The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) held its eighth Safe Fruits and Veggies Farm Tour on August 4–6, welcoming a group of registered dietitians, nutrition writers and social media influencers to California’s Salinas Valley. The tour featured visits to strawberry and vegetable farms, including stops at Naturipe Berry Growers and D’Arrigo California, where participants learned about integrated pest management, biodiversity, automated harvesting technologies, food safety and sustainability practices.

“Through these influencers’ social posts and media outreach, these tours have become an important and impactful way to show the daily commitment by farmers and farming companies to provide safe and nutritious produce to consumers,” said Teresa Thorne, Executive Director at AFF, in a press release.

The AFF’s tour guests included:  Laura Burak, Samantha Cassetty, Jessica Crandall Snyder, Ginger Hultin, Charlotte Martin,  Nijya Noble,  Sarah Schlichter and Alexandra Turnbull.

Attendees, who contribute to major media outlets like NBC News, The Today Show, WebMD and Women’s Health, gained hands-on experience, including strawberry picking and exploring plant breeding and harvesting technologies. The tour also featured insights from Dr. Tamika Sims of the International Food Information Council, who shared expertise on food safety and regulations.

Since 2017, the AFF has hosted more than 60 influencers to strengthen its mission of promoting science-based information about produce safety.

In addition to Western Growers, sponsors of the tour included the California Strawberry Commission, D’Arrigo California and the International Fresh Produce Association.