irrigation

SAN DIEGO FARMERS PRACTICE CLIMATE-RESILIENT AGRICULTURE TO CURB CLIMATE CHANGE

By Mykyta Dubina 
 
April 18, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s agriculture is a rich tapestry of over 5,000 mini-farms seamlessly blended into expanding urban landscapes. Most are family-owned organic farms producing high-value crops on just a few acres of land to turn a profit in this water-scarce, highly urbanized region. The moderate climate, ample sunlight, and varied terrain made the area perfect for cultivating an astonishing variety of 200+ commodities, ranging from strawberries and citrus to avocados. 
 
Today, San Diego is the No. 1 nursery crop producer and the 12th-largest agricultural economy in the U.S. It also outperforms its fellow top-producing counties within California in terms of average dollar value per acre.
 
On the downside, as climate change effects become increasingly felt in the region, this places an enormous strain on local agricultural producers.

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CA FARMERS IRRIGRATE CROPS WITH FRACKING WASTEWATER: CONSUMER GROUPS VOICE ALARM

 

 

East County News Service

August 14, 2015 (San Diego)—Fruits, nuts, and other crops including some sold as organic have been grown using irrigation from oil fracking wastewater laced with toxins in drought-stricken California.

Now some consumer advocacy groups including Food & Water Watch are calling for a halt to the practice.  Courage Campaign has launched a petition for consumers to pledge that they won’t buy food products grown with oil wastewater, or what Courage Campaign calls “toxic sludge.”

 A shocking investigation by Mother Jones magazine reveals that oil wastewater has reportedly been sold to 90 landowners in Southern California, including Bee Sweet Citrus and  Halos, a citrus company which has the slogan “pure goodness” and Sunview, which sells grapes and raisins including some certified as organic.  Another company reportedly irrigating with oil wastewater is Trinchero Family Estates, which supplies grapes for winemakers including Sutter Home.


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EARTHTALK®: GROUNDWATER QUALITY

E - The Environmental Magazine

Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

Dear EarthTalk: What is currently being done in the U.S. to ensure the wise use and safety of our nation’s groundwater?    --Kevin Orr, Baton Rouge, LA

November 5, 2012 (San Diego) -- Keeping fresh water safe and abundant is a challenge for all societies. In the U.S., about half of the country’s drinking water comes from groundwater sources. Many rural areas derive all of their drinking water from groundwater, which also provides 40 percent of the irrigation needs of American farmers. 


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