Despite being one of the most productive parts of the country in terms of fruit, vegetable, and other agricultural production, people in California’s Central Valley find themselves in the rare situation of needing food aid. As the Wall Street Journal reports, the need for this aid has arisen amidst a “perfect storm” of drought, water restrictions, and the recession.According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, 800 people lined up for two weeks to receive supplies of cereal, rice, canned tomatoes and other necessities at a flea market in Fresno County, California. ‘“We either have money for gas and medicine, or food -- not both,’ Helen Hernandez, a 51-year-old mother of four, said after collecting a pallet of food from the relief drive.”
In a 12-month period that ended on June 30, 14.5 million pounds of food has been distributed to residents of a three-county area by the Fresno Community Food Bank. This number is double the amount of food distributed last year. Two weeks ago one food distribution center did not have enough food for all those in need, and so some people who waited for hours in 100-plus degree heat had to leave the center with nothing. The counties receiving the aid had July unemployment numbers that reach as high as 15%, while the state-wide unemployment number is 11.9%.
Dan Wilkie, chief executive of the Fresno food bank told the Wall Street Journal, ‘“[i]n some communities, we’re serving 80% of the residents.”’ The drought, reduced water shipments to farmers, and federal environmental regulations are all being cited as reasons for the food aid need. Thus far farmers are planting less acreage and firing packers and field workers in order to maintain economic viability. In the Westlands Irrigation District over 260,000 acres have been taken out of crop production. A study by the University of California, Davis reports that farmers in the Central Valley may lose between $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion in revenue this year alone.
Back in June, Governor Schwarzenegger issued a state of emergency for nine counties in the Central Valley. The governor has also asked the administration to declare Fresno County a federal disaster area. However, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials denied the request citing adequate resources at the state and local level. The officials are now reviewing the governor’s appeal of the denial. The governor’s office has “allotted about $4 million for five weeks’ worth of food shipments, which began about a month ago.”
This is needed for relief for those struggling in the Central Valley, but will it be enough to get through this “perfect storm?” To read the Wall Street Journal article click here.
Posted: 09/02/09
