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Valley Growers Hit Ag Secretary Perdue With Tough Questions
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
August 15, 2018

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Stopping in Kingsburg during a Central Valley tour, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue heard concerns from representatives of dairy, fruit and nut growers.
What was top of mind? Everything from the Trump tariffs to market access to immigration.

“President Trump is committed early on that he doesn’t want producers to bear the brunt of these trade disruptions. That is what we are trying to mitigate.”— Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
Perdue made news: He said that the president is in negotiations with Mexico on a labor treaty to help ensure that agriculture has the workers it needs.
Trying to calm grower fears on tariffs, Perdue said, “President Trump is committed early on that he doesn’t want producers to bear the brunt of these trade disruptions. That is what we are trying to mitigate.”
The stop Tuesday (Aug. 14) at HMC Farms was part of a north-to-south tour down Highway 99. Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) joined him at the Kingsburg stop. Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) hosted at other venues.
In Kingsburg, Perdue toured a cold storage facility before taking part in a roundtable discussion.

Tariff Relief Package

Several growers expressed concern that they would be missing out on President Trump’s $12 billion aid package for farmers affected by the recent trade war.
“We do get overlooked in comparison to the rest of the Midwest. It is difficult,” nut grower Jeannie Campos of Campos Brothers Farms told Perdue. “We are not in a better positon, but in a different position from our fruit friends, because an almond doesn’t perish as quickly as fresh fruit.”
Richard Matoian, executive director of American Pistachio Growers, told Perdue his industry needs a larger share of federal relief.
Andy Anzaldo of Wonderful Pistachios said that the U.S. consumes 200 million pounds of the green nut annually. That would have to double to make up from losses on the foreign market because of tariffs, he said.
“We are trying to figure out an equitable, fair way to allocate this money,” Perdue said. “First of all, it will not make people whole. It is like any insurance. If you crash your car, or your house gets burned, you never feel like you’re being made whole with insurance.”

Immigration Debate with Former Congressman


George Radanovich, a former Valley congressman and president of the California Fresh Fruit Association, brought up immigration. He expressed frustration over the inaction in Congress and the Trump administration on reform.
“I don’t think you are going to get any better,” Perdue said. “If you want to deal with the shadow of illegality going forward, then the status quo. If you think that is better, I respect your opinion. But I strongly disagree with it.”
Radanovich requested that the president intervene in a way that wouldn’t harm farming.
“The president could write a bill with no guarantee of passing either house. You’ve been there, you know that,” Perdue said. “I don’t think you are being realistic about that expectation.”

Trump’s Wildfire Tweet



Perdue also addressed Trump’s Aug. 6 tweet, indicating California’s environmental policy made access to water difficult for firefighters.
“California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!” Trump wrote.
“What I think he was trying to say was the environmental policy of not wanting to cut a tree, and the litigation for years not allowing us to manage our forests in a healthy way by thinning them, by reducing fuel loads, has created a mess out there on our public lands that just burn,” Perdue said.
Perdue said the raging forest fires cause an unsafe version of clear-cutting, creating unhealthy sediment that makes its way into rivers.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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