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Become A California Locavore
by: Judi Gerber
Most people may not be aware that the New Oxford American Dictionary selected “locavore” as its 2007 Word of the Year. As Oxford points out, “a locavore is somebody who uses locally grown ingredients, taking advantage of seasonally available food stuffs that can be bought and prepared without the need for extra preservatives.”
Locavore was coined two years ago by four San Francisco women who proposed that local residents should try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius. Since then, other groups have adopted the same motto and the “movement” has spread.
The “Buy Local” movement encourages people to buy from farmers’ markets or local farms, or to grow their own food because they believe that fresh, local products taste better and are more nutritious.
It’s also seen as a powerful weapon in the fight against global warming because locally produced food saves on transportation and energy by reducing the need to use non-renewable fossil fuel. Eating locally is also a way to help the local economy and to support family farmers.
Eating locally in California, eating farm fresh in fact, is easy for most people because California produces over one half of the nation’s fresh fruits and vegetables and no matter where in the state you find yourself, there are plenty of fresh local choices.
For example, many communities have set up farm trail systems complete with farm trail maps that allow visitors to buy directly from the farm. The state now has nearly 30 organized farm trails to make things easier for travelers and locals alike, with trails from San Diego in the south up to the Gold Country.
Another great resource for finding local foods is the Community Alliance with Family Farmers’ (CAFF) “Buy Fresh Buy Local” website. Its also perfect for residents and visitors in any California community because you simply enter your zip code or county and get a list of local farms, farmers’ markets, nurseries, grocery stores, restaurants and bakeries.
Local Harvest, a site similar to CAFF’s is perfect for those traveling within California and nation-wide since it allows visitors to search any zip code or county in the United States.
One of the most popular, and easiest ways to eat locally is to shop at a local certified farmers’ market. There are certified markets in over 500 California communities. A “certified” farmers’ market means that only “real” farmers can sell their produce directly to the consumer and are certified by the local county that they are only selling the products that they have actually grown themselves.
The trend in eating local has also spread to many popular restaurants including Berkeley’s famed Chez Panisse, owned by world-renowned chef Alice Water. Its menu has featured local ingredients since it first opened in 1971 and has set the trend for those that have followed.
Other popular restaurants featuring local foods include Acme Chop House, Hog Island Oyster Bar, and Mixt Greens in San Francisco; and Axe, Tender Greens, and Wilshire in Los Angeles.
Organized Farm Trails
UC Davis Agritourism Database, www.calagtour.org
Farms of Amador County, http://groups.ucanr.org/farmsofamador, (209) 223-6482
Calaveras Grown, www.calaverasgrown.org, (209) 754-6477
Apple Hill Growers Association, www.applehill.com, (530) 644-7692
El Dorado County Farm Trails, www.edc-farmtrails.org, (530) 676-4263
Napa Yolano Harvest Trails, www.napayolanoharvesttrails.org, (530) 644-7692
PlacerGROWN, Placer County, www.placergrown.org, (530) 889-7398
49er Fruit Trails, www.sacramentogardening.com/49erFruitTrails.html, (530) 878-1047
Sonoma County Farm Trails, www.farmtrails.org, (707) 571-8288
Harvest Time in Brentwood, www.harvest4you.com, and (925) 634-4913
Country Crossroads, Santa Cruz & Santa Clara Counties, (no website) call (831) 724-1356
Central Coast Ag Adventures, www.agadventures.org, (805) 772-5623
Central Valley Harvest Trails (Stanislaus County), www.spendtheday.org, (209) 522-7278
California Farmers’ Markets
California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets, www.cafarmersmarkets.com
Buy Local ResourcesCalifornia Alliance For Family Farmers Buy Fresh Buy Local, http://guide.buylocalca.org
Local Harvest, www.localharvest.org
Restaurants Featuring Local Foods
Chez Panisse, www.chezpanisse.com
Acme Chophouse, www.acmechophouse.com
Hog Island Oyster Bar, www.hogislandoysters.com/v2
Mixt Greens, www.mixtgreens.com
Tender Greens, www.tendergreensfood.com
Wilshire, www.wilshirerestaurant.com
Autumn is a great time to visit a farm, a food or harvest festival, or winery. Fall brings corn mazes, pumpkin patches, apple season, and grape harvests to wineries. Folks can visit the pumpkin patch at Santa Paula’s Faulkner Farms to pick out that perfect pumpkin, attend Ardenwood Historic Farm’s Annual Harvest Festival in Fremont, or visit apple country in southern California’s Oak Glen or up at Apple Hill in El Dorado County.
