You are Here

Caldwell: Reliving the Grapes of Wrath; The Central Coast Sequel

California farmers are under attack.  Government, private equity funds, whacko environmentalists, Newsom refusing to provide water.  From every direction the California farmer is an endangered species.

“I have been thinking about the novel, the column, and the phenomenon lately because this crime that goes “beyond denunciation” is happening on the Central Coast right now. Why do I believe we are living in the sequel to The Grapes of Wrath? I am seeing private equity companies come into the region to buy up farmland and production facilities because they have enough capital to speculate on the value of the land in the long run whether it continues in agriculture or ultimately gets converted to housing. The land, which in some cases has been in the same family for 100 years is for sale because the next generation realizes that farming is an all-risk-and-no-reward proposition which creates a sorrow they can better live without. That is, as one farmer told me, “I had to sell rather than risk losing everything I own.”

Like the oil and entertainment industry, agriculture is fast becoming a thing of the past in California.  Watch as the cost of food goes up.

Reliving the Grapes of Wrath; The Central Coast Sequel

by Andy Caldwell, Santa Barbara Current, 2/2/25  https://www.sbcurrent.com/p/reliving-the-grapes-of-wrath-the

I have kept an article on my desk since 2008, so that every time I come across it, I will be reenergized to fight for the Americans who work the land to feed us, house us, clothe us, and create the energy we need to live in modernity. The article, entitled “There is A Sorrow Here That Weeping Cannot Symbolize,” is from the 2008 Fall Edition of Range magazine, written by J. Zane Walley.

Walley recalls John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” which “laid bare the suffering and oppression of the farmers and the hollowness of the American dream” as it captured the plight of thousands of farmers who lost everything they had during the Dust Bowl at the hands of banks and big farm interests.

Walley observed an even greater dispossession beginning in the 1990′ having to do with a “rural cleansing,” albeit this time the farmers and ranchers, as well as others who make their living off the land, were having their livelihoods destroyed by regulatory agencies, dubious science, special interests, and obscenely rich foundations. That is, farmers, miners, ranchers, loggers, and other resource providers lost their jobs and the use of their land and water, in the name of “saving the planet” for, in Walley’s words, “spotted birds, lizards, and insignificant fish.”

Walley writes that Steinbeck’s understanding of the unconscionable defilement of rural America reaches beyond his grave. “There is a crime here that goes beyond denunciation,” Steinbeck wrote. “There is a sorrow here that weeping cannot symbolize. There is a failure here that topples all success.”

I have been thinking about the novel, the column, and the phenomenon lately because this crime that goes “beyond denunciation” is happening on the Central Coast right now. Why do I believe we are living in the sequel to The Grapes of Wrath? I am seeing private equity companies come into the region to buy up farmland and production facilities because they have enough capital to speculate on the value of the land in the long run whether it continues in agriculture or ultimately gets converted to housing. The land, which in some cases has been in the same family for 100 years is for sale because the next generation realizes that farming is an all-risk-and-no-reward proposition which creates a sorrow they can better live without. That is, as one farmer told me, “I had to sell rather than risk losing everything I own.”

While it is no surprise that farms in Goleta, Carpinteria, and Santa Maria are being converted to housing, unless you drive Interstate 5, you may not realize that a significant chunk of California’s inland valley – the most productive ag land in the world – is simply going back to desert because its water supply has been cut off. Moreover, throughout the state, forests have become so dense, weakened, and diseased that we now have over 130 million dead trees on our hands just waiting to go up in flames, all because forests can no longer be actively managed by logging companies.

Santa Barbara County Production Being Shut Down

Piling on to our farmers and other resource providers are various laws and regulatory agencies that are tying up land and water in red tape while threatening them with ruinous regulations. The usual suspects include the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State Groundwater Management Act, the County Air Pollution Control District, the State Department of Pesticide Regulations, the California Air Resources Board, and the County Board of Supervisors to name a few. Altogether, they have created a situation that is causing farmers and ranchers and others to “get out while they still can.”

