Farm Bureau honors San Diego County reporter

» December 5, 2005 «

Lorell Fleming of the North County Times and California Farm Bureau President Bill Pauli

A keen interest in agriculture, and the ability to translate that interest into stories for urban readers, has led to statewide recognition for a San Diego County newspaper reporter. Lorell Fleming of the North County Times and The Californian has been named the California Farm Bureau Federation 2005 Agricultural Reporter of the Year. She received the award today at the federation's Annual Meeting in Monterey.

In nominating Fleming for the award, the San Diego County Farm Bureau noted that she "personalizes farmers and tells their stories so that a reader with little background or knowledge can better understand the people who farm, the business of farming and the issues farmers face."

During the past year, Fleming has written a series of stories called Faces of Farming, in which she profiled northern San Diego County farmers. She has also written stories about pest control, crop marketing and other issues affecting farming in one of the state's most diverse agricultural regions. With its wide variety of microclimates, San Diego County produces more than 200 different agricultural commodities and leads the nation in production of avocados, flowers, nursery crops and greenhouse plants.

"Although she was born and raised in New York City, Lorell Fleming developed an appreciation for farmers at an early age," California Farm Bureau President Bill Pauli said in presenting the award. "Now, she's helping urban and suburban residents of San Diego County understand about the people who grow their food and the challenges that must be overcome to bring that food to their tables."

The California Farm Bureau has presented an Agricultural Reporter of the Year award since 1974, honoring reporters who cover California agriculture through fair, objective reporting and adherence to the highest journalistic standards. Nominations for the award come from county Farm Bureaus throughout the state.

Fleming is the second reporter from the North County Times to receive the award; Times reporter Dan Weisman won in 2000.

The California Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization, works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 88,000 members statewide.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.