As the United States nears a trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, local farmers are hopeful about the future of the agriculture business here in San Luis Obispo County.
“There will be confidence in making sales across the border and purchases across the border knowing that you will get that product to where you need it,” said local farmer, Tom Ikeda.
San Luis Obispo County farmers are looking forward to working together with Canada and Mexico. If an agreement passes, they say it will level the playing field for Americans while strengthening trade in North America.
“The USMCA would remove trade barriers and tariffs that are currently existing,” said SLO Farm Bureau President Anna Negranti.
With over 3,00 truckloads of produce sent to foreign nations, SLO county farmers are among California’s largest producers of wine, strawberries, and beef cattle. Which given the demand in Canada and Mexico for those goods, the trade deal will allow farmers to sell these products without having to pay an additional tariff.
For shoppers, there’s good news as you can expect to see stores stocked with an abundance of produce year round.
“It gives you the opportunity to buy different fruits and vegetables when they may be off-season here domestically, so it keeps a steady supply, which keeps the prices reasonable for the consumers,” said Ikeda.
To help speed up the deal the SLO County Farm Bureau is working with Congressman Salud Carbajal in hopes of completing the agreement by the August recess.
