Every morning, Poli Yerena starts his day by checking the water levels in his recently flooded fields on Yerena Farms in Watsonville, where he uses a water pump every day to protect rows of vulnerable strawberry plants. “We’re so far behind schedule,” says Poli. But he adds, “You have to be patient with Mother Nature.”
Since January, Poli and other farmers have been inundated with water, following several years of drought. Relentless rain, flooded fields, and shifting landscapes are impacting Northern California farmers’ land and operations, and the timeline of highly anticipated spring crops like strawberries, asparagus, and peas. Coming out of this winter wipeout, farmers hope to return to normalcy, recover from crop losses, and reunite with loyal farmers market shoppers this spring.