Hey there! Have you ever thought about where your almonds or oranges come from? 🌰🍊 Well, many of them come from California, a state known for its amazing farms. But right now, California farmers are facing some tough times.
What’s Happening?
Because of something called trade tariffs (which are like extra taxes on goods from other countries), it’s becoming harder for farmers to sell their crops to places like China and Canada. This means fewer people are buying their almonds, oranges, and even wine! 🍷
Meet Christine, the Almond Farmer
Christine Gemperle and her brother have an almond farm. They usually sell a lot of almonds to other countries. But now, because of the tariffs, countries are buying almonds from other places like Australia instead. Christine says, “We got hammered. We lost the whole Chinese market to Australia.” It’s making things really hard for her farm.
Citrus Farmers Feel It Too
Bianca Kaprielian’s family grows oranges and lemons. They used to sell lots of fruit to Canada, but now that’s getting harder too. She said, “We have seen those orders go down or dry up.” This could mean too many fruits in the local market, which might make prices drop.
Why Does This Matter?
When farmers can’t sell their crops, it affects their ability to make money and keep their farms running. It also means there might be changes in the prices or availability of some of our favorite foods.
What Can We Learn?
Trade between countries is important for everyone. When there are problems like tariffs, it can affect people all around the world, from farmers to kids like us who enjoy these delicious foods!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
