Central Valley Land Use Report
[Executive Summary]
[Introduction]
[Agricultural Production in an Urban
State] [Goals] [Basic
Principles]
[Sidebar: Can the Central Valley Learn
from the Experience of Los Angeles?] [Task
Force Membership] [Acknowledgements]
[Footnotes]
Sidebar: Can the Central Valley Learn from the Experience of Los Angeles?
1925 - 1955 CROP ACREAGE TRENDS FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY
AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Los Angeles area is undergoing a major transition. The change is from rural to urban, from country to city, from agriculture to industry, from "barn to skyscraper."...
The southern portion of the State is likewise outstanding in the magnitude, diversity, and value of its farm enterprises...Southland agriculture also provides an important source of new wealth, of employment, of food supply, and of industrial raw materials...
The unprecedented growth of population in the Los Angeles area has been much discussed and need not be elaborated upon here. This growth, however, has been a major factor, if not the major factor, in acceleration of the shift from agriculture to industry...
This great influx of people has inevitably brought about major changes in land use, in food requirements, in marketing procedures, and in numerous other matters...
Los Angeles has been unique among the larger cities of the nation in having a major portion of its food supply originate near the city. This has been particularly true of fruits and vegetables. These local sources have not only assured residents of a generous food supply, but also one of relatively low cost, of freshness, and of good quality. Although not widely recognized, this factor as it relates to living costs has been important to many eastern firms considering a branch or a move to Los Angeles...
In connection with adequacy of food supply, an interesting paradox occurs in a farm-city transition area such as this. Demand for food is obviously increased by the growing population, yet ability of the area to produce food is decreased as the demand is increased...
Conversion of agricultural land to urban uses will not stop in Southern California unless the increase in population stops or is appreciably reduced. Renewed interest in the use of zoning for protection of agricultural lands may result in some protection against premature subdivision. A number of problems must be solved to make such zoning an effective and equitable tool, but efforts along this line may result in a way of preserving temporarily or even more permanently some of the richest lands available to farmers anywhere in the world. Areas where urbanization is only beginning may wish to give agricultural zoning careful consideration for more orderly and logical development...
Unless population growth slows, unless new lands are brought under irrigation, and unless yields can be further increased to offset farm acreage losses to urban uses, then metropolitan Los Angeles must expect to look farther afield for its food supplies and raw materials, and must expect to pay somewhat higher prices for these supplies and materials.
Excerpts from Crop Acreage Trends for Los Angeles County
and Southern California, Published by the Los Angeles
County Board of Supervisors, June, 1955
| << Previous | Next >> |
| Basic Principles | Task Force Membership |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | |