Mediterranean Agriculture
Megan Walkenhorst
Definition
Mediterranean agriculture occurs in all of these regions due to a similar climate. They all border water so the winds provide moisture and keep winters from getting too cold. They have hot and dry summers and have very hilly land with narrow strips of coastline. This region grows fruits. vegetables, and flowers as well as tree crops.
Climate (yellow=csa)
Which is the climate with precipitation in the driest month of summer half of the year is less than 30 mm and less than one-third of the wettest month of the winter half and temperature of warmest month 22 °C or above.
Mediterranean agriculture crops
Who?
- immigrants (undocumented and legal)
- sometimes family owned but always large-scale corporations
- shipped long distances
- both men and women migrants looking for work
Interesting facts
The California wine business has grown 2000% in 20 years
Turkey has more vineyards than the United States
There are more wine sellers in the United States than there are people in Iceland
Commercial Agriculture in Developed Regions
Importance
- Grown for human consumption
- Horticulture forms the commercial base of Mediterranean farming
- big cash crops: grapes and olives
- CA provides a large portion of the citrus fruits, tree nuts, and deciduous fruits to U.S consumers
Environmental Effects
- soil erosion which leads to desertification
- soil/fertilizer runoff pollutes water reservoirs
- burning of olive residues leads to air pollution
- aerial spraying of chemicals leads to air pollution
- carbon dioxide emissions from tractors and breaking down organic matter
- In 2003, he became the first Mexican American migrant worker in California to open his own tasting room to the public.
- In 2008, Mexican President Felipe Calderón visited his winery.
- Came from Michoacan, Mexico
- Came to Napa Valley as a teenager and learned from an Italian-American vineyard manager
- He soon became crew chief of the vineyard
- In 1984, he purchased a 13-acre junkyard in Carneros for about $126,000.
- He cleaned it up, planted vines and sold the grapes to Mumm Napa for sparkling wine.
- He now owns 350 acres
Food Example: Grapes
Sources
- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/agriculture/pdf/oliveoil.pdf
- https://www.britannica.com/science/Mediterranean-climate
- https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/things-you-didnt-know-about-the-wine-industry
- http://lewishistoricalsociety.com/wiki2011/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=158
- http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/due-to-labor-shortage-female-workers-are-a-growing-presence/article_a3e95170-a77c-5061-8877-7edd749ced8e.html
- book