CFWC Corrects Confused Economist

CFWC posted the following comment in the LA Times that corrected Beacon Economics’ confusion about the difference between “record revenues” and “net farm gate sales.”

Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics says California agriculture enjoyed “record revenues” during the drought and, therefore, should be able to afford the tunnels. He confuses “revenue” with “income.” Costs were skyrocketing at the same time revenue spiked, resulting in reduced income for farmers. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, in 2013 when farm sales rose 5.1 percent to a record high of $53.5 billion, costs rose even more pushing net farm income down 11 percent.

Readers should beware of the difference between facts and reckless commentary. And it is facts that public water agencies will use to make decisions on whether it’s affordable to participate in big projects like WaterFix.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-tunnels-bill-20170918-story.html

 

Processing Tomatoes

California leads the nation in tomato production

Tomatoes
California Tomatoes

California leads the nation in tomato production, producing approximately 95% of the nation’s processing tomatoes, and about 33% of the nation’s fresh-market tomatoes.

Processing tomatoes, which are the special varieties grown to use in products such as spaghetti and pizza sauce have a thicker skin than the varieties we eat directly. This allows them to retain more of their essential tomato taste when they reach the market.

Processing tomatoes are grown in almost every agricultural region of the state, and during the height of summer, California farmers produce about 2 billion pounds of tomatoes every week! Three quarters of all tomatoes eaten in America are processing tomatoes.

Tomatoes are the number one source of Lycopene, an important antioxidant, and are rich in vitamins B and C as well as folic acid.

California’s farmers are careful to manage water as effectively as possible. Learn more about how water is managed on California farms.