More details have been revealed about Meghan Markle’s highly anticipated cooking show, 42, which is already shrouded in controversy ahead of its premiere.
Prince Harry’s wife, the Duchess of Sussex has already launched filming for the new Netflix series.
The Daily Mail has revealed the locations where two of Meghan’s cooking shows have been filmed.
Both episodes have been filmed in California.
The first location was a Tom and Sherrie Cipolla mansion that is valued at $5,000,000.
The second location is the most controversial, as it is a farm owned by the Van Wingerden family, who are leading purveyors of legal cannabis, in the nearby coastal town of Carpinteria.
This farm and other nearby farms have drawn the ire of local residents, who claim that the area has a pungent, unpleasant aroma that causes discomfort, devaluing their property.
Meghan (now known as the new Martha Stewart) in collaboration with streaming giant, Netflix, is bringing to life a show related to her newly launched lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
During April Meghan began promoting her first product from her brand.
It is a strawberry jam which she sent to 50 close friends including celebrities and influencers.
A Cannabis Farm Behind Meghan Markle’s Cooking Show
However, like any project created by the Duchess of Sussex, it is always under scrutiny and the watchful eye of observers.
Meghan’s decision to film some of the shows on the farm of the Van Wingerdens, who in 2015 transformed their flower farm into a legally produced pot mecca, has stoked controversy.
As it turns out, the farm dubbed Farmlane has been under fire from area residents, who have filed a staggering 2,340 complaints about odors emanating from cannabis farms.
It appears that Van Wingerden’s farm and other cannabis farms are responsible for the area having a pungent sewer smell in the air.
Residents in the area claim that this situation has devalued their property values.
In the lawsuit, the neighbors relate the desperate situation caused by the cannabis farms, stating:
“The neighborhood surrounding their property has a thick, heavy, strong stench of cannabis on a near daily basis.”
Residents have reported experiencing breathing problems, headaches, and nausea due to the pervasive aroma, which has even permeated their homes and clothing.
Although Markle’s cooking show does not yet have a launch date, for some observers the choice of filming location has cast a shadow over her project.