Farm Agriculture Tours in Salinas Valley, CA

Includes Interactive Learning and Fresh Organic Food Tastings

Aug 29, 2009

A trip to see the local farm life where organic produce is grown in Salinas Valley, CA, is filled with fun and interactive learning tours for people of all ages.

Almost every town in the San Francisco Bay Area offers local organic produce in their community farmers market. Where does this produce come from? Fertile soil lies under the metropolitan region of Silicon Valley, which was once known as the Valley of the Heart’s Delight. This is when fruit orchards first ruled instead of computers.

Tourists may still travel to similar agriculture attractions where this organic produce is grown, indulge in fruit tasting, and go on farm tours with a local farmer to see the entire farming process in the fields. South of San Jose, in the towns of Salinas, Gilroy and Morgan Hill, farm life and processes for fresh organic produce are still visible with crops grown by farmers.

The Farm Near Salinas, CA

Stop at The Farm on Hwy 68, located in the picturesque Salinas Valley between Salinas and Monterey, to still find a typical scene the American writer, John Steinbeck, describes in many of his books about the rural agriculture region he grew up in. Tourists view the “giant people sculptures” located in the fields of the Farm which were all designed by local artist, John Cerney, and assisted on occasion by Dong Sun Kim. The sculptures represent agriculture workers in the field.

This has been a working Farm since the 1930’s, and is now an actual demonstration Farm owned by Crown Packing Company where visitors may stop to buy organic produce like lettuce, cauliflower, artichokes, carrots, and strawberries; taste samples of this produce, see the farm animals, and take basic Farm Tours. Farm Tours are interactive and guided by a farmer with a tractor and trailer teaching about how this produce is grown. Tours are available Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 1 p.m. and costs $6 for anyone 12 years and older; $4 for ages 2 – 11.

This Farm qualifies for growing “organic produce” by the government standards, or meaning there are no chemicals used during the growing process. Attending assorted events through the year, tasting of fruits and vegetables, and puppet shows teaching the farming process to children are highlights of what the Farm offers. Call for reservations (831) 455-2575.

After learning about the fresh organic produce and farming process, the day should finish by tasting these local foods with a delicious home cooked meal by volunteer docents at the childhood Victorian home of John Steinbeck in Salinas.

Andy’s Orchards, located on a thirty acre farm just outside of Morgan Hill, CA, is a rest stop specifically for fresh grown fruit tasting samples. People recognize Andy Mariani as a family tradition of fruit orchards in Santa Clara Valley. Shopping at their produce store and attending events like Fruit Tastings and Harvest walks make this a distinctive experience for visitors held during the summer and holiday months of November and December. Tours may be scheduled at other times by calling in advance. (408) 782-7600

A local guide on these tours talks about information of the farm stand, the store/museum, the orchard, landscaped areas, the packing and drying facilities for orchards, the history of fruit, the Santa Clara Valley, fruit growing, marketing, varieties, and more.

Another fabulous attraction which should not be forgotten on this agriculture tour itinerary is the actual working wholesale breeder of hybrid flower seeds. Goldsmith Seeds is one of the largest wholesale breeders seeds in the world located west of Gilroy, CA, near Gilroy Gardens.

Goldsmith Seeds develops and produces flower seeds for seed companies and growers internationally. The “Field of Dreams” gardens are open to see seven days a week during daylight hours, and free tours may be arranged by request. (408) 847-7333

A current trend of fresh organic produce at farmers markets in most communities take a step further now with fun and interactive learning about the complexities of farming through agriculture farm tours in Salinas Valley, CA.

The copyright of the article Farm Agriculture Tours in Salinas Valley, CA in North American Culinary Travel is owned by Donna West. Permission to republish Farm Agriculture Tours in Salinas Valley, CA in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.