May 12 , 2021
Produce groups have welcomed California Governor Gavin Newsom’s expansion of the state s emergency drought, but some have urge caution in its implementation.
Governor Newsom s decision means that 39 California counties will be included as part of the April 21st emergency drought proclamation.
The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) President Ian LeMay said: “The Sierra Nevada snowpack is at the second-worst levels since 2002 and [this] announcement is a step in the right direction to provide relief to California’s agricultural and rural communities. The state is the top producing agricultural region in the world, but it cannot continue to survive without a reliable water resource.” LeMay continued. “While drought is not an unfamiliar foe to Californians, it should be acknowledged that this will be the first drought in the era of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), with the circumstances intensified and the solutions more complex.
Statement on expanded drought proclamation in California
The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) commends yesterday’s drought proclamation from Governor Gavin Newsom announcing the addition of 39 California counties to be included as part of the April 21st emergency drought proclamation.
“The Sierra Nevada snowpack is at the second worst levels since 2002 and yesterday’s announcement is a step in the right direction to provide relief to California’s agricultural and rural communities,” said Ian LeMay, president. “The state is the top producing agricultural region in the world. But it cannot continue to survive without a reliable water resource. While drought is not an unfamiliar foe to Californians, it should be acknowledged that this will be the first drought in the era of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), with the circumstances intensified and the solutions more complex. It is the hope of the Association that yesterday’s announcement is a step
The Labor Conundrum: A Look Back – Produce Blue Book producebluebook.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from producebluebook.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Produce industry professionals, when asked what their biggest problem is, will often answer, “labor.”
Ian LeMay, president of the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA), which represents growers and shippers of fresh fruit, states, “Labor, of course, has been and will continue to be a primary issue for our members.”
The woes of 2020 have only aggravated the problem.
“It’s not only a competitive labor market,” says LeMay. “I’ve heard it from orchards and vineyards: it’s a straight shortage. Five crews were needed, and three were available. This is the first time in my six years [in this position] that I’ve seen this happen. There were even competitor-to-competitor calls. We see some cross-collaboration across peer companies.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Launches Nationwide Network of Trusted Voices to Encourage Vaccination in Next Phase of COVID-19 Public Education Campaign
COVID-19 Community Corps to Mobilize Doctors, Community Leaders, Businesses and Citizens and Equip Them with Resources and Information to Build Vaccine Confidence and Uptake
HHS Also Launches First TV Ads Encouraging Vaccinations, and Social Media Profile Frames for Americans to Share Support of Vaccines with the Message “We Can Do This”
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing additional measures to encourage vaccinations and increase vaccine confidence as part of the next phase of its COVID-19 public education campaign. The Administration is launching the COVID-19 Community Corps – a nationwide, grassroots network of local voices people know and trust to encourage Americans to get vaccinated. As part of the launch of the Community Corps, Vice President Kamala Harris and Su