Farming During California's Driest Years

Our 'Beyond the Market' team visited Alhambra Valley Beef and Pears last month to learn about the effects of drought on their 2021 season. In a typical year, Alhambra Valley would have enough pears to harvest and sell at the farmers' markets through the end of October. But due to extreme lack of rainfall over the last two years, the pear season for Alhambra Valley was cut short this year by six weeks.

Ben Tolosa, his wife Pearl Pereira, and her brother Darryl guide us through their vast property in the hills of Martinez to give an inside look at what it means to be dry land farmers during California's worst drought in decades.

To read more about the history of Alhambra Valley Beef & Pears and the Pereira family, visit our blog.