Published Sunday, Sep. 06, 2009
FRESNO – The governor's food giveaway to struggling families on Fresno County's west side – widely known as America's breadbasket – has included imported products such as Chinese carrots and Mexican macaroni, embarrassed officials have admitted.
FRESNO – The governor's food giveaway to struggling families on Fresno County's west side – widely known as America's breadbasket – has included imported products such as Chinese carrots and Mexican macaroni, embarrassed officials have admitted.
A political flap erupted last week after officials discovered the imports, prompting a letter of protest from at least one member of Congress.
Local leaders say it's bad enough that thousands of farm town residents are living off state-funded food donations, thanks to the water shortage and a foundering economy. But the foreign-produced food adds insult to injury, they say.
"It doesn't make me feel proud that we, who are leaders in agriculture, depend on other countries to make ends meet," said Amarpreet "Ruby" Dhaliwal, mayor of the tiny westside town of San Joaquin, where 2,200 people showed up at a food giveaway last week.
