San Diego County Farm Bureau presents
 |
Enjoy a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how your food and flowers are grown in this third annual Farm Tour Day in North San Diego County. Guided walking tours led by the farmers themselves will take you through their unique farming operations and showcase a variety of the region’s agricultural specialties. Demonstrations, samples, and other fun activities will delight all ages. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
RESERVE TODAY!
At www.sdfarmbureau.org/Tour
$20 adults
$10 children ages 6-17 (under 6 free)
Because of the growing popularity of this event, it’s become necessary to create more tour opportunities. Farm Tour Day will follow a new format this year. There will be two tour routes to follow:
Tour A: EAST OCEANSIDE/FALLBROOK TOURS
Mellano & Company
This third-generation, family owned and operated grower-shipper-wholesaler annually produces 100 million stems from more than 50 varieties of the most perfect flowers, fillers and greens grown at its Oceanside (San Luis Rey) facility and the famous Carlsbad Flower Fields. The tour will show off Mellano & Company’s Oceanside facility, its signature and newest crops, its environmentally oriented production and harvest processes, and a comprehensive recycling program that includes the biodiesel fuel for their tractors.
Sunlet Nursery
Get a close-up look at what goes into being a premiere grower of florist-quality potted plants for interiors, outdoor gardens and patios before their products are shipped off to your favorite garden center. You’ll appreciate the meticulous attention to detail as your tour the different growing environments at this award-winning Fallbrook nursery and learn a few of the secrets to their success.
Eli’s Farm
You don’t even need to have your own home garden to appreciate what Eli Hofshi brings to the table. More than 30 different vegetable crops in long, neat rows bursting with color will have your minding swirling with dinner menu ideas. You name it - whatever is in season will be growing at Eli’s Farm, where he will share some of his growing techniques. After your tour, Eli will also provide some of his family’s time-tested recipes, and a variety of freshly harvested crops will also be available for sale.
Kessel Farm
Kessel Farm grows 2,000 Lisbon lemon trees on 25 acres and is one of the last lemon production groves in Fallbrook. Barbara Kessel, who grew up in agriculture, works with the local 4H and FFA groups and runs the farm, will show you the farm’s state-of-the-art drip irrigation system and how the high-tech controller determines how much water the trees need. She will also share her techniques that maintain soil moisture, handle weed and snails, and other farming challenges. And get the scoop on the right way to pick a lemon.
Tour B: VALLEY CENTER TOURS
Triple B Ranches Vineyard and Winery
Meet winemaker Chris Broomell and his enologist wife, Alysha Stehly, at the Broomell’s four-generation Valley Center ranch, vineyard and winery, and stroll through the 10-acre vineyard as they share their vision and craft of producing estate wines. The tour will share some of their unique grape-growing techniques on Viognier, Vermentino, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. After the tour, visit their tasting room to sample a few vintages, as well as a few under Chris and Alysha’s own Vesper Vineyards label. Learn how they are working toward establishing San Diego as its own wine region.
Rancho Monte Vista
Warren Lyall and his two sons farm 160 acres of citrus in Pauma Valley that was started by Warren’s grandparents in 1933. But now they are converting some of their Valencia groves to Cara Cara and Powell navel varieties, and you’ll find out what’s behind this transition. You’ll also learn about the Lyall’s newest “crop”: the more than 1,000 solar panels they installed two years ago across 1-1/2 acres that generates about a megawatt per day to power the irrigation pumps to water those 16,500 trees.
Taj Farms
Many people first learned about Jack Ford’s turkey farm last fall, when he offered to sell hundreds of his organically fed, free-range turkeys to the public for the first time after six years raising the animals primarily for family and friends. TAJ Farms is dedicated to sustainable and responsible agricultural practices for a variety of poultry products as well as beef, pork, lamb and goat. Your tour will provide a snapshot of the farm’s operations, introduce you to their approach to agriculture and the farm-to-table experience, and include samples of their food products.
Altman Plants
Altman Plants, the largest wholesale grower of cactus and succulents in the U.S., invites you to its scenic Lilac Ridge facility that borders Escondido and Valley Center. More than 100 different varieties of euphorbia are grown here, primarily from seed and cuttings from motherstock you’ll find in abundance around the property. Learn more about Altman’s breeding and propagation programs; how they control plant growth using irrigation and fertilizers; and see the growing stages of plants from tiny seed flats all the way up to potted products ready for retail sale.
RESERVE TODAY!
At www.sdfarmbureau.org/Tour
$20 adults
$10 children ages 6-17 (under 6 free)