But fall isn’t the only time to travel through California farms, any time of year is a great time to participate in one of the state’s newest and most popular trends: agri-tourism.
Agri-tourism takes many forms and includes such diverse activities as farm tours, bed and breakfast farm stays, Christmas tree farms, corn mazes, agricultural/historical museums, petting farms, farm markets, food festivals, pick-your-own produce farms, roadside produce stands, nurseries, greenhouses, and wineries. Many farms also enhance the visitor’s experience with home cooked meals, pies and desserts, gift shops, picnic areas, hayrides, train rides, and even cooking and gardening classes.
California agri-tourism is a booming business. There are now over 600 farms throughout the state open to the public, generating an estimated $75 million a year to the state’s economy.For example, California food festivals such as the annual Garlic Festival in Gilroy, Selma’s Raisin Festival, and the California Strawberry Festival regularly attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Over 100,000 people a year visit Underwood Family Farms in Ventura County to pick their own produce, go on a tractor drawn wagon ride, climb the corn maze, and feed the farm animals. Another 60,000 people attend the farm’s Fall Harvest Festival each October.
California’s newest theme park, Gilroy’s 75-acre Bonfante Gardens, is a tribute to California agriculture with its rides shaped like garlic, giant talking produce characters, and old-time farm stand displays. Even Disney’s California Adventure Park pays tribute to California agriculture with the Bountiful Valley Farm and Golden Vine Winery attractions.
Why is agri-tourism so popular? One reason is that it provides visitors a unique opportunity to experience life on a farm, something urban dwellers can’t get. The farm experience has a slower pace, and a nostalgic feeling that comes from visiting the few remaining open, agricultural spaces left in the state. It also provides a diversity of family friendly activities with something to attract every age group.
Perhaps the most important benefit agri-tourism provides is to small and family farmers. California agriculture is a family activity with nearly 97 percent of California farms run by families. For many of these small farmers, opening their farms to the public is the only way they can remain in business and preserve their rapidly decreasing rural way of life.
Visit a farm, and you are doing your part to ensure that this rural way of life does not become extinct. Through your support of local, sustainable agriculture, land will be preserved for agricultural production. You can also see how farming fits into the natural landscape while providing a living to farmers.
As you travel from farm to farm, you will get a close look at the natural beauty of California’s agricultural heartland. You will travel on a culinary adventure through scenic farm areas like Castroville, the Artichoke Capital of the World; the Salinas Valley, known as The World’s Salad Bowl; Edna Valley’s Wine Country; Ventura County’s citrus-filled Heritage Valley; and San Diego County’s Fallbrook, the Avocado Capital of the World. Leisurely drives through California’s back roads, finds historic sites, quiet towns, and picturesque farms scattered throughout some of the state’s most scenic landscapes.
The most well know agri-tourism areas in California are the Napa Valley for wine tasting and Apple Hill for apples, and state associations have been formed in Sonoma County, El Dorado County, Placer County, Northern California’s Brentwood, Oak Glen, the Central Coast and elsewhere to produce farm trail maps and to market their farms. As a result, the state now has nearly 30 organized farm trails to make things easier for travelers, with trails from San Diego to the Gold Country.
