No on Measure J
A Word on Measure J
We firmly oppose Measure J and its efforts to irreparably damage Sonoma County’s vibrant regional food system. If passed, this measure will have a profoundly negative impact on Clover Sonoma’s local family farm partners, who care deeply for their land and adhere to the highest animal welfare standards in the industry. It will also affect our employees and all who work in, and rely on, local dairy production. Lovers of local food will also lose out as access to locally-produced dairy disappears, and Sonoma County’s economic vitality and strong local food culture will suffer.
We stand with the Sonoma County Family Farmers Alliance, the Sonoma County Supervisors and a broad coalition of Sonoma County residents who oppose this measure. We proudly support our local family farms and the role they play in sustainably managing the land while providing our communities with locally sourced vital nutrition and economic opportunity.
Some implications of Measure J include:
OUTLAWING the best kind of dairy farms. We love cheese, milk, and butter and the best kind of dairy farms we know are family-owned, local, and treat their animals properly. Measure J would outlaw exceptional dairy farms like those we partner with and who have been American Humane certified for their animal care practices for more than 24 years! We know first-hand that the treatment of animals is paramount to any dairy operation, regardless of the size of the herd. Measure J does nothing to promote better treatment of animals. Instead, it will drive multigenerational farming families out of business. Some of our organic dairy farms are in their 6th generation and have been stewards of the land for more than a century.
DRIVING AWAY supportive local businesses and jobs. Clover has been part of the fabric of Sonoma County for more than 100 years. We have been sourcing amazingly fresh milk from local, family-owned farms and bottling it for Northern California families for generations. Remaining local supports a robust business ecosystem for our employees and area-based veterinarians, dairy inspectors, feed companies and many others who rely on a thriving dairy industry within Sonoma County. To stay competitive, a milk company needs to be close to its source of milk. If local dairy farms go away, Clover’s business would likely need to leave the county in order to survive.
HARMING the environment: Measure J would actually harm the environment it claims to protect. Grazing cows play a role in suppressing pastures prone to wildfires. Additionally, our local organic dairy farms implement a variety of regenerative management practices including techniques focused on soil health. Healthy soil, in turn, helps capture carbon in the ground and helps to combat climate change. The emission of greenhouse gas levels would also be on the rise. Currently, on average, our organic milk travels just 25 miles from farm to our bottling facility and with our partners based in Sonoma County, that distance shrinks to 13 miles. Should dairy need to be sourced from farther away, the miles that milk will travel to stores’ shelves increases as does the fossil fuels needed for the transport.
Looking for additional information on why voting NO on Measure J is so important? Our very own Michael Benedetti recently met with KRSO’s Clark Wolf to discuss the threat that Measure J imposes on Sonoma County.
Select the play arrow below to listen to the interview.
For more information or to learn how you can help, please visit: No On Measure J
