. has been sponsorship offers from corporate information coming from people who are He added that hundreds of people are entities, but they were turned down to keep directly in agriculture and farming and trying to join the group every day, and if they the page more personal and practical. not coming from a paid organization,” didn’t vet against fake accounts and require MJDOA Continued | page 32
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CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 11 On borrowed time? The future of Roundup in question as legal challenges
Image via Chafer Machinery on Flicker | A boom arm sprays herbicide on loom a field. The future of Roundup herbicide is in question in the wake of a jury finding that the product caused cancer in a Bay Area groundskeeper.
Edward Smith – STAFF WRITER plaintiff, Dewayne Johnson, a though Monsanto and its parent are or have been at least four court groundskeeper for a Bay Area company Bayer will most likely cases this year either from or On Aug. 10, the first shots high school, whose attorneys appeal that amount. against Monsanto, including the were fired in what looks to be a argued had developed non- The decision against Roundup Aug. 10 ruling. And, as the courts longstanding legal battle between Hodgkin lymphoma after being and its active ingredient, determine culpability, the future claimants against agribusiness- directly exposed to the herbicide. glyphosate, comes at a time the of Roundup is up in the air more giant Monsanto and its flagship Johnson, who doctors have courts, along with the scientific than ever, creating uncertainty in herbicide, Roundup. diagnosed as terminally ill with community, are split on whether the farming community. A jury of twelve ruled the cancer, was awarded $289 the ubiquitous herbicide causes Roundup has been sold at unanimously in favor of the million in this first stage of trials, cancer. In California alone, there Roundup | page 14
12 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture
Roundup | From 12 hardware and carcinogenic. And No. 2, it put extra pressure “There were a huge number of studies department stores since the ‘70s and plays on Monsanto’s argument that the formulation on glyphosate specifically, but not as many a vital role in the agricultural industry. Its was safe.” on Roundup, the formulated product,” versatility and easy use make it ideal for not The first major battle against Monsanto Esfandiary said. “That’s kind of one of the key only households, but for growers and sprayers came in 2015 when the International Agency elements of the case. Monsanto had managed with a wide variety of crops. for Research on Cancer, an agency under the to successfully convince regulators and large “Compared to the other materials, World Health Organization, determined that portions of the world that glyphosate is safe.” it’s quite inexpensive, it controls a lot of glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic,” based Among the ingredients found in Roundup, different weeds, you can use it multiple times on data a number of countries, including but not included in many studies, were the throughout the year. It has a lot of flexibility,” the European Union, Canada and the U.S. surfactants used to spread glyphosate across said Kurt Hembree, a farm advisor with a weed Environmental Protection Agency, had used the leaf. These substances help reduce the discipline from the University of California to determine it was safe, according to Brad surface tension of liquids in which they are Extension in Fresno County. Hanson, who is a weed science specialist at dissolved. Across California, it is used on about 1.5 University of California at Davis. Evidence in the trial showed that those million acres, making it the single-most used “They basically looked at the same data and surfactants had caused increased absorption herbicide in the state, he said. But, along with came up with a different conclusion,” he said. of Roundup into Johnson’s skin, according to its adaptability is its ease of use. The reason glyphosate was thought to be Esfandiary. Instructions on how to safely apply safe was that it affected an enzyme called The question of how Johnson applied the Roundup are relatively simple. It doesn’t EPSPS that humans don’t have, but many chemical came up in trial as well. require much more than boots, gloves, pants plants do. Attorneys for Johnson claim that he had and long-sleeve shirts, according to Hembree The crux of the argument that Johnson’s followed instructions exactly as prescribed, “as long as you have skin protection, you’re attorneys used was that a majority of the wearing protective equipment every time he perfectly OK to use it,” he said. studies done on the herbicide were only on the sprayed, including a Tyvex suit, facemask, At least until the Aug.10 ruling. active ingredient, glyphosate, and not on the gloves and boots. But they argue the “[The ruling] is very significant for a couple formulated product, Roundup, according to surfactants were able to penetrate the suit of reasons,” said Pedram Esfandiary, an Esfandiary. through the backpack sprayer he wore, which associate attorney at Baum Hedlund Aristei Lawyers for Baum Hedlund argued on a number of occasions had leaked and Goldman PC, who represented Johnson. that, going back to the mid-‘90s, Monsanto soaked his back for hours. “Mainly because, one, Monsanto could had at the least suspected Roundup was Johnson was spraying 150 gallons of it every no longer claim that glyphosate was not carcinogenic. day over the course of two spraying seasons
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14 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture across two years, which Monsanto argued uncontroversial because it conveys the companies are not required to warn about could not be possible, according to Esfandiary. message that glyphosate’s carcinogenicity is an it yet, because of federal court decision. Attorneys argued that the latency period undisputed fact,” in a summary of the ruling But, Coe can “foresee an employee of a between exposure and the development of from the firm Downey Brand. farm owner who is doing the work bringing cancer is different for everyone. The jury Additionally, a multi-jurisdictional suit, claims against the employer or their agreed. which is like a class-action suit, is being workers’ comp as well.” And that is one of the reasons it may have heard in the Northern District of California. As the courts continue to the be the taken so long for a case to be brought up The court is, at this moment, considering proving ground for the future of Roundup, about the dangers of Roundup, according to “whether a reasonable jury could conclude farmers like Mark Cox of Cox Farming, Esfandiary. that glyphosate…can cause Non-Hodgkin who grows silage from Roundup-Ready Currently, Baum and Hedlund has more Lymphoma,” according to a pretrial order corn, continues to do the work. than 800 cases where people claim Roundup from the case. “We’re not going to stop because of has caused non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. An Roundup’s listing can carry with it Roundup,” Cox said. “It’s like any other August article in the Economist places the large impacts for employers. It’s listed business. You adapt and you continue on. number nationwide at 5,000. on California’s Prop 65 list, although That’s the life of farming.” This ruling might give those thousands of unheard cases precedent. While not all jurisdictions may accept the ruling in San Francisco as precedent, what manufacturers look at is “the ripple effect,” said Deborah Coe, an attorney and shareholder for Baker Manock & Jensen Attorneys. If a car manufacturer built a car with a bad brake, they might keep settling cases until they found one they think they can win, she said. That win sends a message to others that that win might not be easy to secure. But, if they lose, it demonstrates to litigants what it takes to win. “The effect is not just this one case for Mr. Johnson, but the potential effect is worldwide,” Coe said. This means, for the 5,000 cases nationally awaiting a hearing, the outline for victory has been created. Here in California, the courts are still undecided. When the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) decided that due to the research done by the international agency, glyphosate should be labeled as carcinogenic under Proposition 65, which requires labeling for businesses when cancer-causing products are in the facility as well as product labels. Monsanto had decided to petition to de-list glyphosate from Prop. 65 labeling in Fresno Count Superior Court, according to Coe, and the Fifth District Court of Appeals upheld the judge’s opinion. At the same time, an association of farmers as well as Monsanto sought to challenge the ruling in California’s Eastern District, a federal court, in the case National Association of Wheat Growers v. Zeise. They argued that since the properties of glyphosate are still so undecided that the decision by the OEHHA violated First Amendment rights of Monsanto to label its product freely. In February, the court explained that “the required warning for glyphosate does not appear to be factually accurate and
CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 15 Farmers Photo by Donald A. Promnitz | The Old Town Clovis Farmers markets create Market gives local growers a chance to sell their produce benefits for directly to consumers, often netting them a better price than they small growers, can expect selling through retail stores. shoppers alike
By Donald A. Promnitz – STAFF WRITER Peter De Young, president of California markets instead of stores. A grower of nuts, Fresh Farmers Market Association and oranges and stone fruit, Shasky sells directly Despite the extreme heat of the summer the owner of Alliance Advertising Public at markets in Merced, Mariposa and Clovis. months, thousands of shoppers are Relations in Fresno, has been working When he started doing farmers markets in coming out to their local farmers markets extensively to promote markets throughout the late 1990s, he said that he was able to throughout the Central Valley, brought out the Valley — markets like the one he does recoup as much as $1.25/pound of produce. by the desire for quality produce and a little in River Park on Tuesday nights, and, most Since then, that number has only gone entertainment. recently, Saturday mornings. up. This has been done, Shasky stated, by For small-time growers with limited land “There are a lot of benefits for growers to “recuperating middleman cost.” In order to and resources, these markets have become participate in local farmers markets,” De set up their stands (in Clovis), there is a fee an extremely beneficial way to make the most Young said. “One is that they have the ability… of $40 or 10 percent of their sales, but Shasky bang for their product’s buck, getting the to market direct to consumers, which allows said their proceeds are worth the price. opportunity to sell their fruits and vegetables them in a certified market to be able to sell a As for customers, there is a major incentive at the retail price. Meanwhile, customers broad range of produce that they grow.” to shop, as the produce is fresher, often are able to get their hands on fresher goods Tom Shasky, owner of Shasky Farms in Le picked on the day of sales. Michael Murray and produce not regularly found in grocery Grand in Merced County, has been one of the of Sunny Cal Farms in Reedley recounted stores. growers to see the financial benefits of doing the difference of Farmers Market | page 18
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Farmers Market | From 16 supermarkets and farmers market fruit following a recent trip to New Jersey, where he found Reedley- grown plums being sold. “So that’s cool to see, but when you try those plums and they have to be shipped across the country and they’re just not as sweet, versus the product you get at the farmers market,” Murray said. The sale of fresh-picked goods further cuts out the process of pasteurization, which causes a loss in flavor and taste. Demonstrating this, Shasky displayed one of his red walnuts. Squeezing it between his fingers, he showed that the nut still had all of its natural oils that would be lost in being pasteurized. “If you haven’t had a strawberry from the field, or a peach that was just picked, it’s almost a different fruit than what you Farm City News would buy at a grocery store,” De Young said. “Agriculture is an absolute industry and a science of picking at the right pressure.” Shasky and De Young pointed out that & AgNet West among this fresher produce were fruits and other crops not readily available in markets. Local Agri-News by These include the emerald beauts grown on his farm. According to Shasky, 99.9 percent of Local Reporters these tart, green plums are exported, but at the farmer’s market, they can be purchased by the pound. De Young, meanwhile, stated that the River Park Farmers Market has more than 400 varieties of fruits and vegetables on sale. Last year, Shasky alone was up to 160 varieties. “If you go with one of our Asian growers, our Hmong growers grow a lot of exotics — a lot of really fabulous, fresh greens that a lot of people there might not be familiar with,” De Young said. “But there’s six different varieties of bok choy. You’re not going to get to pick from six different varieties of bok choy at a grocery store.” Customers also get the opportunity to talk to their local growers and build relationships with those sellers. As certain fruits and Taylor Hillman Brian German vegetables go out of season, they can then Farm News Director Farm Journalist make recommendations of what’s going into season. More informed shoppers can inquire about such factors as acid and sugars, topics that supermarkets may not be as ready and able to answer. “Many people that come to farmers markets are people that care about what they eat and they want to know where it was grown and how it was grown,” De Young said. “And Weekdays 5am to 6am so it gives the grower and the community a and 6:12am, 6:42am, Weekdays chance to interact with each other.” 7:18am, & 12:15pm 5am to 6am De Young added that chefs at local restaurants are now shopping at the River For advertising information, call: (559) 497-5118 Park events for their produce because of the quality. The farmers’ ability to answer a MEMBER cook’s questions can also be appreciated. FRESNO COUNTY FARM BUREAU
18 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture Paid Content Food Commons Fresno raises funds for $8.5 million food hub by Valerie Shelton Since 2015, Food Commons Fresno has been committed to en- suring that those who harvest the Central Valley’s abundant crops are able to enjoy the bounty of healthy, local produce themselves. Built on the foundation that food needs to be accessible, af- fordable and sustainable, Food Commons Fresno has established its own 75-acre organic farm in Madera and a wholesale ware- house center in Downtown Fresno where fruits and vegetables from the farm, along with produce purchased from other small organic area farmers, is packed and shipped to Central Valley res- idents subscribed to the company’s weekly Ooooby (Out Of Our Own Backyard) food box. In addition to growing its own, support- ing likeminded farmers, and shipping out freshness to the Fres- no metropolitan area, the company also operates a commissary kitchen in southwest Fresno, leased to food truck vendors and Andres Diaz (Designer), Stephanie Reed (Architect, Paul Halajian Architects), other food entrepreneurs. Rick Ambrose (Wholesale Manager, Food Commons Fresno), Shaunt Today, Food Commons Fresno is seeking to expand and create Yemenjian (Architect, Paul Halajian Architects), Blong Lee (Senior Business a central food hub at California and Fruit avenues, in one of the Development Manager, Food Commons Fresno) most impoverished zip codes, 93706, in the nation. The $8.5 mil- lion hub will comprise 25,000 square feet of space for wholesale Those wishing to show support without becoming an in- and Ooooby distribution, a commercial kitchen for a bakery and vestor can also purchase a prepaid discount card with a 150 café, a retail grocery store and spaces to promote community percent return (e.g. pay $100, get $150 on the card). The card wellness. can be used at the food hub’s future grocery store or go to- To raise funds for the hub, Food Commons Fresno is enlist- ward an Ooooby subscription box. ing the help of local investors through a Direct Public Offering However big or small the investment, support for the Hub (DPO). For as little as $100, an will aid Food Commons Fresno investor can loan funds to Food in its mission to bring afford- Commons Fresno and over time able, organic, local produce to make their money back plus in- lower-income Central Valley res- terest. For $500, any California idents. resident can buy shares in the “Right now, there is no fresh, corporation, with the potential of healthy, local food option in returns on their investment in the form of dividends as the com- southwest Fresno,” Lee said. “The closest grocery store is pany grows. three miles away…The location we are proposing is centered “Investments into the DPO ensure the sustainability of Food in west Fresno, close to Edison High School. The Housing Au- Commons Fresno in its mission to grow a vibrant and vertical- thority’s low-income housing complex is also nearby so it’s a ly integrated local food system that promotes health, wellness, perfect site for us. We want to offer affordable, fresh, local equity, environmental stewardship, economic development; and food to that community.” accessibility and affordability of fresh, local food,” said Blong Lee, For more information about investing, visit the Senior Business Development Manager for Food Commons FoodCommonsFresno.com. Fresno. SCHEME D
