California farmers have taken it on the chin lately, and unfortunately – the pain just keeps coming.
ICE raids are disrupting harvests…
Plus, whole industries are folding within the state…
And the Trump administration is pouring gasoline on the fire.
More specifically, the US Department of Agriculture has decided to shutter two key farm support programs that had an additional $54.2 million to spend supporting California farmers.
These programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food for Schools and Child Care Cooperative Agreement Program, were designed to help poor children access fresh farm-produced food.
It was a win-win – poor children got healthier food, and farmers got more places to sell their crops. (A key consideration with the trade war roiling supply chains and impacting demand worldwide.)
California’s losses are by far the highest in the country (far ahead of #2, New York, with $30.2 million clawed back), so this is a big deal for the state and its already-beleaguered farmers.
So, what do you think? Should the government be helping farmers through these tough times and matching poor children up with healthier, fresher food? Or is this smart savings? Let us know in the comments!
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