Action Alert: Claravale Dairy

It's been a while since I visited Claravale Farm—Ron Garthwaite and Collette Cassidy have been under siege in legal woes that you, dear reader, can help with.

I've written before about the how the Santa Cruz county bureaucracy threw up hurdle after ridiculous hurdle when Ron and Collette's landlords unexpectedly set about evicting from their Watsonville site.

This week, I heard from Ron and Collette, who sent out the following e-mail.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Dear Friends,

Claravale Farm is moving to a new location and we need your help.

We would like to thank you for all of your support to date as customers of Claravale Farm and for your emotional support in the face of our permit process in Santa Cruz County. However, after an 11-year long, frustrating and ultimately unsuccessful battle with the Santa Cruz County Building and Planning Department to build the Dairy on our property in Watsonville, we have decided to move.  We have purchased property in San Benito County and have begun the permit process to build a dairy there.

While the codes of San Benito county are actually quite conducive to agriculture, unfortunately, as in Santa Cruz County, the county planners are unfamiliar with agriculture and see agriculture not as the asset that it is but as something that people need to be protected from. As our customers, you know the truth of the situation. You know that we use old-fashioned, ecologically and socially responsible farming practices. You know that our products, unique in California and rare in the nation, are a tremendous asset to the people of California. We need to convince the San Benito County planners of these things as well.

If you value our dairy and our products; if you want to see us continue in business; if you want to continue to be able to buy our milk and cream then it is imperative that you take the time right now to write a letter and/or e-mail to the appropriate people at the County (see below) indicating your support. Let them know how you feel about us and our farm.

Our plans are being reviewed by the county right now. If you wait it will be too late.

Following are the important points:

1) It is imperative that we be moved by June 30th, 2007. We have been leasing a facility in Santa Cruz County for the last 10 years while trying to build on our land in Watsonville.  This lease expires at the end of June and is non-negotiable. This means, that we need San Benito County to expedite their review process so that we can complete building and meet this deadline. Any delays in the process will put us out of business. We need our permits by the end of April.

2) It is imperative that we stay in business for all of the reasons that are important to you.  Express what Claravale Farm means to you—what the milk means to you and your family, why we’re not just another dairy operation, why small family farming is important in food production, why buying fresh and local is good, why we’d be good for the County etc.  If you’ve been to the Farm, write about what’s impressed you. Things like “what a clean facility with happy cows” would be excellent.

If you’re a professional or business owner it would be a good idea to write it on your letterhead. Don’t let that hang you up though, everything is welcome. Keep it simple and to the point.

Address e-mails and letters to:

Art Henriques
Director of Planning
San Benito County
3224 Southside Road
Hollister, CA  95023
ahenriques@planning.co.san-benito.ca.us

Reb Monaco
Supervisor District #4
County of San Benito
Board of Supervisors
481 Fourth Street
Hollister, CA  95023
sbcsuper@supervisor.co.san-benito.ca.us

In the subject line put “Support for Claravale Farm.”  Please forward this letter to those whom you think would be interested in helping us.  Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Ron Garthwaite and Collette Cassidy, owners
Claravale Farm

• • • • • • • • • • •

I am happy to write on their behalf—if you want to know more about their farm, read The Sweetest Place, which I wrote in April, 2005. Short facts: in operation since 1927, Claravale Farm is one of only two certified Raw Milk dairies in California, and the only one using Jersey cows.

I'm tempted to CC all the board planners in Santa Cruz county, complimenting the San Benito officials for their intelligence in helping Claravale find a better home. When I think of all the potential income from agro-tourism, how Santa Cruz officials dimmed the luster of our reputation as a region with a culinary vision—diverse and supportive of good health and ecology—well, I think they're a bunch of boneheads who disappoint me terribly. I can only hope that the good folks in San Benito welcome a business as good for the earth—and good for themselves—as Claravale Farm.

Okay, that's all for today. I'll have a couple of farm-y announcements about events soon, but Claravale needs our help today. (You needn't be a resident of San Benito, or even California, if you want to add your support to the idea of an environmentally conscious business providing such a wonderful product to people.)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not really progress at all, but just terrible things. — Russell Baker

Thanks for visiting. Now get a-writin'!
 

Comments

[Jennifer Jeffrey]

I'll write an e-mail. I noticed that the Claravale raw milk I usually get at Whole Foods wasn't there last week... :-(

[Sarah]

I really like your blog. I have been following it for a while.
I would like to post a link on my site to your blog, if you don't mind.

Please let me know. If you post to my blog with an answer I would appreciate it.

[Cynthia]

Done...sent the emails. Good luck! Stupid Santa Cruz County!

[anastasia]

Copy of my email sent to county officials:
Dear Sirs,
I do not live in your area but I purchase Claravale milk for my children and myself. I switched to raw milk at the urging of my M.D. who recommended that we drink raw milk because the enzymes actually help break down the casein proteins in the milk. All my life, I thought that I had an allergy to dairy but now that I am drinking raw milk , I am symptom free! And we are all getting the benefits of milk (vit.D, calcium etc)

I am delighted to hear that you are welcoming this industry into your area. You will benefit in many ways. Small farms create a sense of "place". Children from neighboring schools may be able to visit a "real dairy". In this era of extreme separation of people from food production, that has many implications. I commend you on your foresigtht in bringing in a "green" industry. I truly believe that you will see a benefit to not only the tax base but the vibrancy of local life. Let's face it, malls do not add to the culture of a place. Have you ever been to Europe or Canada or Mexico? I bet that you were not impressed with the malls, but rather the culture, the people, the art, the terrain, the agriculture, the food. Well, Claravale will help the area of San Benito continue to grow its culture and character.

I urge you to expedite the permitting process and help this sustainable farm stay in business.

Sincerely, Anastasia Sheldon

Fairfax, California

94930

[Jim Clary]

I sent this letter to both Art & Reb. Sure hope it helps. We just cannot afford to lose
Claravale.

Reb Monaco
Supervisor District #4
County of San Benito
Board of Supervisors
481 Fourth Street
Hollister, CA 95023

Reb!

You wouldn't think that a family living as far away as Orange California would be affected by your decision to allow Claravale Dairy to complete their construction in San Benito - but it does.

I've been a resident of California since birth seventy years ago and frankly, I've never heard of San Benito. I had to look it up. What a wonderful place! It looks like a place where I would like to live - unspoiled and fresh.

There are only two suppliers of wholesome milk, raw or otherwise, left in this state and you have the great fortune of hosting the best one.

I buy my raw milk at Whole Foods Market in Tustin - when I can get it. The competition is hot for it. I must plan my trips to the market carefully or I will spend that week without any milk. Claravale raw milk is always fresh and sweet. If you haven't tried it I urge you to do so.

Claravale is one of the last truly natural resources of fine food in California. Look around. Have you noticed the huge increase in demand for organic and natural foods? People are catching on as they learn that many of their ailments are rooted in the myriad of food additives they've been consuming. They're on the hunt for clean food and their numbers are growing. This is not a fad. This is an awakening. I know this because I'm one of them.

It is unthinkable that a resource such as Claravale Dairy be lost. You simply must not let that happen. I urge you to allow them to complete their dairy construction in San Benito. You will not only be saving a valuable California resource you will be enriching your county.

Sincerely,

Jim Clary

[Susan DeKom]

I love Claravale Dairy, visiting once on a tour. What a GREAT day! When I looked it up to bring my nephews down, I found this difficulty and yes! Though I am in San Mateo County, That dairy is a GREAT educational tool as well, and more importantly, a healthy answer to calcium. I will write to the board on Ron's behalf!! Prayers to you, Claravale!! Best, Susan