Food Commons Fresno Market Southwest Fresno | California Ave + Fruit Ave CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 19 SCHEME D 08.16.2018 Certified Farmers Markets by County June through July • Fresno Contact: 559-352-5623 River Park Farmers Market 220 Paseo del Centro Bass Lake Farmers Market 54310 Rd. 432 (Pines Village), Bass Manager: Peter De Young Lake Tuesdays, 5-9 p.m. and Saturdays, Manager: Charles Nugent 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 3-7 Contact: 559-994-9292 p.m. May 1 – Oct. 30 Sangers Farmers’ Market & Contact: 559-642-6161 Street Fair 7th and N Streets between Academy Avenue and O St., Sanger Coarsegold Farmers Market 35300 Highway 41, Coarsegold Manager: Karen Pearson Manager: Chris Kleffer Saturdays, 5-9 p.m. Fridays, 4-7 p.m. Sept. 23 and 30 May through October Contact: 559-875-4575 Contac: 868-3633 Old Town Clovis Year Round Farmers Market Valley Fresh Farmer’s Market 9300 Valley Children’s Place, Pollasky Avenue at 5th Street, Clovis Madera Manager: Carole Lester Manager: Peter De Young Saturdays, 8–11:30 a.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Year round Year-round Contact: 559-298-5774 Contact: 559-994-9292 Kaiser Permanente Fresno Farmers’ Market • Tulare 7300 N. Fresno St., Fresno Manager: Meredith Murillo Downtown Visalia Farmers’ Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (9 Market 11 N. Church St./Main Street, Visalia a.m. Dec.-Feb.) Manager: Angela Warkentin-Wakley Year round Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. Contact: 559-448-4128 May through August 559-730-6021 The Market on Kern Kern Street between M and N Streets, Downtown Fresno Visalia Farmers Manager: Tatevik Hovhannisyan Market – Sears Sears parking lot, 3500 Mooney Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Blvd., Visalia April 4 - Oct. 31 Manager: Angela Warkentin-Wakley Contact: 559-490-9966 Saturdays, 8-11:30 a.m. Year round Old Town Farmers Market Contact: 559-730-6021 DEDICATED TO SERVING THE Pollasky Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets, Clovis FARMING COMMUNITY SINCE 1944 Manager: Carole Lester Sierra View Medical Center Fridays, 5:30-9 p.m. Market 6/6-7/10-465 W. Putman OR 7/17- May 12-Sept. 29 8/21-291 N. Main Contact: 559-298-5774 St., Porterville Manager: Angela Warkentin-Wakley • Kings Tuesdays 8-11:30 a.m. Thursday Night Market Place Year round Irwin Street between W. Lacey Contact: 559-730-6021 Boulevard and 7th Street, Hanford Manager: Michelle Brown Thursdays, 5:30-9 p.m. Dinuba Farmers Market May through October L and Ventura streets, Dinuba Manager: Michelle Tapia Contact: 559-582-9457 Fridays, 5-9 p.m. June through August • Madera Contact: 559-591-5940 KIP J. MARTIN, CPA Neighborhood Farmers’ Market PARTNER 14215 Rd. 28, Madera Phone (559) 226-9200 ext. 203 Manager: Antonio Diaz Source: California Department of Email [email protected] Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. Food and Agriculture
20 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture CALIFORNIA’S LEADING AG REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE A TRADITION IN TRUST SINCE 1919
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David Castellon – STAFF WRITER for some plastics and the base for a concrete substitute Charles Meyer is a pioneer. called “hempcrete” — along Back in the late ‘90s, the with the fact other countries Stratford farmer saw an ag were successfully growing industry on the decline and and manufacturing hemp, started looking at other crops motivated Meyer to become a You’re already missing out on that might be more financially hemp advocate in California. FUN, WELLNESS & LIFE UNCOMPLICATED! viable. “I figured we would never He found out that hemp run out of uses for hemp,” said used to be a crop grown across Meyer, who along with other California and the U.S. — experts contacted estimated used primarily to make rope those practical uses number and textiles — until federal 10,000 to 25,000-plus. officials lumped it in with its Years of hemp advocacy paid close cousin, marijuana, in off, as the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, included a provision allowing which discouraged hemp hemp growing in all U.S. farming and production. states if the farms involved Cedar Creek is dedicated to enhancing Then, in 1970, hemp was do so in partnership with independence and the quality of your life. classified as a Schedule 1 universities or other research controlled substance, making it organizations. illegal, the same as marijuana, But that could change in the INDEPENDENT LIVING LSD and cocaine. coming months, as California Despite their shared lineage voters passed Prop. 64 in 2016, ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE and passing resemblance, THC, which not only legalized the the psychoactive compound growing and sales of marijuana For you, we do it all, and more ... in marijuana that gets people for recreational use in the state, high, is found in miniscule but also did the same for hemp. amounts in hemp — definitely But like the new marijuana 500 N. Westberry Blvd. not enough to smoke and get law, the new hemp law @ Sunset Ave. someone high. didn’t take effect right away, Madera, Ca 93637 That, combined with the as state officials delayed (559) 673-2345 thousands of uses for hemp implementation to first develop cedarcreekretirement.com — medicinal oils, animal permitting regulations. Lic. #207203238 feed, human food products, Regulations for marijuana a biodegradable substitute took a little more than a year
22 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture to work out, and on Jan. 1, applications month Congress will approve a 2018 farm to launch recreational marijuana bill that would include a provision ending businesses started rolling in to the state. hemp’s federal designation as an illegal Things didn’t happen that quickly drug. for hemp. Rules for the state to grow The speculation is being fueled by the it commercially still are being worked fact that Senate Majority Leader Mitch out, said Kings County Sheriff David McConnell (R-Kentucky) is spearheading Robinson. the change to foster the hemp industry in He’s a member of the state’s his state to replace tobacco-industry jobs. Industrial Hemp Advisory Board that If federal lawmakers legalize hemp began meeting in June 2017 to advise before the Oct. 1 deadline to approve the the California Department of Food and Farm Bill, Robinson noted that California Agriculture on developing rules for still would impose its own regulations and permitting and licensing fees. permitting requirements, and counties A likely part of those regulations still could prohibit commercial hemp would require lab testing of hemp operations. samples to show that the plant’s THC As for when more hemp production content doesn’t exceed 3/10 of 1 percent, without research affiliations might the sheriff said. begin in California, “We fully expect And while California hemp farmers that the state regulations will be out, and would no longer have to be tied to somebody will be able to go to their local ag research organizations, they wouldn’t commissioner’s office and apply for their Photo by David Castellon | Stratford farmer be completely free to grow it. That’s permits” early next year, Robinson said. Charles Meyer stands next to the alfalfa field because they would need state permits He added that despite a history of law where he plans to grow his first test crop of for hemp farming, and counties will enforcement largely opposing hemp, he hemp once permitting rules and fees are set in the state of California, probably by early next have the right to say the plants can’t be supports it, in part, because he sees it year. Hemp is being legalized in the state as grown in their jurisdictions, Robinson as a better option than people growing part of the passage of Prop. 64 in November noted. marijuana. 2016, and there is a good chance it will be Prop. 64’s hemp provision As such, he wants to make it as easy legalized federally as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, may become moot to a degree, as for people to become licensed hemp if it’s approved by the Oct. 1 deadline. expectations are that some time this growers. Hemp | page 24
CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 23 Hemp | From 23
“My recommendation is we don’t tax it like marijuana, and local government doesn’t tax it, and they treat it like any other crop.” As for whether farmers here in the Valley might want to grow it, experts contacted noted that hemp used to grow across the state and can grow well in areas with little irrigation or poor soils, which could make it an ideal crop for the west side of the Valley hit hard by drought. “I plan to grow it as soon as I am able,” said Meyer, who has 100 acres ready for planting hemp. But the farmers he knows haven’t shown a lot of interest, and others with an eye on the hemp industry say the same. Joshua Chase, a Salinas-area farmer who planted his first hemp crop in conjunction Chase said his own initial hemp others said that unless entrepreneurs start with a research project in July, said some plantings on 30 acres are essentially “an up such manufacturing operations here in farmers still associate hemp with marijuana, R&D project,” to prepare him to grow the Valley or nearby, hemp growing might which likely is curtailing some interest. larger crops. not take off here. While California farmers don’t know The biggest challenge to growing hemp Meyer agreed, adding, “It will be my much about hemp anymore, the data is in the Valley may be that there aren’t any intention to build the industry here. We out there, and farmers in other states facilities here and few in the state to process will process it here,” though he has no and countries, including Canada, have and manufacture hemp into goods. specific plans where he might build a that knowledge and are willing to share And since shipping hemp long distances processing plant and what it might make. it, he said. wouldn’t be cost effective, Robinson and “Right now all I have is ideas.”
