50 years ago STORIES FROM THE PAST

The 15-year-old Imperial County Growers Association has ceased operation because of inadequate funds.

Allen B. Griffin of Brawley, president of the association, made the announcement yesterday afternoon following a board meeting at which time the pledges of 50 cents per bale secured on this year’s cotton crop were reviewed. It was determined that not enough funds could be raised to continue the association’s work, and because of this, it was decided to close the doors.

The board examined the over-all reasons and decided that the organization was in the red because: 1) cutback in planted acres; 2) reduction in bales produced, and 3) lack of full support to the association, resulting in corresponding loss of revenue.

40 years ago

Imperial County watermelon growers agree there is just something about those big, juicy fruits that makes people want to steal them.

Growers also agree, however, that watermelon thefts can be a real pain in the neck.

“Watermelon is a crop everyone feels like they’re not stealing when they take one,” said Mario Saikhon, a Holtville watermelon grower.

Even at Saikhon’s loading yard, he has had to hire a man to watch out for thefts during day light hours. “People will walk in the yard here, just pick up a watermelon and leave,” he said.

Saikhon said a man recently drove into his loading yard asking for 25 watermelons is a good example of the public attitude toward the crop.

When Saikhon told him such small quantities could not be sold by a shipper, the man looked upset and said he did not want to pay for them — he wanted them free.

“That really got me mad. I kicked him out,” said Saikhon.

Thefts from the field are the greatest problem, said several growers. Many have started to hire either uniformed security guards or non-uniformed watchmen to protect their crop between sunset and sunrise.

30 years ago

CALEXICO — The Immigration and Naturalization Service today opened a new legalization office here for agricultural workers in Mexico. The INS also announced changes in the immigration law to help western growers, who have been complaining of labor shortages.

Calling the legalization office here “a 48-hour miracle,” INS Western Regional Commissioner Harold Ezell said, “It is going to be a major step to averting a shortage of agricultural workers in the western United States.”

Farm groups have been complaining for a month that Mexican workers who can qualify for legal status are staying in Mexico because of hitches in the legalization process, including a required trip to Monterrey or Mexico City for a legalization interview.

20 years ago

Imperial Irrigation District directors Saturday laid on the line their views on conserving water on-farm for transfer to San Diego.

The workshop, attended by 70 people, was a coming-out party of sorts for the five directors, who have been reluctant to publicly share their opinions on saving water.

All directors said they support completing a deal with San Diego. That makes sense since the IID and San Diego County Water Authority resumed transfer talks last week and scheduled three more negotiation sessions in the next two weeks.

All directors said they opposed fallowing as part of a conservation program, but they had different twists on how to generate on-farm water.