As clocks spring forward, the time change is sparking debate in Kern County. While one local farmer says Daylight Saving Time disrupts work that runs on sunlight, others say the shift has little impact. Some local growers say the one-hour shift can disrupt harvests and early morning start times. One farmer tells us his crew once arrived ready to work — only to sit in the dark after misreading which way the time change went.
Daniel Palla is a local farmer, and he says, “They should just base it on the sun, how time is supposed to be based on the sun cycle, with noon being midway through the day and midnight being midway through the night. As growers, we have to change our start time multiple times. The morning changes by more than just one hour, so we were constantly changing what time we start weather it be at 5 am or 7 am, because what time it gets light.”
Palla says they wait until after the time change to adjust their schedule — minimizing lost work and keeping their focus on daylight, not the clock. However, other big manufacturing companies like Wonderful Orchards tell us the time shift has little impact on their operations…