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WWW.DENHAM.NET (559) 222-5284 prices they charge for milk because across most of the country, milk prices are set Will cows fly or fall? every month by the federal government, and dairies have to take those prices. Contente & Co. Dairy, milk In California, the prices are set by the California Department of Food and industry face uncertain future Agriculture, which Contente and other dairy operators KINGS COUNTY here complain doesn’t Commodities List page 34 grown it to nearly 1,000 factor in the actual costs of cattle and about 850 acres producing milk. of land. To make matters worse, But a lot had changed California operators have for Contente and other accused CDFA Secretary dairy operators. Karen Ross of keeping prices “It was probably easier paid to dairies low to favor then than it was now,” processors buying the milk, Contente said of the so they won’t relocate to other industry going back nearly states. a decade and beyond, While dairy operators as did his daughter, successfully lobbied federal Claudine, 47, and her legislators to allow California brother, Joaquin — known to fall under the federal milk- as “J.T.” — 43. pricing system starting Nov. In fact, the siblings 1, Contente and his children said things are downright noted that the rest of the scary. country also is facing a low “Look around in the last milk price crisis, and the 10 years how many dairies federal pricing order has been are closing down because paying only slightly better they aren’t making it,” J.T. than the California order, asked. so dairies here are far from The reasons stem back seeing financial relief. to 2009, when prices paid Adding to all this, running to dairies for their milk a dairy here has gotten more took significant hits. But expensive, particularly instead of bouncing back, due to costly regulations in as normal, prices have California and rises in costs stayed below the cost to for items ranging from fuel to Photo by Harold Foster Jr | From left to right, Claudine, Joaquin and Joaquin feed. “J.T.” Contente operate Contente & Co. Dairy near Lemoore. The family says produce milk. years of poor milk pricing have wiped out many California dairies and made it In fact, over the first All of this has combined to hard for those left to survive. six months of this year, push dairies out of business, the average monthly price California dairies received David Castellon – STAFF WRITER a non-stop business, as cows for their milk was $13.60 and calves need to be fed per hundred weight — 100 Running a dairy isn’t for and tended to every day, and pounds — while the average everyone. they have to be milked and cost to produce that milk But it’s a life Joaquin that milk trucked out daily. averaged $17.19 per hundred Contente learned to embrace But as hard as working a weight. early, having been a toddler dairy can be, “It has been “I saw our milk checks back when his father became [rewarding] to see where in the ‘80s, and they were much partner in his uncle’s Kings we were, to go from the bigger than they are today,” County dairy and growing up beginning, go through the said Claudine Contente, helping milk and care for the steps that we took and wind whose job at the family dairy cows and eventually running up where we did wind up,” includes managing the books. the family business. he said, noting that his “How can we have the same “From the very beginning, dairy between Lemoore and milk price we had in 1981,” it was always a challenge,” Hanford started with 22 acres asked her father. said Contente, 69, noting and at least 160 head of cattle The answer, he said, is that Contente & Co. Dairy is and over the years he has that dairies can’t raise the
26 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture with many operators being resolved soon. forced to sell off their land “If these two kids weren’t and cows because their money here, it would have been ran out. an easy decision” to sell the Between 2009 and the end of dairy, he said, explaining 2017, the CDFA reports that 421 that he’s holding on because dairies in the state shut down, he wants to pass it on to his leaving 1,331 at the start of this children. year. “So, for our future, it’s “Just within a five-mile a little scary,” J.T. said. radius of this dairy, we have “Today, we’re making it lost 25 dairy producers. I knew work — whatever — but in most of them pretty well,” five, 10 years? We’re not old, Joaquin said. but we’re not young. What The majority of those dairies are we going to do?” have been “ground up,” with Part of the frustration the mostly tree crops standing in Contentes feel is that “What their places, he said. we produce is in demand. If “You see all that happening. it was structured properly and you wonder who is going — the pricing side of it — to be next? Who’s the next guy we would be OK. But it’s to leave? Is it going to be me? not structured properly,” So sometimes at night you lay Joaquin said. there thinking about it. You And if things don’t can’t sleep.” change, Constance said, “I’m While they’re stretched thin, worried. There’s not a lot of the Contentes said they’re room for profit, and we keep getting by, paying their bills tightening and tightening while hoping no big, costly [our belts]. And one day crises occur that force them to there’s not going to be a lot to Photo by Harold Foster Jr | Claudine Contente tends to cows in the milking barn of her family’s dairy. shut down if milk pricing isn’t tighten down on.”
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CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 27 Five generations working the soil:
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(559) 448-9580 • (559) 448-9579 FAX Where Clients Send Their Friends www.dalenabenik.com By Donald A. Promnitz estimated that they can have – STAFF WRITER upwards of 100 to 120 people working on their fields. For brothers Stephen and Their own struggles have come Michael Schafer, farming is about in recent years in battling more than an occupation — it’s the California droughts — a tradition born of setbacks and especially with the high demand uphill battles. of water that almonds carry. “The fellows before me had Other concerns have emerged to struggle pretty hard to get to from the recent tariffs and trade where they got,” said Stephen disputes with China and issues Schafer. “My dad rented a lot of with labor. property out of high school and “I wonder sometimes what finally bought a piece of ground my grandfather and my great- in Madera, and that’s where I grandfather would have said was born. So it’s been a long, slow if they would’ve seen all the climb to get there.” regulation you have to deal Their family has been growing with to be a farmer nowadays.” things in the Central Valley since Founded as an official their great-grandfather, Philip company in 1979 by the Schafer Schafer, arrived in America brothers and their father, Serving the Valley for over 26 years from Russia at the turn of the Merwyn, Schafer Ranch, Inc. 20th century. A raisin-grower, is now a major grower for he enjoyed good prices during almonds, wine and raisin Motorola Two-Way Radios World War I, but after the war grapes, and — as of about six Built for the toughest situations ended in 1918, the market years ago — figs. The decision for bottomed out and Philip Schafer this crop came when a tenant in lost everything. He would have to the cold storage facility Schafer start all over again. owns was selling figs, and the A century later, the family opportunity opened. 559.435.6619 farms, now collectively known While grapes have been the as Schafer Ranch, make up traditional staple, markets approximately 1,600 acres in have prompted a higher 3733 S Bagley Ave Suite C Madera County, along with demand for almonds, which Fresno, CA 93725 another 1,400 leased to them the family first planted in the or under a management 1960s. With this also came the agreement. During the peak of advantages of having a sturdier harvest season, Stephen Schafer crop. Almonds also have the
28 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture benefit of easier pest control and are non- “It kind of snowballs perishable. because you start with However, the Schafer brothers aren’t the a certain amount of only ones in the family doing ag — their distributors — and sister, Cheryl Farnesi, is also in the business. that’s what happened Along with her husband Don, she owns to us,” Cindy said. Schafer Metal Stake, Inc. in Madera, which “And then these creates the metal stakes used to support distributors want to crops in the field. add on to their line.” As for Stephen and his wife Cindy, their Four generations love of agriculture has also been channeled to in, the Schafers have a new passion product — wine. Beginning in continued to keep the 2006, the San Joaquin Wine Co. put out its first family tradition going. vintage in 2009. Stephen’s youngest Since then, the San Joaquin Wine Co. has son, Jim, is working morphed into a highly lucrative business in for his father, while Photo by Donald A. Promnitz | Sauvignon Blanc grapes are prepared at its own right. This includes boosting the menu Stephen’s daughter, an early morning crush. San Joaquin Wine Co. has been in business since from only four to more than 20 different Katelyn, works for 2006, with its first vintage released in 2009. Stephen Schafer and his wife, wines along with numerous awards. This San Joaquin Wine Co. Cindy, run the winery. includes a gold medal for their 2014 Cabernet — her name is on the Sauvignon California at the 2017 San Francisco winery’s rose. is already showing an interest at a young age Chronicle Wine Competition. This year, they Michael’s son Brian Schafer also works at getting dirty and being on the land. It’s an entered again in the Chronicle’s contest, with for the family ranch, with land of his own to their 2014 Pinot Noir Saint Lucia Highlands manage. For him, the rewards of the job come experience that she herself is familiar with. winning the silver medal. every summer with the arrival of the harvest. “I think as a grandparent, you can see Meanwhile, their tasting room has become “Because I get to see why I worked all year the interest there…in the outdoors and the a popular venue for weddings and concerts, long,” Brian said. “With every truckload that farmland I knew growing up.” and is one of the busiest sites on the Madera comes out of the field, I know why I was out As for Brian Schafer, he has stated that Wine Trail. Situated next to the cabernet there all year.” he and his wife, Erin are hoping to have sauvignon vineyard, tasters are able to look The family is already working on the next children of their own to keep the family out at the very grapes that will make their way generation of Schafer Ranch farmers and tradition alive and well on Michael’s side into the bottles. according to Cindy, one of their grandchildren for years to come.
