BAKERSFIELD, CA - On Tuesday afternoon, an earthquake was recorded in the concentrated growing region of Bakersfield, California, which includes growers like Country Sweet, Anthony Vineyards, Grimmway Farms, Castle Rock Vineyards, and Western-Veg Produce. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the 3.4 earthquake hit at 3:21 p.m.

“Five earthquakes hit our area around the three ’o clock hour. It was something I’ve never felt before,” Nick Martinez, Director of Operations for Country Sweet Produce, shared. “After the last one hit, we sent a couple of our guys out to check the facility and personnel to make sure everyone was okay. The center was about three miles north from us, around the grape-growing area from what I saw in reports, and wouldn’t affect our crops in the ground. Luckily there was no facility damage, but it was an interesting experience!”

The grape region did feel the Earth move, but was lighthearted about the event.

"Our cold storage facility is still standing and ready for business!" Rope Eddy, Ranch Manager at Anthony Vineyards, commented.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the earthquake that occurred at a depth of 4.3 miles was originally reported as a magnitude 3.1 quake, but the USGS upgraded it to a magnitude 3.4 on Wednesday. According to the news source, California and Nevada experience an average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 each year, though there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater in the area in the last 10 days.

Thankfully, this was not what would be considered a large earthquake, and we at ANUK hope that no damage was done to any growers in the area.