• Reuben Haro harvests fresh flowers at Cypress Flower Farm in Moss Beach. California flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    Reuben Haro harvests fresh flowers at Cypress Flower Farm in Moss Beach. California flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • Seedlings grow in a field at a farm in Moss Beach. The cost of water have soared to $1,100 per acre-foot from about $140 a year ago in some areas of California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    Seedlings grow in a field at a farm in Moss Beach. The cost of water have soared to $1,100 per acre-foot from about $140 a year ago in some areas of California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • As the severe drought in California continues to worsen, flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    As the severe drought in California continues to worsen, flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • A disconnected hose sits in dry dirt in a farm. California farmers are paying as much as 10 times more for water than they did before the state’s record drought cut supply. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    A disconnected hose sits in dry dirt in a farm. California farmers are paying as much as 10 times more for water than they did before the state’s record drought cut supply. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • California’s 80,500 farms and ranches supply everything from milk, beef and flowers to some of the nation’s largest fruit and vegetable crops, including almonds, avocados and strawberries. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    California’s 80,500 farms and ranches supply everything from milk, beef and flowers to some of the nation’s largest fruit and vegetable crops, including almonds, avocados and strawberries. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • Field worker Daniel Moreno harvests fresh flowers at Cypress Flower Farm in Moss Beach, California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    Field worker Daniel Moreno harvests fresh flowers at Cypress Flower Farm in Moss Beach, California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • As the severe drought in California continues to worsen, flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    As the severe drought in California continues to worsen, flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • Agriculture consumes about 80 per cent of all delivered water in California, which is experiencing a severe drought. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    Agriculture consumes about 80 per cent of all delivered water in California, which is experiencing a severe drought. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • Reuben Haro harvests fresh flowers at Cypress Flower Farm in Moss Beach. California flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    Reuben Haro harvests fresh flowers at Cypress Flower Farm in Moss Beach. California flower farmers are facing hardships and are reducing the size of their crops as water prices reach record highs and natural water resources are drying up. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • After three years of record-low rainfall, 82 per cent of the California is experiencing extreme drought. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    After three years of record-low rainfall, 82 per cent of the California is experiencing extreme drought. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
  • The drought's direct costs to California agriculture total $1.5 billion, in addition to 17,100 seasonal and part-time jobs. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
    The drought's direct costs to California agriculture total $1.5 billion, in addition to 17,100 seasonal and part-time jobs. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP

Business

In pictures: California flower farmers wilt under intense drought

Liz Claus

August 07, 2014

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Flower farmers in California are paying as much as 10 times more for water than they did before the state’s record drought cut supply.

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