WATSONVILLE, CA - Just a few weeks ago, we shared news regarding California Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of an executive order to expedite critical work like levee repairs and debris removal in preparation for another wet season. California Strawberry Commission has applauded this effort, aligning with lawmakers on behalf of growers affected by this year’s flooding to support executive action and help bring relief to the industry and impacted areas.
“The much-needed repairs to the Pajaro and Salinas River levees have been a long time coming, and beginning these repairs allow growers to focus on producing the high-quality, sustainably grown strawberries that drive local economies and produce 90 percent of the nation’s strawberries,” said Rick Tomlinson, California Strawberry Commission President, noting how the two CA growing regions saw record rainfall, leading to historic flooding and levee failure.
According to a press release, the flooding affected nearly five percent of farms in the area with millions in crop, property, and equipment damage. To help mitigate such challenges, the California Strawberry Commission’s Public Policy team quickly went to work, highlighting the issue with the state lawmakers and working with former California Agriculture Committee chair and current Assembly Speaker, Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), to convene a special meeting of the Ag Committee to discuss the March floods and the levee breaches.
During the meeting, California strawberry grower and Commission Executive Committee member Peter Navarro provided testimony, giving a first-hand account of the levee breach along the Pajaro River and the flooding’s damage to the strawberry industry.
“I’m thankful for the work of the California Strawberry Commission to highlight the effects of the flooding and work with lawmakers to secure much-needed relief funding, and now executive action, to make the necessary repairs and preparation for upcoming wet seasons,” said Navarro. “The flooding earlier this year was devastating to many California strawberry growers as well as our local communities, which are resilient but still recovering.”
The Commission was also one of the first on the ground during the floods to provide information and resources to growers and the local communities. The organization worked with media and lawmakers to highlight the devastation in these regions and push for emergency funding and recovery efforts.
CSC reports that while recovery is ongoing, the California strawberry crop and supply remain strong. For more info, click here. And for more industry news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
