Swelam

Consider this your morning briefing: California’s agricultural landscape is about to shift. Tea—America’s second-most-consumed beverage—has never been grown domestically, despite its ubiquity in 80% of U.S. households. With over 160 million Americans sipping it daily, the $6 billion annual import bill could be a missed opportunity. Enter Atef Swelam, director of UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, who’s betting California’s climate can turn this global demand into a local boom. The Central Valley’s unique microclimate, with its warm days and cool nights, is ideal for tea cultivation. As the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act forces farmland retirement, Swelam sees tea…