From Ventura County in Southern California, north through San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, to Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, the onslaught of rain, wind and floods have devastated 1,840 acres. While the majority of family farmers are cleaning up minor storm damage, some farms have experienced catastrophic conditions. Erosion has washed away an estimated 350 acres, and another 1,490 acres are awaiting flood waters to recede, the California Strawberry Commission reports. As a result, California strawberry farmers have suffered up to $200 million in damage according to preliminary estimates from the industry group.
“We were fortunate that these storms came at a time when most farms are dormant and thus farm worker jobs have had minimum impact,” Strawberry Commission President Rick Tomlinson said in a statement. “We are thankful to the farmworkers who have come back to work to help with the recovery.”
While the economic impact is significant, most strawberry farmers experienced minor storm damage, according to the release. For the majority of the 31,852 strawberry acres in California that experienced minimal damage, the rain is a welcome change from the drought.
“The rain washes the soil and improves plant health,” Tomlinson said in the release. “As soon as we get a few weeks of sun, the strawberry plants should recover in time to start harvest in the spring. With improved soil health from the rains, we should have a good season.”
EDITOR’S TAKE:
What could have been a total catastrophe will likely result in a favorable outcome overall for California strawberry growers. Some growers will likely need extra assistance to get back to normal, but it appears that most will benefit from the rain cleaning the soil and providing much needed moisture for the 2023 crop. Our sympathy certainly goes out to those most impacted by the persistent rain and flooding. That said, make sure if you’re in California to reach out to farmers/ranchers in areas impacted by the recent weather events. Be sure to list your inventory on AgTruckTrader.com and let them know about AgPack® and how they can save thousands of dollars on products and services they need through exclusive rebates and discounts.
