Actions that hurt our rural areas hurt our cities, too. Thousands of urban jobs involve moving, processing and marketing farm products from the country. For example, more than 350-thousand tons of fruits and vegetables are exported from the Port of Los Angeles each year. Cal-Fed's plans to remove land from production will have a ripple effect that starts in our rural communities but that will extend into the neighborhoods of Los Angeles. California farmland is also an ecological resource of worldwide importance.
Farmers work hard to maintain that resource.
Many voluntarily provide habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Cal-Fed must not undermine the use of this productive open space. Remember, Cal-Fed was created not only to provide for fish and wildlife, but to provide reliable water for people. Remember the farmers, farmworkers, working people in the city, and consumers. Remember the people.