Did you know California is the largest producer of almonds and dairy here in California and largest exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables in the nation? The United States is  fortunate to have fresh foods grown here in California. 90% of workers that support the industry are Latino farm workers, with the highest poverty and live disproportionately in housing that is in the poorest conditions. The Agricultural Industry could not survive without the Latino farm workers that have been supporting this now 25 billion dollar industry for decades. The California Ag industry is one of the larger contributors to the worst air quality due to toxic emissions pollution, green waste incinerators and pesticide spraying, which are mostly concentrated around communities of color, here in California.  Climate change is real within California, and the Latino and BIPOC community members are being left out the conversations for climate change initiatives and policy making  towards cleaner air, regulation of pesticides and clean water! The  25 Billion dollar agricultural industry and commercial real estate developments. are building the self serving and tax free incentives to build and buy more land to create more wealth for the few.  These new initiative directly affect the rural and low income communities. Today, my guest Bianca Lopez of the Valley improvement Projects will discuss how she and the VIP organization is working diligently to bring our voices to the California State policy making tables for lower emissions programs and pesticide notification technology and data solutions for our Latino and BIPOC central valley communities. The California Ag Industry can not be a sustainable economy without the Latino farm working expertise and collaboration over these EPA policies that are lobbied for the benefits of the Agricultural Industries. Latino farmworkers and rural communities can be the solution to help create effective policies for our future generations, here, and across the nation.

Gracias Bianca Lopez and the Valley Improvement Project Organization. If you'd like to donate to their cause, you can donate here.

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Podcast production by 5-E Leadership & Marketing LLC and produced by Theresa E. Gonzales. Audio Engineered by Robert Lopez.