- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
California is a massive, food-making machine, providing America with two-thirds of its fruits and nuts, while becoming increasingly export driven, reported Heesun Wee on CNBC.
“The overseas market is extremely important,” said Jesús Ramos, a Tulare County citrus farmer. “That dictates whether you can keep a crop going or not.”
Another key to keeping crops going is the state's water situation. After four years of drought, Californians are hoping the predicted El Niño rains will live up to the forecast.
Wee interviewed UC Agriculture and Natural Resources...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Petroleum and coal products, with a 19.9 percent share, was the largest export sector in the Bakersfield-Delano market in 2010. Following closely behind was agriculture, with 19.4 percent of local exports, reported Courtenay Edelhard in the Bakersfield Californian.
Almonds, cotton, cherries and fresh vegetables account for the bulk of the region's agricultural exports, said Brian Marsh, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Kern County, an agronomy and cotton expert.
It helps that the area's harvest for key crops, such as cherries, begins earlier than in other...