I was about to hit send on this month’s column when the news of Manzana Products popped up on my newsfeed; thank you Sonoma County Gazette. By now you all know that Graton’s biggest and oldest employer, Manzana Apple Products, will be departing for the Yakima Valley in Eastern Washington state in one year. This means the loss of 180 jobs, many of whom are likely Graton residents. Unfortunately, the reasons for the move are eminently logical, so there isn’t even anybody to get upset with! Only 20 percent of their apples come from Sonoma County; the rest are from Eastern Washington and elsewhere. Environmentally as well as economically, this was disastrous. It is the case of the “Mountain moving to Mohammed.” Local growers will have contract guarantees for another five years, but then they are on their own in finding an out of county apple processor.