SUPPORT FARMERS, NOT JUST FARMS

Monterey County Weekly
Posted on May 3, 2007

Thank you for pointing out a stock photo used in our No on Measure A brochure was from a coastal image in Santa Cruz, not Monterey County. As chair of the communication committee for Plan for the People and a 20-year veteran in marketing communications, I should have caught that one. But in between running a produce company that employs more than 450 people, implementing advanced Good Agricultural Practices with our growers, serving on the board for five non-profits, and raising two young children, I’m not going to beat myself up too badly on that one.

Perhaps Squid couldn’t make any factual arguments against the text in the brochure so started to pick apart our pictures? If so I’d like to educate Squid a bit about Monterey County agriculture. That field on the front cover is a broccoli field, not a lettuce field, as you stated. I’m sure you and other urbanites can tell the difference between the two vegetables when you shop at your Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Safeway Lifestyles stores, but obviously you haven’t spent a lot of time in the Salinas Valley.

So, Squid, don’t blame agriculture for not wanting voters to tell us how and where we can do business when it’s painfully obvious a majority of you know little about it. Is Measure A about protecting farmers or just farmland? I believe the latter and I’m voting no on Measure A.

Enjoy dinner with your family tonight, Squid. It was likely brought to you by a rancher or farmer in Monterey County. You should be thanking us, not trying to put us out of business.

Lorri A. Koster
Salinas