Tomato farm to cease operations on Camp Pendleton
4/20/2011 By Sgt. John Jackson , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
In addition to Marine and Navy units being stationed at Camp Pendleton, for the past 40 plus years Harry Singh & Sons, a family-farm that produces primarily tomato plants, has been leasing a small percentage – approximately 294 acres – of Camp Pendleton property. On Dec. 31, 2010, the current lease agreement between the base and Harry Singh & Sons expired.
According to David John, the Camp Pendleton facilities manager, base officials are unsure as to why the family-owned business decided to let the lease expire.
“Approximately every five years, the lease is put out for renewal and bidding,” John said. “Harry Singh and his management team have submitted winning bids, which allowed continued use and lease of Camp Pendleton land for their agriculture business. Harry Singh & Sons chose not to renew (this year.)
“We don’t know the reason for (their) management’s decision.”
Harry Singh & Sons was one of several land-lease agreements Camp Pendleton has with local businesses and schools. Approximately 2,300 acres of Camp Pendleton are leased, according to John.
“Other leases aboard Camp Pendleton include land lease agreements for Oceanside and Fallbrook School District elementary schools, [San Onofre Nuclear Generating System], telecommunication sites, California State Parks and Recreation, and Pacific Marine Credit Union,” John said.
The 294 acres of land, which was leased by Harry Singh & Sons, will no longer be used for farming, according to base officials. When the Harry Singh & Sons business chose to not renew the lease, the base chose not to put the land back up for lease. Instead, the base will use the land for future training opportunities.
“Camp Pendleton has reserved its right to reserve the former leased land for emergent training requirements that promotes the combat readiness of the operation forces and meets the training needs of tenant commands aboard Camp Pendleton,” John said.
Although Harry Singh & Sons will no longer be farming on Camp Pendleton, the relationship between the base and family farm was memorable.
“There was a positive relationship over the many years Harry Singh and Sons were on base,” John said.
(c) USMC