HANFORD, CA – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) and Congresswoman Connie Conway (CA-22) hosted a roundtable discussion with local leaders in the agriculture community to discuss how ongoing drought conditions, labor shortages, input costs, and supply chain disruptions are impacting the Central Valley agricultural sector. Roundtable participants also shared suggestions for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our Central Valley community, but our farmers, ranchers, and producers are facing a long list of challenges,” said Congressman Valadao. “Ongoing drought conditions and low water allocations, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions are having a severe impact on our Central Valley agriculture sector. I appreciated the opportunity to have productive conversations about how we overcome these challenges to continue providing food for the nation.”

Congressman Valadao was joined in the roundtable discussion by:

• Matthew Watkins, Citrus Farmer and President of Tulare County Farm Bureau
• Stewart Fleeman, CFO of Porterville Citrus, Inc.
• Marina Abitia, Regulatory Compliance & Food Safety Officer of Porterville Citrus, Inc.
• Christopher P. Greer, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures County of Tulare
• Jimmy Hook, Agricultural Commissioner-Sealer of Kings County Department of Agriculture
• Justin Mendes, General Manager of North Fork Kings GSA
•  Dusty Ference, Executive Director of Kings County Farm Bureau

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