Backyard Orchard News
UC offers a publication on agritourism and nature tourism.
UC's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources offers many publications to help people help themselves. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of providing agritourism or nature tourism, the publication, Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California - Second Edition, by Holly George and Ellie Rilla may interest you. It is 151 pages and costs $25.
UC offers a publication on agritourism and nature tourism. To order, follow the link in this blog:
Agritourism an option in the San Joaquin Valley.
Even though the typical San Joaquin Valley farm is focused exclusively on food production, local growers can profit from increasing interest in agritourism, reported Helen Tracey-Noren in the Fresno Bee. The concept was touted at a recent forum in Fresno where CDFA secretary Karen Ross and the CEO of Visit California, Caroline Beteta, spoke about the agritourism trend.
"It's about, 'here's what farmers and ranchers are doing as your neighbors,' their environmental stewardship," said Ross. "It's about the pride of what we produce here, and it's about this wonderful lifestyle and supporting the economy at the same time."
Penny Leff, the agritourism coordinator with the UC small farm program, also participated in the event. She said that from 2007 to 2012, agritourism has picked up in California.
"Most families don't have anyone on the farm anymore to go visit," Leff said. "Farmers are interested in educating the public in what's going on, what goes into making the food. They really want to share with the public and make them understand."
The story gave the example of Debbie and Jim Van Haun, a Sanger couple who opened Sequoia View Bed and Breakfast about 15 years ago, and fixed up an adjoining vineyard in 2003. They said that during the summer season, the area could use more businesses to handle all the tourists.
Offering dinner in a winery barn is a form of agritouism.
'The Well': The Hammocks Did It Well
There are no bugs in the film. None. Just because an entomologist is cast in a Hollywood movie,...
Professor Bruce Hammock in his office in Briggs Hall, UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Looking for a Thistle
Perhaps it was searching for a thistle. The Mylitta Crescent butterfly (Physiodes mylitta) did not...
Mylitta Crescent butterfly (Physiodes mylitta) on the leaf of a tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Occupied! This bull thistle is occupied by a spotted cucumber beetle. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Local residents learn more about how Kearney helps them at Parlier Earth Day.
Over 30 nonprofit, educational and government organizations attended Parlier Earth Day in April, where about 2000 local residents increased their awareness of how these groups can help them. Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center provided information on how we work on integrated pest management strategies and uses for biopesticides to help ensure an abundant supply of affordable and safe food. Attendees were very interested in discussing how this work at Kearney directly helped them.
Rodolfo Cisneros sharing information about Kearney with a local resident at the 2014 Parlier Earth Day.