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CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 29 TULARE COUNTY Photo by Bridget Butler-Sullivan | Robert McKellar, better known as “Farmer Bob,” worked in public Ag Commodities List page 38 relations for 50 years before returning to work his family farm, which is also a popular tourist attraction.
The best (and only) spot for citrus agritourism: McKellar Family Farms
Bridget Butler-Sullivan – STAFF WRITER bought it in 1927 along with Vernice’s dad, John Jordan. Starting as a plum, grape and Nestled an hour and a half away from the orange farm, the farm eventually transitioned big trees of Sequoia National Park’s Giant to exclusively citrus. Forest lays a very different type of wonder. Until her death in 2002, 102-year-old While it doesn’t stand quite as tall as the Vernice spent almost every waking moment Sequoias, one Ivanhoe farmer is ensuring his committed to the farm, as did her husband land is just as much of an oasis worth the stop. until his passing in 1972. Their son and current For nearly a century, the McKellars owner, Robert McKellar spent his childhood have blessed the Central Valley with their learning the ins-and-outs of the land until abundance of citrus trees. At 182 acres, the moving to Oregon following his college farm maintains much more than oranges and graduation. He used his degrees in animal mandarins. Equal parts agricultural land and husbandry and agricultural journalism to vacation destination, the non-profit McKellar maintain a public relations company for 50 Family Farms is home to California’s singular years. After running the farm primarily via spot for citrus agritourism — and it’s about to phone following his father’s passing, Robert make an even bigger name for itself. eventually made a full return in 2002. From Farming has been a successful endeavor there on out, Robert became known as on the land since Hugh and Vernice McKellar “Farmer Bob,” and he hasn’t looked back since.
Photo contributed by Robert McKellar | Bob McKellar is seen here as a child with his father Robert. Bob McKellar is a third-generation AG & LAND • BUSINESS Jeff Settle citrus farmer. RESIDENTIAL Realtor Of all added amenities in recent years, CalDRE #02006844 the most popular has been the farm tour, an Cell / Text: 559.447.1100 hour-long experience conducted by McKellar. “SETTLE FOR MORE” Email: [email protected] To begin, guests gather in a wagon located just outside of the farm’s sister company, Seven Sycamores, where a tractor pulls them to eight locations on the farm. Along with information on citrus varieties, irrigation and more, guests are welcome to pick their own fruit. 7050 N. Palm Ave (At Herndon) “We really want to bring [agricultural] work Fresno, Ca. 93650 to people’s attention. So many people today Office: 559.650.6200 have no connection to a farm,” McKellar Cell /Text: 559.447.1100 said. “Especially for our youth — we want to emphasize how many jobs there are related to the industry.”
30 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture This desire to promote nursing homes out here in the agriculture expands past country coming years,” Alexander said. lines. In the past, the farm has To make this a possibility, the welcomed people from Canada, team will create an L-shaped France and Germany. This year, ramp for wagon accessibility and they will even welcome a youth repave the surrounding area of group from South Korea. the main entrance. Pavement “You wouldn’t believe how will also adorn much of the OKFE excited these kids are to see where so that restricted persons can Import/Export Oakland their favorite fruit comes from,” enjoy hand picking their food as said Rosalinda Verde Alexander, well. Drayage Services director of operations. Last on the list is what • Focused on Import/Export Due to such increase in Alexander calls an “Agricultural Drayage through the Port of popularity, Bob and associates Destination Park.” At 22 acres, are creating self-guided tours. this demonstration farm will Oakland Guests will be given a brochure be home to citrus, strawberries, • Secured yard at Oakland Port and map upon arrival, and almonds and all other Valley • Light Weight Chassis from there will visit all eight produce. Guests will be able • Asset Based Carrier stops, complete with signs and to see, pick, and understand descriptions. farming on the large scale. • Family Owned and Operated This year has much in store for “We’d like to be unique in the since 2006 the farm, and the first thing to way we present growing food/ set that in motion is Farmer Bob’s citrus to the public. Our park newest endeavor, the “One-of- will be immersive, educational a-kind Farming Experience,” or and serve as a resource for our OKFE. valley,” stated Alexander. This 3-4 acre exhibit will To fund renovations, the staff include 20 interactive attractions is currently putting together ANDY POLTEROCK including a replica irrigation a steering committee. In the IMPORT/ EXPORT SOLUTIONS system where guests can learn meantime, Alexander is writing how to maintain water systems grants and proposals. (559) 974-2203 | [email protected] on a farm. Orange, grapefruit “We are looking for people www.ranokxlogistics.com and lemon trees will also be passionate in sharing our available for guests to harvest. vision of spreading agricultural Further additions will be a bee knowledge to the community,” exhibit, wind machine and she said. hands-on tractor. The front of the It’s been quite the journey farm will also be converted into getting McKellar Family a parking lot, and a new main Farms to what it is today. After entrance will be constructed pursuing a different career in near the existing one. a different state for 50 years, One of the most important it would seem that Bob’s facets of the project will be time away would’ve left him meeting American Disabilities unprepared for the role. When Act compliance. Walkways reminiscing, it seems as though on the farm are not currently he’d never left, however. wheelchair accessible, nor is “I wasn’t lonely when I there a ramp for the wagon. came back. I was just coming “We want people from all home.” Which is exactly how over to enjoy the farm, and that the team wish the community includes those needing a little to feel when at the farm: extra help. We’d really love to see perfectly at home.
CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 31 MJDOA | From 11 questionnaire forms to be filled out, the page “Our lives and our jobs could have hit 150,000 members by now. depend on agriculture,” A dozen volunteer administrators run the said Ralph Rendon, pages, most of whom are directly involved director of marketing at with farming or the agriculture industry. Gar Tootelian Inc. “ We live Malanca felt the urge to give back to the in the breadbasket of the community with the proceeds from the sales. world and the country, and He contacted high schools in Firebaugh, Dos were lucky enough, here in Palos, Mendota, and Tranquility and offered California, to have it in our $500 in scholarships to graduating students backyard. Other people in who were majoring in agriculture in college. other areas of the country A non-profit account was opened with the and the world don’t have Central Valley Community Foundation. By this luxury. We want people the end of 2015, $20,000 was deposited for to be aware of that and to local scholarships, as well as another $20,000 support the local grower.” in 2016, and $25,000 in 2017. Since 2017, Gar Tootelian Photo contributed by Gar Tootelian | Agricultural services Since 2015, more than 85,000 California Inc. has given away more firm Gar Tootelian of Reedley has been a key partner with the “My Job Depends on Ag” stickers have been than 20,000 “My Job “My Job Depends on Ag” movement, giving away more than sold, and a decal is available with the shape Depends on Ag” lawn 20,000 yard signs since last year. of each U.S. state. Decals have been sold in 40 signs to people all over the states and soon there will be a decal available Central Valley. talks of having a 24/7 agricultural news for all 50 states. The decal has been made for Malanca said that the “My Job television station established. farmers in Australia, South America, India, Depends on Ag” movement has really “What we want to do is to bring enough Africa, Italy, and Canada. taken a hold with lots of people in awareness for our ag region here, outside In 2017, Gar Tootelian Inc., an agricultural the Central Valley, and not just for of our region. Our goal is to get this service company in Reedley, teamed up with farmers and those in agriculture, but movement beyond the San Joaquin Valley, the “My Job Depends on Ag” to help promote to a community that is seeing just how and get the masses of the people to be the message and bring awareness to the dependent our way of life is on the more aware of what we do here and to get agricultural scene in our Valley. agricultural industry. There is even more water storage for California.”
Call for Tours • (559) 840-0452 5425 W. Spruce Ave. Fresno, CA 93722 www.bellavistamcc.com • LIC# 107206702
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32 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture AgriculturalFresno County Commodities Agricultural Commodities NumbersRanked by from 2017 Fresno dollar county-rankedvalue. by 2017 dollar value.
Name of agricultural 2018 commodity 2017 dollar value Quantity Production per acre (Average)Major export destinations Examples of end products from each commodity
135,000 Germany, Spain, Japan, India, Netherlands, Oil, cosmetics, butter, candies, bakery goods, 1 Almonds $723.52$1.17 billion million 228,109 1.11 Germany, Spain, Japan, India, Netherlands, Oil, cosmetics, butter, candies, bakery goods, Almonds Harvested acres 1.13 United Kingdom, France cookies, liqueurs
Key: ND-Not Disclosed. NR-Not Ranked. N/A-Not Available. Research: Edward Smith 163,902 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Juice, concentrates, jams, jellies, natural food 2All dataGrapes has (1)been compiled $935.43from the million annual crop reports of the farm bureaus of Fresno, Kings, Madera11.6 and Tulare counties. Harvested acres Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Originalcoloring, Publication wine, raisins, Date: creamSept. 21,of tartar 2018 E-mail: [email protected]
ND 3 Poultry $552.25 million Head ND Israel, Slovakia Tray packs, bulk, livers, dog food
101,910 4 Pistachios $517.03 million Harvested acres 1.19 Canada, Japan, Mexico Snacks, ice cream, cookies, baked goods, extracts
5 $441.21 million 26,868,600 Yogurt, ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, cheese, Milk Hundred weight ND Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines buttermilk, half and half, whey
23,185 Some varieties marketed as "Cuties" or "Sweeties" 6 Tangerines $427.73 million Harvested acres 11.5 Morocco, Israel, Brazil, Argentina very popular with children
7 Calves and $423.82 million 640,130 ND Mexico, Canada, South Korea Beef, paint brushes, soap, candles, crayons, Cattle Head medicine, leather products
80,643 Tomato paste, ketchup, salsa, stewed tomatoes, 8 Tomatoes $278.96 million Harvested acres ND Canada, Japan, Mexico sauces, soups
28,811 Orange juice, peels for marmalade, orange zest, 9 Oranges $203.32 million Harvested acres ND Japan, Canada, Hong Kong Vitamin C
14,826 Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, 10 Peaches $202.97 million Harvested acres ND Germany, United Kingdom Juice, jams, jellies, canned, dried, candies
75,055 11 Cotton $170.11 million Harvested acres 1248 South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan Oil, cosmetics, medicines, clothing, soap
25,060 Cooking, aged garlic has been known to help in the 12 Garlic $144.45 million 5.39 Canada, Mexico prevention of diabetes & to increase immunity and Harvested acres cardiovascular health
20,540 Can be granulated, ground, minced, chopped dried, 13 Onions $127.78 million 22.30 Canada, Japan, Mexico and sliced. Can be used for cooking and some Harvested acres medicines.
8,582 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, 14 Nectarines $125.04 million Harvested acres 7.95 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Juice, jams, jellies, canned, dried, candies
9,548 Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, 15 Plums (Dried $100.82 million 7.72 Juice, prunes, paste, jams, fruit roll-ups and Fresh) Harvested acres Germany, United Kingdom
7,550 16 Lettuce $73.90 million Harvested acres ND Canada, Mexico, Taiwan Salad and sandwiches, wraps and juicing
3,951 17 Cherries $45.75 million 3.42 Canada, Japan, Taiwan Preserves, baked goods, some pharmaceuticals Harvested acres
381 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Fresno18 Nursery $38.25County million AgriculturalND CommoditiesOrnamental shrubs, Christmas trees Ranked by 2017 dollar value. Acres Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany
Name of 8,422 19 agriculturalWalnuts $32.16 million Harvested acres 1.73 Canada, Japan, Mexico Candies, cookies, baked goods 2018 commodity 2017 dollar value Quantity Production per acre (Average) Major export destinations Examples of end products from each commodity
135,0002771 Germany,Canada, Japan,Spain, Japan,the Netherlands, India, Netherlands, Middle FrozenOil, cosmetics,lemonade, juice,butter, wood candies, cleaner, bakery air freshener,goods, 201 Lemons(2) $723.52$31.38 million million 19.52 Almonds Harvested acres 1.11 United Kingdom,East France cookies,soft drinks liqueurs
Key: ND-Not Disclosed. NR-Not Ranked. N/A-Not Available. Research: Edward Smith All(1) dataIncludes has raisin,been compiled wine and from table the varieties annual crop reports of the farm bureaus of Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties. (2) All data has been compiled from the annual crop reports of the farm bureaus of Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties. Original Publication Date: Sept.October 21, 6,2018 2017 E-mail: [email protected]
CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 33 Kings County Agricultural Commodities Ranked by 2017 dollar value.
