The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) has issued a statement in response to yesterday’s initial water allocation announcement of 35 percent for the Central Valley Project (CVP) by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
President Ian LeMay stated, “After two years of receiving an initial 0 percent allocation, the California Fresh Fruit Association and our members are grateful for the 35 percent that will go to the Central Valley Project contract holders. Having a reliable water supply is critical for our members to continue to be able to grow fresh fruit for our nation. However, after experiencing significant rainfall in December and January, it has been made even more apparent California’s need for improvements to our storage and conveyance infrastructure, as well as changes to the regulations that manage our water systems. I cannot help but wonder how much higher this allocation could have been with the ability to capture more water during the wet periods.”
CFFA will continue to advocate for needed changes to water regulations, along with additional water conveyance and infrastructure solutions at the federal and state levels to ensure that our members are able to provide the freshest fruit to the nation and world.
Contact:
Ian LeMay
California Fresh Fruit Association
Tel: (559) 226-6330
ilemay@cafreshfruit.com