A Farming Town Turns Over Its Soil

Re “Farm Town Withering on Vine,” July 2: There are many Mendotas in the Central Valley, and there always have been. The factors leading to its present condition of decline are many, and some unique, but all in all the story is the same. The west side of the Central Valley, that region south of Los Banos and west of the 99 Freeway, was born out of cheap federal water and unlimited credit. Both are drying up, and along with locally difficult soil conditions, the brief green bloom is disappearing and the desert that that area has always been is returning.

But the valley is huge, and its people are as varied and fertile as most of its soils. Unemployment is high, but this is farm country and, like the Okies of a generation ago, the Mexican and Latino farm laborers will find their way, and the valley will be better and stronger for it.

Robert Bauer

Snelling, Calif.