One of the newest agri-tourism groups is in Mariposa County. While the area is known primarily as being home to Yosemite National Park, it has numerous agricultural treasures including wineries that are still uncrowded enough to provide a personal tasting experience for visitors, and many places to stay.
One of the first and best known agri-tourism sites in the state is the Pizza Farm at the Madera County Fairgrounds. This half-acre demonstration farm is divided into eight triangular slices, like a pizza, and grows everything needed to make a pizza including: tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, and onions. It’s a great way for children and adults to learn about California agriculture and how food is grown.
Another very popular farm, Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville, one of the oldest farms in the Pajaro Valley, is one of over 50 stops on the Country Crossroads Farm Trail in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. Gizdich, best known for its u-pick berries including strawberries, raspberries, ollalieberries, and blackberries, apples, and features delicious pies and other pastries.
Marin County, another area rich in agricultural history, particularly dairy farms, has made a commitment to preserving this heritage through the Marin Agricultural Land Trust or MALT; founded by a coalition of ranchers and environmentalists to focus entirely on farmland preservation. To date, MALT has saved about 50 family farms and 38,000 acres.
While in Marin County, visitors can stay at the charming B & B, Point Reyes Vineyard Inn, on a working farm. The inn is tucked between Inverness Ridge and the rolling hills of West Marin, offers vineyard views and is close to the Point Reyes National Seashore for hiking and bird watching.
One of the most unique agri-tourism sites in the state is the Fillmore and Western Railway Company. Its specialty trains travel leisurely through Ventura County’s scenic Heritage Valley, rolling through orange, lemon and avocado groves. Trains include the Pumpkinliner and Christmas Tree Trains where you can pick your own pumpkin or tree and bring it back on the train, Museum and Mural train; lunch and dinner trains for occasions such as Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Murder Mystery Trains.
Wineries have been a popular travel destination for many years especially in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. However, there are many wonderful wineries located up and down the state including the beautiful Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County’s Edna Valley Wine Country. Edna Valley Vineyard is well known for its estate Chardonnay and has a spectacular view from its tasting room. The large picture window looks out over the pastoral Valley, onto acres and acres of wine grapes and rolling hills. In addition to wine tasting, the restaurant and gift shop offer something for everyone, as well as winemaking tour
This has been just a small sample of some of the agri-tourism attractions in the state. There are literally hundreds more, so check out the list of organized farm trails and agricultural areas at the end of this story. You can also check local chambers of commerce, farm bureaus, and county agriculture commission offices for a listing in the areas you are interested in.
Judi Gerber is an agriculture and garden writer from Torrance, California and the author of the upcoming book Southern California Farm Adventures. Write to her at: farmwriter@californiafamilyfarms.com.
Argi-tourism Travel Tips
Keep in mind that many farms are clustered within certain farming regions. For this reason, many travelers enjoy visiting several farms in one day. If you are going to travel to several farms at once, it’s helpful to pack a picnic lunch or some snacks. You should also make sure you have a full tank of gas. Remember: restaurants, markets, and gas stations are usually found mainly in downtown areas or along major highways. Because you will be traveling through rural agricultural areas, towns are often separated by nothing but miles of farms. Also keep in mind that special events can change regular schedules. Some farms use their facilities for weddings or other private events that don’t allow uninvited guests. Remember: public concerts, festivals, or other special events may cause traffic delays and parking problems, so plan ahead. Please note that given the instability of many small farms, some may stop selling produce or close down with little or no notice. Always be sure to call ahead to check on current hours and availability of produce. Produce availability, variety, and harvest times are based on California growing seasons, the weather, and amount of rainfall each year.
Judi Gerber, a featured California Tour & Travel Magazine Columnist is an agriculture and garden writer from Torrance California, and the author of the upcoming book Farming in Torrance and the South Bay by Arcadia Publishing. Write to her at farmwriter@californiafamilyfarms.com or visit www.lafarmgirl.blogspot.com
