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A fight over precious groundwater in a rural California town is rooted in carrots
The ongoing legal battle in Cuyama, California, between small farmers and two large carrot growers over groundwater rights has resulted in mounting legal bills and a call for a carrot boycott.
The lack of groundwater regulation in California allowed farmers and residents to freely access water, but disputes over water usage have led to multiple lawsuits.
Carrots are one of California's top agricultural commodities, and the declining groundwater levels and rising pumping costs have prompted the carrot growers to expand to other states while maintaining operations in Cuyama.