Name of agricultural 2018 commodity 2017 dollar value Quantity Production per acre (Average) Major export destinations Examples of end products from each commodity
1 $676.63 million 41,303,460 Yogurt, ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, cheese, Milk Hundred weight ND Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines buttermilk, half and half, whey
112,390 2 Cotton $247.22 million Harvested acres ND South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan Oil, cosmetics, medicines, clothing, soap
3 Calves and $193.55 million 210,607 ND Mexico, Canada, South Korea Beef, paint brushes, soap, candles, crayons, Cattle Head medicine, leather products
4 $147.80 million 27,460 Germany, Spain, Japan, India, Netherlands, Oil, cosmetics, butter, candies, bakery goods, Almonds Harvested acres 1.11 United Kingdom, France cookies, liqueurs
25,375 Pistachios(1) 5 $116.13 million Harvested acres 1.13 Canada, Japan, Mexico Snacks, ice cream, cookies, baked goods, extracts
27,079 Tomato paste, ketchup, salsa, stewed tomatoes, 6 Tomatoes $110.40 million Harvested acres 57.34 Canada, Japan, Mexico sauces, soups
10,196,123 Poultry (2) 7 $77.07 million Head ND Israel, Slovakia Tray packs, bulk, livers, dog food
16,655 8 Walnuts $65.30 million Harvested acres 1.69 Canada, Japan, Mexico Candies, cookies, baked goods
48,107 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, 9 Corn Silage $46.65 million Harvested acres 23.20 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Livestock feed
6302 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Juice, concentrates, jams, jellies, natural food Grapes(3) 10 $43.18 million Harvested acres 10.23 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany coloring, wine, raisins, cream of tartar
2,738 Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, 11 Peaches $37.12 million Harvested acres ND Germany, United Kingdom Juice, jams, jellies, canned, dried, candies
22,903 12 Alfalfa Hay $30.36 million Harvested acres 7.49 Japan, Southeast Asia Cubes, pellets, hay, co-generation fuel, honey
1,603 13 Cherries $27.90 million Harvested Acres 2.96 Canada, Japan, Taiwan Preserves, baked goods, some pharmaceuticals
14 Plums (Dried $27.26 million 2,125 8.44 Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Juice, prunes, paste, jams, fruit roll-ups and Fresh) Harvested acres Germany, United Kingdom
40,563 15 Wheat (silage) $20.86 million Ton 16.86 ND ND
1,349 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Juice, jams, jellies, canned, dried, candies 16 Nectarines $17.23 million Harvested acres 9.46 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany
83,869 Honey is exported to: Germany, UK, France, Botany, horticulture, entomology & ecology. 17 Pollination $14.72 million Colonies ND Japan Necessary for the production of honey
794 18 Apricots $11.70 million Harvested acres 7.48 ND ND
18,048 19 Wheat (Grain) $9.77 million Harvested acres 2.53 Japan, Southeast Asia Flour, bread, baked goods
20 Sorghum $8.02 million 16,897 15.16 ND ND (silage) Harvested acres
Key: ND-Not Disclosed. NR-Not Ranked. N/A-Not Available. All data has been compiled from the annual crop reports of the farm bureaus of Fresno, Kings, Research: Edward Smith Madera and Tulare counties. (1) While the number of harvested acres increased 3,500 acres from last year, production yield decreased .77 tons per acre. Price also fell $250 per ton to Original Publication Date: Sept. 21, 2018 $4,050 from $4,300. This caused a $62 million decrease in the value of the crop from 2016. E-mail: [email protected] (2) Combines turkeys with "other", which includes chickens, ducks, goats, hogs, pigs, sheep and lambs. Turkeys alone made $20.52 million. (3) Includes raisin, wine and table varieties.
34 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture Do you run an agricultural operation? You should be aware of these environmental issues There are several environmental issues that A. Irrigated Lands Programs (“IRLP”) and regulatory agencies are currently affecting agricultural operations. worked for a number of This article provides a summary of the areas of The state IRLP regulates commercial years developing a plan water quality and water supply issues that are irrigated lands, including nurseries and for managing salts and the most compelling. managed wetlands. Options for regulatory nutrients. The Central coverage include joining a Third-Party Valley Salinity Alternatives I. Basin Plans (coalition) group or obtaining individual for Long-Term Sustainability initiative coverage. The coalition groups work directly Lee Smith The state Porter-Cologne Water Quality with members to assist in complying with (CV-SALTS) was initiated Control Act requires the adoption of requirements that include conducting water in 2006 to develop a management plan. This water quality control plans (Basin Plans) quality monitoring and preparing and filing plan requires amendments to the Basin Plans that provide the outline for managing regional plans and reports to address water for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin water pollution in California. The plans quality problems. Growers who choose to River Basins and the Tulare Lake Basin. The incorporate the beneficial uses of water in obtain individual coverage must conduct focal point for the proposed amendments that basin and then provide objectives that their own monitoring and reporting and is the Central Valley-wide Salt and Nitrate maintain and protect these uses. Many work directly with the Central Valley Water Management Plan (SNMP). The SNMP of the State’s current policy changes are Board to address water quality problems. provides a framework for managing salt and implemented through amendments of the The coalitions are generally subject to nitrates in the Central Valley and identified 11 existing Basin Plans, including the Irrigated adopted orders for the relevant Basins. proposed strategies, policies, policy changes or Lands Program, the Salt and Nitrate clarifications to the Basin Plans to facilitate the Management Plan that was developed under B. CV Salts implementation the CV-Salts program, and the proposed of the proposed Farm Laws | page 37 changes to the Bay-Delta Plan. A coalition of agriculture, cities, industry, strategies and
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Name of agricultural 2018 commodity 2017 dollar value Quantity Production per acre (Average) Major export destinations Examples of end products from each commodity
1 $723.52 million 135,000 Germany, Spain, Japan, India, Netherlands, Oil, cosmetics, butter, candies, bakery goods, Almonds Harvested acres 1.11 United Kingdom, France cookies, liqueurs
2 $306.23 million 18,585,362 Yogurt, ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, cheese, Milk Hundred weight ND Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines buttermilk, half and half, whey
62,730 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Juice, concentrates, jams, jellies, natural food 3 Grapes(1) $291.97 million Harvested acres ND Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany coloring, wine, raisins, cream of tartar
34,500 4 Pistachios $194.26 million Harvested acres 1.28 Canada, Japan, Mexico Snacks, ice cream, cookies, baked goods, extracts
5 Calves and $63.18 million 79,400 ND Mexico, Canada, South Korea Beef, paint brushes, soap, candles, crayons, Cattle Head medicine, leather products
6 Replacement $35.50 million 28,400 ND ND Milk cows heifers Head
350 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, 7 Nursery $29.38 million Field acres ND Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Ornamental shrubs, Christmas trees
6,600 Tomato paste, ketchup, salsa, stewed tomatoes, 8 Tomatoes $29.04 million Harvested acres ND Canada, Japan, Mexico sauces, soups
3,261,000 9 Poultry $24.26 million Head ND Israel, Slovakia Tray packs, bulk, livers, dog food
18,400 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, 10 Corn Silage $21.22 million Harvested acres 28.13 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Livestock feed
3,000 Orange juice, peels for marmalade, orange zest, 11 Oranges $21.21 million Harvested acres 15.37 Japan, Canada, Hong Kong Vitamin C
12 Figs (Fresh and $16.50 million 5,400 1.48 ND ND Dried) Harvested acres
11,700 13 Alfalfa Hay $15.63 million Harvested acres 7.18 Japan, Southeast Asia Cubes, pellets, hay, co-generation fuel, honey
20,600 14 Wheat (silage) $9.38 million Harvested acres 15.18 ND ND
590 15 Cherries $8.72 million Harvested Acres 3.42 Canada, Japan, Taiwan Preserves, baked goods, some pharmaceuticals
2,100 16 Walnuts $6.98 million Harvested acres 1.33 Canada, Japan, Mexico Candies, cookies, baked goods
750 Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Juice, jams, jellies, canned, dried, candies 17 Peaches $6.67 million Harvested acres ND Germany, United Kingdom
