…expected to stabilize as growers navigate rising costs, water constraints, and land availability. Input costs have surged sharply since COVID, making alignment between supply and demand more critical than ever….
California Raisins in Trouble: Kalem Barserian Warns the Industry Is Shrinking Fast
…Barserian said, pointing to changing consumer habits since COVID, more snack options on grocery shelves, and a major lack of domestic advertising. The numbers paint a stark picture. In 2016,…
Kalem Barsarian Sounds the Alarm on the Future of California Raisins
…than 300,000 tons of raisins. Last season, that number dropped to roughly 170,000 tons. Barsarian attributes the decline to changing consumer habits since COVID, a lack of domestic advertising, and…
Elaine Culotti: Why California’s Farmers, Cities, and Future Are at a Breaking Point
…her view, the failure to complete the rail system has left behind unfinished infrastructure and squandered economic opportunity for an entire region. Budget Deficits, COVID Funds, and Accountability The conversation…
Inside Butte County Agriculture: Education, Community, and Critical Issues
…role in shaping policy and public understanding. Colleen agreed that none of this work happens alone. In her 19 years at the Butte County Farm Bureau, she has depended on…
California Raisin Leaders on Trade, Water & Future
…Around nine or ten processors remain active, and a core group of growers continues to produce raisins, though the environment has been reshaped by global markets, COVID-era disruptions, and international…
Minturn Nut’s Darren Rigg Talks Almond Industry
…Eastern markets favor pallet-level trading. Freight, Labor, and Logistics Freight disruptions during COVID-19 were severe, but shipping and container availability have improved. Minturn has not faced significant labor shortages due…
HELP Act Would Aid Livestock Transporters
…Proven Safety During the Pandemic Skye Krebs, Oregon rancher and chair of NCBA’s Policy Division, emphasized that livestock haulers demonstrated safe and effective transport during the COVID-19 pandemic, when temporary…
Los Gatos Tomato: Innovation, Labor & Water in Focus
…all needing to function without interruption. Tomato Demand Shifts Post-COVID Green acknowledged the industry has seen softening demand for tomato paste in recent years—something that previously had been quite inelastic….
Farm Bankruptcy on the Rise Amid Economic Strain
…agricultural industry experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan Loy, an extension economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, reports that 259 Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings occurred between…
Tomato Trade Shift Pressures U.S. Processors
…provided insight into the current state of the tomato processing market. He pointed to a marked shift in demand and pricing following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Post-COVID, that has changed,” Green…
Trump Administration Ends Regional Food Business Centers Program
…Resilience The centers were established two years ago by the Biden administration in response to the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their mission was to offer technical…
Chad Bianco: “California Is in Crisis—And Agriculture Is Paying the Price”
…agriculture is paying the price.” A COVID-Era Stand That Sparked Statewide Support Bianco gained public attention during the pandemic for rejecting state mandates he felt unfairly hurt small businesses, students,…
AgNet News Hour Friday, 06-27-25
…the existing ag workforce—a workforce that was hailed as essential during COVID but has been left behind by politics ever since. Listeners will hear stories from the field, including families…