142nd YEAR, No. 255 TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 ONE DOLLAR Some worry as crop production moves outside U.S. Labor, regulation, water boost foreign competitors Car buffs enjoy perfect weather at Seaside car show last weekend T By DAN WHEAT EO Media Group Ten years ago, Steve Scaroni looked south seven miles from his farm near El Centro, Calif., to Mex- ico and thought “why not farm there since it’s so hard getting legal work- ers here.” One of the largest lettuce produc- ers in the nation, Scaroni was deal- ing with labor shortages he knew would only worsen. “Our workforce was aging and going to other industries. Without immigration reform there was no way to replace them,” he said. Another large salad producer had PRYHG WR 0H[LFR ¿YH \HDUV HDUOLHU and was “getting it done.” In early 2006, he began renting ¿HOGVPLOHVWRWKHVRXWKLQWKH state of Guanajuato in central Mexi- co. It was where the other company had gone and the climate was great for year-round production. The Daily Astorian he 12th annual car show, put on by the Seaside Downtown Development Association and sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts, included a cruise down U.S. High- way 101 . Visitors take a peek at the engine. R.J. MARX — The Daily Astorian See CROPS, Page 10A JEFF TER HAR — For The Daily Astorian Engines were the stars of the show. R.J. MARX — The Daily Astorian A Chevelle on display. R.J. MARX — The Daily Astorian “Hoods up.” Warrenton Wal-Mart stuck in wetland litigation Lawsuit could delay project By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian JEFF TER HAR — For The Daily Astorian Cars cruise downtown Seaside. WARRENTON — Shoppers waiting for a new Wal-Mart at the southeast corner of Ensign Lane and U.S. Highway 101 in Warrenton could be waiting a while. 7KHIHGHUDOODZVXLW¿OHGLQ$SULO by Clatsop Residents Against Wal- Mart against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could delay groundbreak- ing at the North Coast Retail Center LQGH¿QLWHO\ In the lawsuit against the Corps, CRAW alleges the agency improp- HUO\ SHUPLWWHG :DO0DUW WR ¿OO D wetland complex for its new store without adequately assessing envi- ronmental impacts and available al- ternatives. The lawsuit also alleges the Corps did not assess the cumu- lative impacts to wetlands already UHGXFHGE\SUHYLRXV¿OOSHUPLWV See WAL-MART, Page 10A Food carts, marketplace to make debut this weekend with Sunday Market,” Bechtolt said. “We’re trying to supplement them.” Bechtolt said organizers, realizing Riverwalk FoodCarts and Mar- there isn’t the population to have just ketplace, an effort six months in a food cart pod, expanded the concept the making, will start in earnest this to a bazaar, craftspeople, produce and weekend at the corner of Sixth Street a swap meet, taking in vendors with and Marine Drive. antiques or other items to deal. Warren Bechtolt, whose family Bechtolt said his family looked at owns the property, said there will be food cart pods in Bend and Portland, a soft opening of the new community and hope to incorporate some of their gathering spot about 10 a.m. Satur- elements into the RiverWalk Mar- day, with a grand opening July 4. NHWSODFHVXFKDVD¿UHSLWDQGDSHU It’s a soft opening, he said, be- formance area. For now, he said, the cause he’s not sure who will show up. plan is to continue through Christmas ³,W¶V GLI¿FXOW WR WLH WKHVH IRONV and sell trees at the marketplace for down,” he said, adding two food the holidays. YHQGRUVKDYHFRQ¿UPHGVRIDUDORQJ “If the local community supports with six craftspeople and two produce LW DQG ZH FDQ ¿JXUH RXW KRZ WR dealers. Most vendors, he added, will weatherize it, we might do longer,” EDWARD STRATTON — The Daily Astorian stay until 3 or 4 p.m. Saturday, while Bechtolt said, adding the marketplace some might stay through Sunday. needs a daily presence of food ven- Riverwalk FoodCarts and Marketplace at the corner of Sixth Street and Ma- rine Drive will hold a soft opening Saturday. “We’re not trying to compete dors to be successful. By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian