SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – As California dries out from the storms, we're examining the extent of the damage done to the Bay Area's agriculture industry.
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Currently, many fields are flooded, but crops are still dormant. "Besides the roads being closed and stuff like that, like I said most of your stuff is from Mexico right now, all your squashes, all your corn, your eggplant, your bell peppers, all that stuff's all from Mexico," Rusty Tarpley told KCBS Radio.
Tarpley runs What a Tomato at the San Francisco produce market. He said you shouldn't see a price impact at the mainstream grocery stores. "There's plenty of citrus in California because that’s all hanging on the trees, so whatever doesn't get knocked off the tree should be fine," Tarpley said. "Artichokes — there's a few artichokes, they can handle the weather, they're a cold weather variety. They can deal with the cold weather and the rain."
However, if you're looking for your favorite Half Moon Bay farmer at the farmer's market, that’s a different story. A lot of 20 acre farmers, like Simms Organics in Pescadero, are dealing with storm damage in the range of tens of thousands of dollars.
Starting with the New Year's Eve storm, the flooding at Pescadero Creek destroyed acres of lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, chard, broccoli and cauliflower. All of the farms' grow houses were also damaged, forcing them to close their January markets.
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