Everyone is concerned about the quality of the food we feed our families.

Having a variety of fresh, locally grown choices at the grocery store is important- and that's what you get when buying California produce.

But did you know that many family farmers depend on the same water supplies and aging water system as you do for your home?

Learn more about the water supply challenges facing California's families and our farmers below:

• Why don't California Farmers have enough water to grow the fresh California produce we need?
• What if California Farmers aren't able to grow the high quality food my family deserves?
• How does having a reliable water supply help farmers grow my food?
• Why doesn't our aging water system work?
• What other ways will our aging water system impact me?

 

Regulatory restrictions sometimes limit the amount of water that gets sent to farms. When that happens, farmers must find other sources of water, often at much higher prices or worse, they have to leave fields unplanted because water simply isn’t available to grow with.

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California farms produce local food for all of us but sometimes they just can't get enough water. Tough choices have to be made and sometimes farmers have to fallow land that otherwise could have grown tomatoes, melons, broccoli or other fruits and vegetables. When that happens grocery stores sometimes look to import food from other states or other countries to find sufficient produce to fill their shelves.

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Farmers make planting decisions early in the season and when water supplies are unreliable it is difficult for them to choose which crops to plant. That can lead to changes in the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that make it to the grocery store and also higher prices for the produce that makes it there.

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Much of California’s water supply system was designed and built more than 50 years ago. Over the years California’s population has grown and the system that was designed to provide water to 20 million people simply can’t keep up with a population that is almost double that today. In order to meet our future needs California must invest in additional conservation and recycling as well as new supplies that can be stored in reservoirs or groundwater aquifers and moved efficiently to parts of the state where they are needed.

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California’s vibrant economy depends on adequate and dependable water supplies. It takes water to meet the needs of new businesses that in turn, provide jobs for residents today and into the future. Water is important for the environment and recreation as well. Investing in California’s water system makes sense for everyone.

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