‘San Diego Grown Photo Contest’ Highlights County’s Agricultural Bounty
April 26, 2019
To celebrate how safe and reliable water supplies fuel the region’s local farms and food production, the San Diego County Water Authority is hosting a social media photo contest during Water Awareness Month in May.
The “San Diego Grown Photo Contest” on Instagram and Twitter highlights the significance of agriculture to the regional economy. As one of the nation’s top producers of avocados, ornamental trees and shrubs, flowers, succulents, lemons, and other agricultural products, San Diego County farms cover approximately 250,000 acres and generate $4.8 billion in total annual economic activity.
The contest is part of the Water Authority’s ongoing Brought to You by Water outreach and education program, designed to convey the importance of water supply reliability for sustaining the region’s 3.3 million people and its $231 billion economy. The Water Authority and its 24 member agencies work together to meet current and future water demands, while promoting water-use efficiency.
“Safe and reliable water supplies help more than 5,500 farms to thrive in our region – not to mention countless backyard gardens, community gardens and farmers markets,” said Jim Madaffer, chair of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. “This photo contest offers everyone a chance to showcase their favorite locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers and nursery plants, and to win some great prizes donated by sponsors who share our commitment to our region’s most precious natural resource.”
In addition to the photo contest, the Water Authority and its member agencies are working with local markets including Jimbo’s “_ Naturally! and Specialty Produce to distribute free, reusable grocery bags featuring the Brought to You by Water logo.
The Water Authority also is coordinating with the non-profit local chapter of the Farm Bureau, which is supported solely by more than 2,000 dues-paying members. The Water Authority is co-sponsoring the San Diego County Farm Bureau’s “Graze at the Fields” event April 25, a one-of-a-kind tasting and education event that showcases local farms and foods at the Carlsbad Flower Fields.
“Farming is a foundational piece of our regional economy and quality of life – but it doesn’t happen without a reliable water supply,” said Eric Larson, executive director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau. “Our farmers are constantly innovating to use water more efficiently by adopting new technology and planting more-efficient crops.”
Entering the photo contest is easy: Take a photo of your favorite locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers or nursery plants and post the photo to Instagram or Twitter using #B2UbyH2O between May 1-31. Participants must be at least 18 years old to enter.
Qualifying submissions are eligible for prizes generously donated by local businesses and organizations including Specialty Produce, the local Farm Bureau, and Jimbo’s. Winners will be drawn randomly each week from posts that meet contest rules at b2ubyh2o.org/photo-contest/, and they will be announced on social media.
Over the past year, the Water Authority has highlighted an array of the region’s core industries – including tourism, manufacturing and brewing – that would not exist without substantial investments in water supply reliability by the Water Authority and its 24 member agencies. To learn more about the Brought to You by Water program, go to b2ubyh2o.org/.