By Rebecca Nemec

Growing up in the Central Valley of California was filled with hot summer days and foggy winter nights. The winters brought about the citrus harvest and the sounds of windmills churning in the fields to protect the delicate fruits from the frost. The summers were hot and dry, and the stone fruits flourished. I remember running cross country races through an almond orchard next to my elementary school. Agriculture was a way of life and a part of everyone’s life.

But the Central Valley wasn’t always a productive and fertile place to grow food. Behind the now endless grape vineyards and orange groves was quite a lot of money and an endless power struggle over the right to water. Although much of the agricultural land in the Valley is primarily owned by large corporate agricultural companies, there continues to be a small group of people committed to sustainable agriculture, family farming and real food.

Now that I am a part of this sustainable food movement, I have begun to search out these people, learning their stories, struggles, and victories in the Central Valley. Little did I know that as I ran those cross country races through almond orchards as a child there were people my age and older fighting for what I’m fighting for now - a food system that nourishes people, land and community. My appreciation for where I grew up continues to grow as I unearth the unique people that make up the Valley and how they have shaped the sustainable food movement that I now feel deeply connected to. On the same token, I continue to appreciate not only the people who see a vision for a more just, equitable and sustainable food system, but also those that continue to suffer from the current food system that exists.
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