by Linda R Antonioli
OrganicHotspots.org
FallbrookOrganicTrail.com
As an organic grower, I have had the great pleasure of visiting over the past couple weeks almost half a dozen farms of varying sizes throughout Northern San Diego County that are engaged in agritourism. Traveling the bucolic backroads of Northern San Diego County has been an important part of my fact-finding and personal "enlightenment" as Chair of the new Organic Agritourism Committee, CCOF Pacific Southwest Chapter (CA Certified Organic Farmers). CCOF members represent about 300 farms and other members across the Pacific Southwest region, with our Chapter based in San Diego County.
Both organic and conventional farms number about 6,000 in San Diego County, and there is an opportunity for interested growers to earn additional income for their working farms through agritourism. These options cover a broad spectrum, such as weddings, cooking classes, art courses, farm-to-table dinners, U-pick harvesting, farm stands, yoga, nature walks, corporate events, tours, and even overnight "glamping."
San Diego's water is the most expensive in the world, and pure, growing methods free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides create additional expenses for certified-organic farmers. Agritourism can mean survival for some farms. The CCOF Pacific Southwest Chapter wants to help. Through farm assessments and other support, the Chapter will work to assist interested growers. Information will be forthcoming in the months ahead through social media, mailings, and Chapter meetings and events, including our next meeting in April 2018 (date/location tbd).
This new blog is something I have been encouraged to do for some time, as a way to convey timely information about agritourism that is centered on member farms, including upcoming events, and updates for the public.
I think, perhaps, at the heart of it all, our Committee's motto should be, "COME AND MEET THE FOOD YOU EAT!"
Until next time.
OrganicHotspots.org
FallbrookOrganicTrail.com
As an organic grower, I have had the great pleasure of visiting over the past couple weeks almost half a dozen farms of varying sizes throughout Northern San Diego County that are engaged in agritourism. Traveling the bucolic backroads of Northern San Diego County has been an important part of my fact-finding and personal "enlightenment" as Chair of the new Organic Agritourism Committee, CCOF Pacific Southwest Chapter (CA Certified Organic Farmers). CCOF members represent about 300 farms and other members across the Pacific Southwest region, with our Chapter based in San Diego County.
Both organic and conventional farms number about 6,000 in San Diego County, and there is an opportunity for interested growers to earn additional income for their working farms through agritourism. These options cover a broad spectrum, such as weddings, cooking classes, art courses, farm-to-table dinners, U-pick harvesting, farm stands, yoga, nature walks, corporate events, tours, and even overnight "glamping."
San Diego's water is the most expensive in the world, and pure, growing methods free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides create additional expenses for certified-organic farmers. Agritourism can mean survival for some farms. The CCOF Pacific Southwest Chapter wants to help. Through farm assessments and other support, the Chapter will work to assist interested growers. Information will be forthcoming in the months ahead through social media, mailings, and Chapter meetings and events, including our next meeting in April 2018 (date/location tbd).
This new blog is something I have been encouraged to do for some time, as a way to convey timely information about agritourism that is centered on member farms, including upcoming events, and updates for the public.
I think, perhaps, at the heart of it all, our Committee's motto should be, "COME AND MEET THE FOOD YOU EAT!"
Until next time.
