Arroyo Grande farmer discusses status of crops months after winter storms
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. – . An Arroyo Grande farmer weighs in on the status of crops and employment within the local farming industry.
Tom Ikeda with Ikeda Brother Inc. said the company lost 30-40% of its crops. This means it is less revenue from a business perspective. He said the winter storms impacted their crops for months.
“A lot of our early fields struggled with quality. we didn't get the production,” said Ikeda.
Despite the financial loss, things are getting better.
“That being said, the consumer is benefiting because prices are down, supplies are up, and quality is up as well,” said Ikeda. “So generally, when the prices are down is when the quality of the product is the best because there's good supplies when the prices are up. Usually, the quality is a little bit more marginal because there's a shortage.”
But not so much for farmworkers at Ikeda Brothers and across the Central and South Coasts. Many are still trying to catch up with their bills.
Erica Diaz Cervantes with the non-profit organization ‘CAUSE’ said many agriculture workers had expressed financial burdens, especially with their living situations. Some of their homes were damaged because of the storms.
“There's been a lot of repairs that they've had to take out of their own pockets to be able to make sure that there's no mold,” said Diaz Cervantes. “And that anything that's been leaking through their homes has been fixed. “
Many farmworkers were out of a job or working part-time for months after the winter storms; now, many are working full-time as the strawberry season has begun.
Diaz Cervantes says the non-profit is trying to help them during this time of need because families are still struggling to stay afloat.
“Local food banks as well, to be able to provide food for their families because has been supporting the efforts of doc fund which was able to provide a one-time relief check to many families,” Diaz Cervantes.
The non-profit is one of many stepping up for the farmworker community. Ikeda said he is trying to help them as much as possible because even though the company lost some revenue over the last few months, he prioritized his employees.
“It's going to be tough for them to make up what they lost there,” said Ikeda. “There will be some opportunities to make it up because just to try to catch up, we had to work a little bit more on overtime. so they're able to make up some of their lost wages that way, but i don't think it will fully come back, possibly for the whole year.”
Undocufund helped over 30 farmworker families in Santa Barbara County with a relief check.
United Way also has financial assistance for farm and food workers. It is a $600 relief payment.
For more information on United Way's financial assistance, click here.
For more from Karen, follow her on Twitter below:
Follow @kcruzordunatv
