Food And Farm News
6-25-2025
Farm Bureau urges common sense and compassion in immigration enforcement
Following immigration raids on California farms this month, the state Farm Bureau expressed solidarity with farmworkers and advocated for a sensible approach to immigration enforcement. “California Farm Bureau stands with the men and women who plant, cultivate, harvest and process the crops that make California the leading producer of fruits, vegetables and nuts in the United States,” said Bryan Little, senior director of policy advocacy for the Farm Bureau, which represents more than 26,000 farm and ranch families in the state. “Indiscriminate deportations could disrupt California agriculture, rural communities and the broader economy.”
California cherry grower reflects on a challenging year
Tom Gotelli, who grows, packs and ships cherries in San Joaquin County, reflected on a difficult season for California cherry growers, many of whom lost as much as half their crop. “Pretty much all the varieties were affected. I think the warm temperatures in December and January affected the trees’ dormancy,” Gotelli told _Ag Alert_® in a field report. “Our cherries go all over the world, and we exported a decent amount, although the U.S. has been a really good market for us because Americans love cherries. A greater share of our cherries went to the domestic market this year. But because of the light crop, no one got what they wanted. Everybody wanted more.”
California ranchers adapt as wolves threaten cattle
California’s growing wolf population has caused significant challenges for the state’s ranchers. Cattle ranchers such as Billie Roney in Tehama County have changed the way they operate to protect their herds. “We have weaned calves younger and earlier than ever before to try to minimize the damage done by the wolves,” Roney told _Ag Alert_® in a field report, adding that the calves were “too easy prey” to be sent with the herd to graze this summer in the mountains. Roney said she also built corrals to protect her cattle from wolves at night. “It’s really hard on the cattle when you confine them in a small space like that,” she said.
California Grown launches new agritourism website
Californians and visitors to the Golden State hoping to experience a slice of farm life may find it a little easier this summer to find the U-pick, tasting room or farm stand that most catches their interest. That’s thanks to a new website launched this month by the marketing organization California Grown. “California is more than the country’s leading agricultural state—it’s a living classroom and a place where food, family and farming intersect in powerful ways,” said California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross. “This new website makes it easier than ever for people to connect with the people and places who grow our food and steward our land.”
For more information about any story in Food and Farm News, contact the California Farm Bureau Marketing/Communications Division at 916-561-5550 or email news@cfbf.com. Connect with us on Facebook, X, or Instagram: @CAFarmBureau.
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