On today’s episode of the AgNet News Hour, Louise Lampara, CEO of the Ventura County Farm Bureau, joined Nick Papagni for Part 1 of a two-part conversation examining the growing financial pressures facing California agriculture. The discussion centered on the announced closure of six SoCal Berry farming operations, hundreds of anticipated layoffs and new economic data showing that production costs are exceeding revenues for some of Ventura County’s most important crops.
Lampara explained that SoCal Berry Growers filed a WARN Act notice announcing plans to close six Ventura County farming operations, affecting more than 570 employees. The announcement has attracted national attention and raised concerns about the long-term viability of strawberry production in one of California’s leading agricultural counties.
But the financial figures behind the closures may be even more troubling.
According to Ventura County’s 2025 Agricultural Crop Report, strawberry growers collectively generated approximately $807 million in gross revenue while spending $815 million on production, leaving an estimated $8 million gap between revenue and costs.
Lampara emphasized that those figures represent the county’s strawberry industry as a whole, not SoCal Berry Growers specifically.
Labor accounted for approximately 45 cents of every dollar earned by strawberry producers, with water, fertilizer, fuel and regulatory compliance adding to operating expenses.
Strawberries are not the only commodity facing financial challenges. Lampara said Ventura County lemon growers generated approximately $181 million in revenue against $203 million in production costs.
The Farm Bureau’s analysis also suggests that inflation-adjusted returns per acre have declined dramatically over the past decade, putting additional pressure on multigenerational farming operations.
Beyond rising expenses, Lampara discussed Ventura County’s SOAR land-use restrictions, which generally require voter approval before agricultural land can be converted to other uses. She warned that growers unable to operate profitably may have few alternatives beyond leaving farmland fallow.
Water availability presents another challenge, particularly on the Oxnard Plain, where groundwater sustainability requirements could significantly reduce agricultural pumping.
Lampara also discussed competition from imported produce, the difficulties of passing family farms to younger generations and the importance of helping consumers understand the difference between agricultural revenue and actual profitability.
To bring greater attention to those challenges, the Ventura County Farm Bureau has launched Economics of the Acre, an initiative examining the financial realities behind agricultural production.
Despite the difficult outlook, Lampara expressed hope that discussions between California’s incoming governor and agricultural organizations could provide opportunities for cooperation.
The interview raises an important question for California agriculture: How long can farming operations remain viable when the cost of producing food exceeds the revenue growers receive?
Hear Part 1 of the conversation with Louise Lampara in the player above or on your favorite podcast app.
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