Most people think that San Diego is all wet. The fact is that San Diego has over 70 miles of beaches along the Pacific Ocean. It is hard to believe that with all that water, San Diego is in deep with respect to drought. All too often people think about water shortages and how conservation efforts are an inconvenience to homeowners.

These are different times. Now, we must think about how drought impacts the tourist, the resident, business and agriculture. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

In times like these, hotels are requesting that guests forego daily switch-out of bedding and towels. Local restaurants will provide water upon request. Homeowners will soon be required to water their lawns on specific days. Those are all simple and relatively easy changes, but a drop in the bucket of what needs to be done to make sure water flows through the pipes.

Tierra Miguel

What is often overlooked is the impact of drought and rationing on local farmers. Farming brings nearly $5.1 billion into the local economy. $5 billion. Get this: Of 3,000 counties in the United States, San Diego has the 12th largest farm economy coming mostly from small farms. Amazing. San Diego has 6,000 farmers. Six thousand people who work the 6,565 small family farms in San Diego which provide food for our benefit. They'd be dead in the water without you know...water.

These farmers (and large scale farm industry) have been incredibly successful over the years.

How successful? San Diego is the:

#1 producer of avocados
#1 producer of nursery crops
#1 in number of part-time farmers
#2 in acres of guavas, pomegranates, limes, and macadamias
#2 in farms with women as principal operator
#3 in honey production
#5 in lemons
#9 in strawberries
#10 in egg-laying hens
(Source: San Diego Farm Bureau)

Great numbers, right? The deal is those farmers are in hot water. They are getting soaked with high water rates, they are required to restrict water use, and the net result is they're watching their crops yield significantly less than in years past. We can't leave them high and dry.

Despite years of frost damage, devastating fires and now water shortages, the average local farmer, come hell or high water, still manages to help us to put food on our tables while trying to keep their head above water.

We do stick our necks out from time to time to preach about how important it is to support local business. So, if you feel like spending money like water, go ahead and float some to the local farmer.

If you are visiting San Diego, email us about the Slow Food Movement and where you can get farm-to-table meals at local eateries. If you live in San Diego, when you can, shop at the Farmer's Markets or make sure wherever you buy produce that you are buying San Diego County local products.