From the Field

Central Coast Report:

The Central Coast Chapter Steering Committee met February 19 to examine CAFF’s proposal for a local direct marketing initiative, discuss Farm-to-School progress and steering committee role and expansion.

Sam Earnshaw met with farmers several times in the first quarter of 2002 to plan educational outreach about the Measure N water initiative. Unfortunately, the initiative passed in March by a couple hundred votes after “Yes on N” outspent “No on N” by about 20-1. Measure N overturns Measure D that was strongly supported by CAFF members in 1998 because it limited the Pajaro Valley water agency’s augmentation fee charge and put a ten-year moratorium on the pipeline project. The passage of Measure N will lead to significantly higher water rates for farmers and may put some Pajaro Valley farmers out of business.

Sam has been attending meetings several times a month to work on a Growth Management Strategy for the Pajaro Valley. The committee wants to put an initiative on the November ballot. He testified at Watsonville City Council meetings in March and April in favor of the proposed Growth Management Strategy and Urban Limit Line. Sam continues to represent CAFF as president of the board for the Watsonville Farmers’ Market,which opened April 26th.