Joe Del Bosque discusses his career farming in California's San Joaquin Valley, his advocacy on behalf of California agriculture, and President Obama's February 2014 visit to his farm during a period of extended drought. Del Bosque describes the sequence of events that led to Obama's visit, including his social media post inviting the president to his farm, his coordination with his congressional r epresentative, and the work of the White House's advance team to select and stage suitable venues. He shares stories of the visit, including of his conversations with the president and California Governor Jerry Brown, his participation in a roundtable discussion with leaders in the Valley, and the speech Obama delivered at his farm. Del Bosque focuses on the regulatory changes that he identifies as the most immediate causes of the lack of water available to farmers in the valley, and shares his disappointment over Obama's focus on long-term environmental and climate policies at the expense of regulatory reform or investment in state and regional water systems. Also discussed are area farmers' transition from commodity crops to high-value crops like melons, asparagus, almonds, and organics; the barriers faced by beginning farmers; the effects of drought on agricultural labor markets; and Del Bosque's engagement with state officials and other members of the Obama administration
Presidents--United States; Climatic changes--United States; Water-supply--Management.--California; Water demand management--California; Drought management--Law and legislation--California; Drought relief--Law and legislation--California; Droughts--California; Farmers; San Joaquin Valley (Calif.); Del Bosque, Joe; Obama, Barack; United States
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
41 pages
Note (Biographical)
Joe Del Bosque is an American farmer and civic leader. He has been involved in farming throughout his life, and since 1985 has owned Del Bosque Farms on the west side of California's San Joaquin Valley, which grows both organic and conventional crops. During the years of the Obama presidency, Del Bosque used social media to call attention to drought conditions in California, and in 2014, President Obama accepted his invitation to visit Del Bosque Farms. At the time of the interview, Del Bosque was a member of the California Latino Water Coalition, the Western Growers Association, the California Melon Research Board, the California Farm Bureau, and a commissioner of the California Water Commission. He was also chair of AgSafe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing injury and illness among agricultural workers. Del Bosque has also served as a director of the Pacheco Water District and the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Authority
Note
Interviewed by William McAllister on December 12, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Joe Del Bosque, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023