The largest winery production facility in the county closed; it couldn’t increase production because of regulations that put a cap on fermentation out of concerns for greenhouse gas emissions. The largest trucking company in the county closed because the State mandate forcing the electrification of the fleet wasn’t repealed by President Trump in time to keep them afloat. Countless families have divided up and sold part of their ranches to pay inheritance taxes so that the next generation could keep a little fragment of the old homestead. Over 50% of the grapes grown in this county have been ripped out because the industry can’t market its product and properties as can vintners in SLO county. Flower growers were put out of business because our federal government cut a deal with Colombia enabling that country to flood our markets with duty-free flowers. That was years after the California Coastal Commission put the kibosh on more greenhouses in Carpinteria. And now, sheep and goat herders, who often used their flocks to reduce fire risks on our hillsides, are being forced to cull their herds because CA passed a law requiring the herders to be paid 24 hours per day while they stay with their flocks.

I am afraid the Central Coast is slowly but surely going the way of two other areas of the state that once had prime farming ground, namely, the San Fernando Valley and Orange County. As I have testified numerous times over the years, there are two ways you can “preserve” agriculture. On the one hand, you can support farmers according to their needs as it affects water, labor, nutrients, equipment, etc., or you can preserve ag by attempting to freeze-frame it so that urbanites can enjoy the views of rural vistas. However, the latter is a means of preservation akin to preserving a relic in a jar of formaldehyde.

Andy Caldwell, Executive Director, COLAB

Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin

Related Posts

17 thoughts on “Caldwell: Reliving the Grapes of Wrath; The Central Coast Sequel”

  1. I want to voice my gratitude for your kindness for those people who must have assistance with this important area. Your special commitment to getting the solution along had been rather powerful and have consistently allowed ladies like me to achieve their aims. Your helpful information signifies a great deal a person like me and still more to my office workers. Thanks a ton; from each one of us.

  2. Tempat bermain slot terbaik!
    Saya sudah bermain di OVJTOTO selama beberapa bulan, dan benar-benar puas dengan pelayanan mereka.

    Slotnya seru dan proses transaksi sangat memuaskan.

    Pilihan terbaik untuk slot online!
    Buat yang suka jackpot besar, OVJTOTO adalah pilihan yang sempurna.
    Peluang menangnya benar-benar tinggi!

    Layanan pelanggan luar biasa!
    Tim support mereka sangat responsif dan membantu.
    Tim mereka selalu tersedia dan cepat dalam merespons.

    Togel Macau resmi dan terpercaya!
    OVJTOTO memberikan hasil togel yang resmi
    dan peluang besar. Hasil resminya akurat dan peluang menangnya tinggi!

    Jackpot yang diberikan OVJTOTO sangat memuaskan!
    Saya baru saja memenangkan jackpot di salah satu slot mereka.
    Benar-benar pengalaman yang luar biasa!

    Baik pemula maupun ahli, semuanya cocok di sini.
    OVJTOTO adalah tempat terbaik untuk memulai bermain slot.
    Slotnya sangat user-friendly dan seru.

    Situs yang menjaga privasi pemain dengan baik.
    Saya merasa aman bermain di OVJTOTO karena data saya dijaga dengan baik.
    Situs yang benar-benar layak dicoba.

    Slotnya selalu diperbarui.
    Pilihan slotnya banyak dan selalu diperbarui. Tidak pernah
    bosan bermain di sini.

    Akses yang mudah kapan pun.
    Bisa diakses dengan mudah dari ponsel atau
    komputer. Cocok untuk yang sibuk tapi tetap ingin hiburan!

    Promonya sangat menguntungkan!
    Bonusnya membuat saya lebih percaya diri bermain. Ada banyak promo yang bisa dimanfaatkan.

  3. Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely wonderful. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is really a terrific website.

  4. I don抰 even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  5. I’m still learning from you, while I’m making my way to the top as well. I definitely enjoy reading everything that is posted on your site.Keep the posts coming. I loved it!

  8. Great goodѕ from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and yoᥙ’re just t᧐o
    magnificent. I actᥙally like what you haᴠe acquired here, сertainly likе what you are saying and the
    way in which yօu say it. You make it entertɑining and you still care for
    to keeρ it sensiƅⅼe. I can’t ᴡait to read far more from you.
    This is really a wonderful website.

  9. Thanks for expressing your ideas. A very important factor is that individuals have a selection between federal student loan along with a private education loan where it’s easier to decide on student loan debt consolidation than over the federal education loan.

  11. Thanks , I’ve just been looking for info about this subject for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered so far. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure about the source?

  14. Good post and right to the point. I don’t know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you people have any thoughts on where to get some professional writers? Thanks 🙂

Comments are closed.