Irvine Ranch’s Asparagus Supply

I’d like to comment on a statement that was attributed to Jody Williams in the Times on Aug. 11. If she was quoted correctly, the statement we take exception to is, “There’s asparagus wasting on the Irvine Ranch.”

This is simply not true. Treasure Farms, the Irvine Co.’s lessee on the land, achieved its largest per-acre yield of asparagus in the company’s history this past season (January to May). What she might be referring to regarding the asparagus is the current condition of the fern growth. Allowing tall fern growth is a normal and mandatory procedure that enables the asparagus plants to store up on nutrients. It is certainly not waste.

What concerns us most is that readers of the article will be left with the impression that there are food resources going to waste on the Irvine Ranch and that the Irvine Co. and its tenant farmers are unresponsive to her organization (Sunshine Outreach).

Treasure Farms and Sun World work closely with her organization and other gleaning operations to make produce available directly from the packing house. We do not, however, allow gleaners in the field because of liability restrictions.

We believe our company and our tenant farmers have been good community citizens in providing food for organizations that feed the needy. We applaud their efforts and look forward to cooperating in this worthwhile effort in the future.

DAWN L. McCORMICK

Director, Corporate Communications

the Irvine Co.