Right now, it can be cheaper to ship hay from Southern California to Asia than to the Central Valley. A hay shipper in the Imperial Valley says the cost to ship hay to Asia has fallen, as shipping firms try to fill containers that would otherwise be empty. That can make those shipments cheaper than sending hay by truck to dairies here in the Central Valley.
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Japan is hungry for California fruits and vegetables.
The western growers trade group says California could supply more food for Japan. The earthquake and tsunami that struck japan in march hit the country's agricultural area. Japan's damaged nuclear power plant has released radioactivity that's been showing up food and water.
