Low water supplies in California hurt summer crops and drive up prices
10/11/2022 1:59:54 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Society & Public Health
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Fresno County, CA
Imperial County, CA
Kern County, CA
Kings County, CA
Madera County, CA
Mariposa County, CA
Merced County, CA
San Joaquin County, CA
Stanislaus County, CA
Tulare County, CA
Tuolumne County, CA
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Iowa
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
North Carolina
North Dakota
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming
Start Date: 1/1/2022
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Low rain and snowfall in California and reduced water supplies from the Colorado River in Southern California caused tomatoes and onions to shrivel and jeopardized the growing of leafy greens in the winter. Produce prices were rising in grocery stores, and U.S. inflation has risen to its highest level in 40 years.
California grows about 30% of the processing tomatoes used worldwide. In August the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered the 2022 forecast to 10.5 million tons, a drop of 10% from its estimate of 12.2 million tons earlier in the year.
Reuters (New York), Oct. 10, 2022
Sources
