Kern County's agriculture industry may suffer a tremendous loss of product this month, and be hit hard financially.
County ag officials say that's because of a damaging labor dispute across the state between shipping companies and dockworkers.
Starting today, 29 west coast seaports will be mostly closed for the next five days.
The slowdowns have caused considerable problems for both importers and exporters in the U.S. and overseas, even right here in Kern County.
Executive Director Beatris Sanders with the Kern County Farm Bureau, says the central valley could be hit hard with many agriculture products stuck on these seaports across California.
"Our main concern right now: what is stuck at the ports is perishable and if they continue to have this slow process of exporting our produce, right now it's citrus, we have berries next, we have cherries coming next. What that will do for our exporting?" said Sanders.
At west coast seaports the lengthy labor dispute is between the International Longshoreman Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association over a new contract.
PMA, which represents about 70 shipping companies, has accused dockworkers of a deliberate work slowdown.
Over the long weekend, companies say they won't load or unload any cargo ships designed for export.
Thursday, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Congressmen David Valadao, urged for a quick resolution to the contract negotiations.
"I come from an area that's devastated because of water, it's agriculture. they're taking trees out, unemployment is much higher. In some places 30 percent... in some parts of the central valley. But now the produce that they are able to produce with what little water they have is being perishable and rotting on these docks," McCarthy said.
"We need to come to a resolution, we need to do it quickly. These dollars that we're missing out on have a real impact on our local communities, not to mention the jobs," said Valadao
The seaport slowdown is expected to last until Monday, but according to the Kern County Farm Bureau, contract negotiations could linger.
County ag officials say that's because of a damaging labor dispute across the state between shipping companies and dockworkers.
Starting today, 29 west coast seaports will be mostly closed for the next five days.
The slowdowns have caused considerable problems for both importers and exporters in the U.S. and overseas, even right here in Kern County.
Executive Director Beatris Sanders with the Kern County Farm Bureau, says the central valley could be hit hard with many agriculture products stuck on these seaports across California.
"Our main concern right now: what is stuck at the ports is perishable and if they continue to have this slow process of exporting our produce, right now it's citrus, we have berries next, we have cherries coming next. What that will do for our exporting?" said Sanders.
At west coast seaports the lengthy labor dispute is between the International Longshoreman Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association over a new contract.
PMA, which represents about 70 shipping companies, has accused dockworkers of a deliberate work slowdown.
Over the long weekend, companies say they won't load or unload any cargo ships designed for export.
Thursday, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Congressmen David Valadao, urged for a quick resolution to the contract negotiations.
"I come from an area that's devastated because of water, it's agriculture. they're taking trees out, unemployment is much higher. In some places 30 percent... in some parts of the central valley. But now the produce that they are able to produce with what little water they have is being perishable and rotting on these docks," McCarthy said.
"We need to come to a resolution, we need to do it quickly. These dollars that we're missing out on have a real impact on our local communities, not to mention the jobs," said Valadao
The seaport slowdown is expected to last until Monday, but according to the Kern County Farm Bureau, contract negotiations could linger.
