If you're buying or eating American-grown fresh produce, there's a pretty good chance it came from one place: California. That's no surprise since the Golden State has the largest economy in America and the fourth-largest in the entire world. As the saying goes, "California feeds the nation." That's certainly true when it comes to growing fruits and vegetables - by a long shot.
The federal budget allocated a record-setting $170 billion for immigration enforcement. The money is set to go toward expanding detention facilities and hiring new agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After pledging in June to protect the agriculture industry from crackdowns, President Trump reversed course a few days later. Now, as California's annual grape harvest begins, the state's wine community is on edge.
Almond growers across Central California are facing a significant rat infestation affecting over 100,000 acres of orchards, resulting in severe economic hardship and extensive damage.
"Not many people know that Courtland is a very big pear place," Katelyn Ortega, a rising senior at the local Delta High School, told SFGATE while tending to goats at Arceo Ranch, her family's farm in Courtland.
"California’s Mediterranean climate makes it the ideal location for growing a diverse range of crops, leading to its status as a world leader in agriculture."
