The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) hosted its seventh Safe Fruits and Veggies Farm Tour for registered dietitians, health and nutrition writers and influencers from Aug. 12-14, 2024 on California’s Central Coast.
Western Growers was one of the sponsors of the tour, where participants visited Good Farms, Golden State Farms, the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, Limoneira and Terry Farms.
“These tours have become a crucial part of the AFF’s continuous efforts to provide science-based information to media and consumers about farming and produce safety,” says Teresa Thorne, AFF Executive Director. “Our guests reach millions of consumers so they are able to communicate to a wide audience about their experiences on the farms as well as the care and commitment of farmers and farm workers to provide safe, nutritious food.”
The AFF’s list of tour guests included Steph Grasso, Samar Kullab, Angela Lemond, Carolyn O’Neil, Kylie Sakaida, Ayat Sleymann, Dalina Soto and Caroline Thomason.
A few notable facts shared with the tour attendees:
- California produced 2.4 billion pounds of strawberries last year.
- An estimated 90% of strawberries in the U.S. are grown in California.
- The lifecycle of a lemon tree can be 100 years.
- It takes about five to six years for a lemon tree to be in production to pay for itself.
- Every year, 25,000 acres in California are dedicated to growing peppers.
To add value to the experience, the AFF invites scientists on the tour to deliver expert insights on matters that include food safety, regulations and toxicology. This year’s guests included Dr. Carl Winter, Extension Food Toxicologist Emeritus, UC Davis, and Dr. Tamika Sims, Senior Director of Food Technology Communications for the International Food Information Council.
In addition to Western Growers, sponsors of the tour included the California Strawberry Commission and the International Fresh Produce Association.
