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California farm industry adds 30,000 jobs amid drought
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Mar 21, 2016
Listen 6:48
California farm industry adds 30,000 jobs amid drought
How did an industry that many predicted would suffer without water end up consistently adding jobs throughout years that lacked any significant rainfall?
Bowles Farming Company, Inc. in Los Banos, Calif. first started using drip irrigation 10 years ago. Chairman and former president Phillip Bowles says the farm has cut down their water use by 25 percent since then.
Bowles Farming Company, Inc. in Los Banos, Calif. first started using drip irrigation 10 years ago. Chairman and former president Phillip Bowles says the farm has cut down their water use by 25 percent since then.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

How did an industry that many predicted would suffer without water end up consistently adding jobs throughout years that lacked any significant rainfall?

We've heard plenty of stories in recent years of farmers struggling to cope with our ongoing drought. 

So - it came as a bit of a surprise to some to learn that last year the California farming industry added thirty-thousand jobs to its workforce.

Phillip Reese with the Sacramento Bee spoke with Take Two's Alex Cohen for the answers.

To hear the full conversation click the blue player above