FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fourth-generation farmer Johnnie Siliznoff of Kerman once grew 50 acres of cling peaches.<\/p>\n
He had a contract to deliver them each year to Del Monte.<\/p>\n
“They were doing well,” he said. “No problems, no problems with pay. Then this year, it was ‘it’s over.'”<\/p>\n
With no other market for the peaches, the trees had to be ripped out of the ground.<\/p>\n
The removal of several orchards left a glaring vacancy on his farm.<\/p>\n
Johnnie also grows raisin grapes, almonds and pistachios but those cling peaches were his main money maker.<\/p>\n
For two decades, he knew his fruit was sold inside those familiar Del Monte cans.<\/p>\n
“Oh, that meant a lot,” he said.<\/p>\n
Johnnie takes the setback in stride. Farmers always deal with some type of uncertainty.<\/p>\n
“You don’t know about water,” he said. “You don’t know about regulation. You don’t know about pricing. You don’t know about labor.”<\/p>\n
Senator Adam Schiff visited the Valley last week to let impacted growers know $9 million in federal funds was available.<\/p>\n
“The way I hear it, it’s going to be $200 per ton, per acre that you delivered last year,” he said. “I delivered 20 tons. They’re going to give me $4,000.”<\/p>\n
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