County Aims to shut down Organic Farms

The ordinance would effectively classify the eye gnat as a "vector" instead of its current status as a nuisance and thus place the issue under the Director of Vector Control. If passed, organic farms such as Be Wise Ranch could be required to spray their crops with chemical pesticides, plant "barrier" crops that would reduce farmable acreage, or shut down for weeks during the peak summer months –  the most profitable growing season. These limitations would have drastic financial consequences for farms under the program. Bill Brammer, the founder and general manager of Be Wise Ranch, does not see the ordinance as a practical or logical solution to the eye gnat issue.

"The County does not currently have a scientific way for evaluating the proposed program’s success or failure," said Brammer. "This ordinance would put the future of my business in the hands of a single individual with no agricultural or farming expertise. This ordinance really threatens the future of organic farming in San Diego."

Be Wise Ranch is proposing more time to introduce voluntary measures to reduce eye gnat populations without the use of pesticides or other restrictive measures. It is currently developing a trapping program and has purchased the materials necessary to start building 2,000 traps to be deployed by the end of the month. The farm has also purchased 10,000 feet of silt fencing that will be installed around the perimeter of the property. The 3-foot high fence will serve as a barrier cloth that prevents low-flying gnats from leaving the farm. Be Wise Ranch is continuing to work with scientific researchers on identifying additional methods to address the issue.

Eye gnats are not just a San Diego problem. Yuma and the Coachella Valley – communities that have experienced similar problems with eye gnats – have already implemented successful, community-wide trapping programs without the threat of a mandate or punitive measures.

"We need to establish best practices for controlling eye gnat populations following the successful model in Coachella," said Brammer. "This ordinance is not the way to do this. We must understand that eye gnats are a community-wide problem that warrants a community-wide solution, and we want to be part of the solution."

Be Wise Ranch is currently mobilizing its customer base to oppose the ordinance in its current form. Many businesses and individuals in the organic food community have expressed support for Be Wise Ranch’s stance and are worried about the future of organic farming in San Diego if the ordinance is passed. If Be Wise Ranch is forced to go out of business, its absence could have a direct effect on prices of local organic produce. With many people relying on organic fruits and vegetables for medical and other health-related reasons, the closure of one of the largest organic farms in the County would be unwelcome news.

"As a buyer of fresh produce, we have continually grown with Be Wise over the years and seen their operation produce outstanding quality and farming practices," said Ray Griffin, General Manager of supply chain management company FoodSource. "This ordinance, if passed, will likely make organic farming so restrictive, it will no longer be feasible to farm. We need organic farms and we need the County’s support of the organic farmer.”