1,100 Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, 18 Plums (Dried $5.93 million 2.61 Juice, prunes, paste, jams, fruit roll-ups and Fresh) Harvested acres Germany, United Kingdom
820 19 Olives $2.58 million Harvested acres 3.12 ND ND
3,600 20 Wheat (Grain) $2.01 million Harvested acres 2.84 Japan, Southeast Asia Flour, bread, baked goods
Key: ND-Not Disclosed. NR-Not Ranked. N/A-Not Available. All data has been compiled from the annual crop reports of the farm bureaus of Fresno, Kings, Research: Edward Smith Madera and Tulare counties. (1) Includes raisin, wine and table varieties. Original Publication Date: Sept. 21, 2018 E-mail: [email protected]
36 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture Farm Laws | From 35 three-bill legislative package, policies contained in the SNMP. composed of AB 1739 (Dickinson), These proposed amendments SB 1168 (Pavley), and SB 1319 establish a three phase program (Pavley), collectively known as that interfaces with the IRLP and the Sustainable Groundwater includes permitting, further Management Act (SGMA). Under studies and provides specific this statute, groundwater users in recommendations for the control basins starting with those that are and permitting of salt discharges prioritized based on their level to surface and groundwater of overdraw, must organize into and of nitrate discharges to groups that will in turn develop a groundwater. plan to balance the groundwater resources in that basin; the plans C. Bay-Delta Plan are due in January 2020. This statute will affect the amount of The State Water Board is water available to specific users considering the adoption of creating effects on the operations proposed amendments to the and transactions involving all Water Quality Control Plan for the aspects of agriculture in the Valley. San Francisco Bay/Sacramento- It is predicted that a considerable San Joaquin Delta Estuary (the amount of land could be required “Bay-Delta Plan”). The proposed to be fallowed under this statute amendments include new and to meet the requirements for a revised flow objectives for the balanced groundwater system. Lower San Joaquin River and its tributaries, the Stanislaus, III. 1,2,3,-Trichloropropane Tuolumne, and Merced rivers, (1,2,3 - TCP) 970 West Alluvial, Fresno CA 93711 for the “reasonable protection” 559.432.2346 • FAX 559.432.5831 of fish and wildlife and beneficial On Dec. 14, 2017, the California uses and revised salinity water Water Resources Control [email protected] • bpfcpa.com quality objectives for the Board -Division of Drinking southern Delta agricultural Water adopted a regulation beneficial uses, as well as a promulgating an maximum program of implementation for concentration limit (MCL) for these objectives. The current 1,2,3 – TCP at the low level of Property Management plan calls for 40 percent of 0.000005 milligrams per liter (5 the flow to be allowed to flow parts per trillion). 1,2,3-TCP data • Single Family downstream unimpaired. It has has been compiled which shows • Multi-Unit been estimated that in a normal statewide that 388 drinking year, this would take 290,000 water sources exceeded the Buying or selling? acre-feet of water from farms 1,2,3-TCP MCL during the first Residential, Commercial, Ag and cities, which is about 14 quarter of 2018. It is estimated percent of the total amount they that more than 2 million Locally owned currently receive. The impact pounds of pesticides containing would be greater in a drought 1,2,3-dichloropropene were used Diana Spino Susan Flores year in such conditions farms in California alone in 1978. The BROKER GIVE US A CALL AGENT and cities could lose an estimated 559-647-1313 559-709-6191 new level of 5 parts per trillion Lic #01470232 Lic #01972951 673,000 acre-feet. Similar has resulted, and will continue amendments will be proposed for to result, in millions of dollars 559-225-7355 | Lic #01470232 | www.kalaamericanrealty.com the Sacramento River system as in new treatment units as well well. It is believed that in addition as triggering enforcement to losses in water use from surface actions and lawsuits against sources, the reduction could the manufacturers and more impact groundwater supplies as recently claims against chemical well as the recharge that could distributors. YOUR FULL SERVICE GARDEN CENTER affect sustainable plans under Plants Yard Art the Sustainable Groundwater Mr. Smith is a partner at Management Act discussed Coleman & Horowitt LLP with Bulk Materials Fall Color below. thirty years of experience and provides representation to clients NEED LANDSCAPING? II. Sustainable in the areas of Environmental CALL FOR QUOTE GroundwaterManagement Law- Compliance and Litigation, Act (SGMA) the California Environmental 2271 N Grantland Ave. Fresno, CA 93723 Quality Act (CEQA), Land Use, CSLB Lic # 990934 | 559-255-3311 On Sept. 16, 2014, Governor Proposition 65, Water Law and lotusgardensfresno.com Jerry Brown signed into law a Litigation in the Central Valley.
CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture 37 Tulare County Agricultural Commodities Ranked by 2016 dollar value.
Name of agricultural 2017 commodity 2016 dollar value Quantity Production per acre (Average) Major export destinations Examples of end products from each commodity
1 $1.65 billion 110,412,000 Yogurt, ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, cheese, Milk Hundred weight 14.60 Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines buttermilk, half and half, whey
2 $838.59 million 93,700 Orange juice, peels for marmalade, orange zest, Oranges Harvested acres ND Japan, Canada, Hong Kong Vitamin C
3 $343.38 million 22,100 Some varieties marketed as "Cuties" or "Sweeties" Tangerines Harvested acres 8.77 Morocco, Israel, Brazil, Argentina very popular with children
60,800 4 Pistachios $339.21 million Harvested acres 1.28 Canada, Japan, Mexico Snacks, ice cream, cookies, baked goods, extracts
5 $301.87 million 60,00 Germany, Spain, Japan, India, Netherlands, Oil, cosmetics, butter, candies, bakery goods, Almonds Harvested acres 1.09 United Kingdom, France cookies, liqueurs
158,000 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, 6 Corn Silage $180.75 million Harvested acres 26 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Livestock feed
Plums 7 (including $139.82 million 11,640 ND Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Juice, prunes, paste, jams, fruit roll-ups pluots and Harvested acres Germany, United Kingdom prunes)
42,000 8 Walnuts $137.65 million Harvested acres 1.83 Canada, Japan, Mexico Candies, cookies, baked goods
9,260 Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Middle Frozen lemonade, juice, wood cleaner, air freshener, 9 Lemons $117.81 million Harvested acres 8.49 East soft drinks
9,260 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, 10 Nectarines $115.54 million Harvested acres 8.49 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Juice, jams, jellies, canned, dried, candies
12,520 Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, 11 Peaches $115.26 million Harvested acres ND Germany, United Kingdom Juice, jams, jellies, canned, dried, candies
ND United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, 12 Nursery $75.62 million ND ND Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany Ornamental shrubs, Christmas trees
13,475,000 13 Poultry $66.87 million Head ND Israel, Slovakia Tray packs, bulk, livers, dog food
14 Calves and $66.04 million 635,000 1,040 Mexico, Canada, South Korea Beef, paint brushes, soap, candles, crayons, Cattle Head medicine, leather products
56,840 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Juice, concentrates, jams, jellies, natural food 15 Grapes(1) $60.02 million Harvested acres ND Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany coloring, wine, raisins, cream of tartar
1,850 16 Kiwifruit $45.75 million Harvested acres 13.9 ND ND
10,700 United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Oil, canned, pickled 17 Olives $39.79 million Harvested acres 3.23 Netherlands, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany
13,600 18 Cotton $27.47 million Harvested acres 1,670 South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan Oil, cosmetics, medicines, clothing, soap
ND 19 Alfalfa Hay $25.92 million Harvested acres ND Japan, Southeast Asia Cubes, pellets, hay, co-generation fuel, honey
2,480 20 Cherries $25.78 million Harvested Acres 2.25 Canada, Japan, Taiwan Preserves, baked goods, some pharmaceuticals
Key: ND-Not Disclosed. NR-Not Ranked. N/A-Not Available. All data has been compiled from the annual crop reports of the farm bureaus of Fresno, Kings, Research: Edward Smith Madera and Tulare counties. 2017 data was not available at time of print. (1) Includes raisin, wine and table varieties. Original Publication Date: Sept. 21, 2018 E-mail: [email protected]
38 CENTRAL VALLEY AG 2018 • Amazing Place • Amazing Culture THE ULTIMATE FARMHAND
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