FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Annie Hoagland
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530.304.7405
SONOMA FAMILY DAIRY FARMERS UNITE AGAINST OUTSIDE THREAT TO THEIR COMMUNITY
Preserving what makes our county special benefits the economy, environment and our future
SONOMA COUNTY, CA, July 15, 2024 — The family dairy farms who have called Sonoma County home for generations have joined together to launch the Sonoma United campaign opposing Measure J. Along with agriculture, labor and local residents, Sonoma United will protect the cultural, economic and environmental interests of the county from outside groups seeking to destroy our way of life.
Resoundingly defeating this measure will reinforce what makes Sonoma County special and the place residents choose to call home. This campaign is about protecting Sonoma’s rural county feel with a rich agricultural history and vast open spaces that is also full of specialty grocery stores, world class farm to table restaurants and a flourishing farmer’s market scene stocked with fresh, organic milk, cheese and other dairy products produced in Sonoma County. Measure J jeopardizes the future existence of these locally produced dairy products and brands that have become synonymous with this community.
“When Measure J qualified for the ballot, dairy farmers knew we had to take action to protect dairy farming and production in Sonoma County,” said Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies who represents the family-owned dairy farms in Sonoma County that would be forced to shut down if Measure J passes. “We will fight to protect our local family-owned farms and win, sending a clear message to these outside organizations across the state and beyond.”
Eliminating dairy production in Sonoma County would drive up the cost of food and devastate the local economy, resulting in the loss of $259 million in agricultural production and reduce spending in the region by $38 million*. These local revenues are used by police, fire and other vital social services.
Measure J could also effectively kill 7,200 good paying farm jobs overnight in addition to the ripple effect it would have on the 80 related businesses in the county including veterinarians, mechanics and farm and feed suppliers*. “Measure J threatens to put thousands of our members out of work from jobs in the dairy industry that offer a living wage, good benefits and help build and maintain the middle class across Sonoma County,” said Michael Yates, Representative of the Teamsters 665/Treasurer of the North Bay Labor Council.
For the dairy farmers across the county who have raised their families here for generations, the passage of Measure J would mean the loss of their homes, livelihoods and a legacy of producing sustainable, organic and locally grown dairy products for their friends and neighbors. “For generations our family has taken great pride in serving our community by providing fresh, local products while using sustainable environmental practices to do so,” said Jolynn McClelland, local dairy woman.
Measure J is a threat that must be taken seriously as the implications would be devastating across the county and beyond. This campaign will ensure every voter understands what’s at stake and how as a united force we can protect our community.
About Sonoma United – No on J
Sonoma United – No on J brings together the multigenerational family dairy farms in Sonoma County to oppose this harmful ballot measure that will destroy the industry and this community if passed. In collaboration with other agricultural interests, related industries and labor, Sonoma United is a community-based coalition standing together against this outside attack on what makes our community a special place to live and work. For more information, visit sonomaunitedvote.org or follow us on social media: Facebook, X and Instagram.
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*Source: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension, 2024
