California Growers Can Learn Agritourism
May 8, 2012 The University of California Small Farm Program and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Division of Fairs and Expositions are teaming up to connect fruit, vegetable, nut, and flower farmers with county and regional fairs to celebrate California specialty crops. Together they are organizing workshops and tours for farmers and agricultural leaders at seven different fairs throughout the state, to be held during fair time in the 2012 fair season.
Each workshop will feature fair officials teaching farmers some of their methods for safely entertaining thousands of people, presentations by farmers currently involved with local fairs or local agritourism, interactive discussions on potential collaborations between specialty crop growers, agritourism operators and fairs, and guided tours of the fair facilities.
Farmers, agritourism operators, and fair leaders from surrounding counties are welcome to participate in each fair workshop. Also especially welcome are county agricultural commissioners, Farm Bureau leaders, tourism professionals, farm advisors and educators, fair and festival vendors, and entertainers.
Registration is open, but space is limited. Workshop registration costs $20, which includes lunch and a tour.
Workshop Schedule (all events are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Thursday, June 14 – Shasta District Fair
1890 Briggs Street, Anderson
register for the Shasta workshop
• Thursday, July 26 – Amador County Fair
18621 Sherwood, Plymouth
register for the Amador workshop
• Thursday, August 2 – Ventura County Fair
10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
register for the Ventura workshop
• Thursday, August 9 – Napa Town & Country Fair
575 Third Street, Napa
register for the Napa workshop
• Thursday, August 16 – Yolo County Fair
1125 East Street, Woodland
register for the Yolo workshop
• Thursday, September 13 – Santa Cruz County Fair
2601 E. Lake Avenue, Watsonville
register for the Santa Cruz workshop
• Thursday, October 4 – Big Fresno Fair
1121 South Chance Avenue, Fresno
register for the Fresno workshop
For more information, contact Diana Paluszak, CDFA Division of Fairs & Expositions, 916-263-2967, or Penny Leff, University of California Small Farm Program, 530-752-7779.