The Alliance for Food and Farming hosted its fifth Safe Fruits and Veggies Farm Tour for registered dietitians, health and nutrition writers and influencers from Sept. 12-14, 2022 in the San Joaquin Valley.

Western Growers was one of the sponsors of the tour, during which participants visited Porterville Citrus, HMC Farms, Family Tree Farms, Jasmine Vineyards and McKellar Family Farms.

“This tour allows our guests to experience a day in the life of farming and how farmers and farm workers work to provide safe and healthy fruits and vegetables every day,” says Kate Tynan, AFF Board Chair and Senior Vice President of the Northwest Horticultural Council.  “These influencer tours enhance AFF efforts to share our fact-based information with media and consumers about the care and commitment of produce farmers to grow these nutrient-dense foods.”

The AFF’s list of 2022 tour guests included: Julie Andrews, Deanna Belleny Lewis, Mandy Enright, Maya Feller, Lauren Harris-Pincus, Sally Kuzemchak, Heather Mangieri, Vandana Sheth and Manuel Villacorta.

In addition to Western Growers, sponsors of the tour included: California Citrus Mutual, California Fresh Fruit Association, California Table Grape Commission, International Fresh Produce Association and Pear Bureau Northwest.

The AFF also includes scientists on the tour to provide technical expertise. This year, Dr. Trevor Suslow, Extension Research Specialist Emeritus, University of California, Davis, Department of Plant Sciences and Principal of T & K Suslow Consulting LLC joined the tour.

The AFF’s goal is to provide science-based safety information about organic and conventional produce so consumers can make the best shopping choices for themselves and their families. The cornerstone of the AFF’s outreach efforts is the safefruitsandveggies.com website, which includes information about farming, nutrition, health, toxicology and risk analysis for consumers, media and nutritionists and dietitians.

Photos from the Alliance for Food and Farming tour can be found by clicking here to visit the Western Growers Facebook page.