Food And Farm News
August 19, 2026
Cyclospora fallout hits California farmers
California lettuce was not implicated in a sprawling cyclospora outbreak that sickened thousands of people and made frequent headlines this summer. But farmers in the state—who produce most of the country's lettuce—are shouldering much of the economic pain as wary consumers ditch lettuce and other fresh produce. Last month, lettuce prices declined 16.4%, the largest month-over-month drop on record, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, market research firm NielsenIQ reported that from July 18 to Aug. 8, sales of iceberg lettuce fell 25.4% and prepacked salads dipped 34.2%. Growers said they were left with little choice but to destroy about a third of their lettuce crops that were ready to harvest. "It's been really bad," said Ryan Kelly, vice president and general manager of Salinas-based Boutonnet Farms in Monterey County. Since mid-July, he said, the collapse in lettuce sales had erased the farm's entire profit margin for the year.
Expected almond crop yield slightly smaller this year
California's 2026 almond harvest is expected to be somewhat smaller than last year's crop, after early-season heat affected yields. But with harvest typically wrapping up in October, some growers say the full impact of the heat—and the size of this year's crop—remains to be seen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected yields at 2.7 billion pounds, down 1% from last year, with bearing acreage also expected to fall by 1% to 1.39 million acres. Mel Machado, chief agricultural officer for Blue Diamond Growers, said warmer-than-normal March temperatures drove earlier kernel development, which led to an earlier harvest—similar to the heat's impacts on other crops. He said some growers reported harvesting almonds 10 to 14 days earlier than usual. Machado said some reports suggest early spring heat can possibly result in smaller kernels, so he's keeping an eye out for those impacts. But he said better post-bloom weather appears to have improved nut retention.
Nonprofit program aims to bring more rice to delta
Corn has long been a staple crop in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. But in recent years, reports have shown a change in the region's agricultural makeup as more delta farmers turn to rice—a move supported by state dollars. In 2019, the Nature Conservancy launched a rice crop conversion program using a $4.3 million state grant. The program offers financial aid to delta farmers seeking to transition their acreage to rice. Fifth-generation farmer Jerred Dixon manages the nonprofit's 9,200-acre Staten Island Preserve in San Joaquin County, which includes 4,500 acres of rice. Dixon encourages other delta farmers to consider rice as well—for its financial potential and environmental benefits. "It's economically viable, and it's also helping protect what is still here," he said. Because rice growers flood their fields during the growing season, cultivation of the crop helps create habitat for species that rely on wetlands that once covered the region.
State regulator: 'We should fight to keep our farms'
Lynda Hopkins, a farmer, Sonoma County supervisor and member of the California Air Resources Board, criticized anticipated cuts to state-funded programs that incentivize farmers to implement climate-smart farming practices. "It's a shame to lose that funding. In my opinion, it's a huge missed opportunity. We have the opportunity to partner with farmers on things that make financial sense, make environmental sense and benefit local economies, and with the loss of funding, it's really going to hit farmers," Hopkins told Ag Alert® in an interview. "You're removing funding from some really cost-effective and critical programs." The potentially affected farm programs are funded through California's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is set to receive less money because of changes to the state's Cap-and-Invest Program.
For more information about any story in Food and Farm News, contact the California Farm Bureau Marketing/Communications Division at 916-561-5550 or email news@cfbf.com. Connect with us on Facebook, X, or Instagram: @CAFarmBureau.
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