California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: California Grown

  • Registration Open for 2026 California Agritourism Summit

    The UC Ag and Natural Resources Agritourism is approaching and accepting registrations. From Sept. 23–25, San Luis Obispo County will become a hub for agritourism knowledge exchange.

    Through keynote speakers, panel discussions and breakout sessions, summit participants will gain practical tools to strengthen agritourism in California. By visiting local farms, attendees can learn directly from business owners.

    Find all the details on the event and register.

    Event organizer Rachael Callahan, UC SAREP statewide agritourism coordinator, is excited to introduce attendees to the area’s diverse operations.

    “We’re going to an urban farm. Then we’ll be out on a big, huge cattle ranch. And an indoor mushroom growing facility,” said Callahan. “San Luis Obispo just has a lot to offer in terms of scale and products.”

    The program is tailored for multiple audiences: current agritourism operators, policymakers, regulators and tourism and economic development professionals.

    Growers may take interest in breakout sessions on emergency preparedness or strategies for accessing capital. Tourism and economic development professionals can learn how to attract agritourism to their regions. The networking sessions hosted by event supporter California Grown will bring all stakeholders together while enjoying the state’s agricultural bounty.

    According to Callahan, the summit coincides with the agritourism industry receiving increased attention and validation. Last year, California lawmakers passed legislation that streamlines permitting for low-impact camping on private sites. The decision was met with cheer from the agritourism industry, especially growers interested in hosting campers.

    “Passing low-impact camping legislation was a big accomplishment,” said Callahan, who hopes the law will inspire conversations and new ideas to facilitate continued growth in the industry. “What can we learn? What other pathways can we open up?”

    Lynette Sonne, founder of FARMstead ED, a summit partner and agritourism nonprofit in San Luis Obispo, expressed gratitude about the summit coming to her county.

    “We look forward to wandering off the beaten path, with new friends and old, to discover urban farms, tucked-away family ranches and hand-crafted goods made right along the trail. These are places shaped by seasons, sweat and tradition,” Sonne said.

    For growers or other land managers interested in adding agritourism to their operations, visit the California Agritourism website to learn about getting started in the industry and sign up for the e-newsletter to find local workshops hosted by UC ANR.

    The 2026 California Agritourism Summit is organized by UC SAREP in collaboration with the 2026 planning committee, summit supporters and sponsors. Summit co-hosts include California Grown, FARMstead ED/SLO County Farm Trail, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and Siskiyou Economic Development. — Story contributed by UC Ag and Natural Resources

  • What is California Grown? New Board Chair Shares Perspective

    What is California Grown, its Mission, and what it means to the hundreds of agricultural commodities it represents? Malcolm Media Editor-in-Chief Matthew Malcolm met with the new Chair of the organization, Kiaran Locy from the California Prune Board to find out. Watch this video if you love agriculture and want to learn more.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot Grower Solutions for their industry support.

  • Fig Harvest is Here – California Fresh Fig Industry Poised for Growth

    Madera, California, is the nation’s capitol for fig production. Fresh fig harvest is well underway and growers are expecting the best crop they’ve had in years. Karla Stockli CEO of the California Fresh Fig Growers Association and California Fig Advisory Board met with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share an exciting outlook for the 2024 crop and bright future of the fig industry. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Southern California Gas Company for their industry support.

  • California Table Olive Forecast & Protection from Foreign Imports

    California is the nation’s primary producer of many specialty crops, and table olives is among those choice commodities. Todd Sanders from the Olive Growers Council of California visited with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to provide an update on the developing 2024 olive crop as well as emphasizing the need for the U.S. to continue protecting the industry from foreign imports with an anti-dumping tariff. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Southern California Gas Company for their industry support.

  • 2024 California Apple Forecast & New Campaign to Boost Sales

    As apple harvest begins this month in California, Matthew Malcolm from California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine met with the California Apple Commission’s new Director of Programs, Jacqueline Nakashian, to discuss the outlook of the crop this year and an exciting partnership and marketing campaign that will be launching during harvest to boost sales for California grown apples. Watch this brief interview and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Southern California Gas Company for their industry support.

  • New California Fresh Fruit Association President Highlights Priorities

    Watch this brief video at the 88th annual conference of the California Fresh Fruit Association featuring the organization’s new President, Daniel Hartwig. Learn about Hartwig and the priorities of the organization moving forward to protect the interests of California table grape, tree fruit and berry growers.

  • California Blueberry Growers Anticipate and Welcome Largest Crop Ever

    As blueberry harvest begins in California, watch this brief video of California Fruit & Vegetable Editor Matthew Malcolm interviewing Todd Sanders from the California Blueberry Commission, who anticipates California’s largest harvest of blueberries ever this season.