The Berries & the Bees Farm Frolic and U-Pick
Sunday, July 23, 2017, 10:15 am - 3:00 pm
Come see what the buzz is all about. If you want to get your M-bee-A in beekeeping AND pick some of the best berries grown in the Bay Area while supporting fair labor practices, join us for this south-of-the-city outing to Snyders Honey and Swanton Berry Farm.
Bees are already very smart—you’ll find out just how smart on this outing!—but are Stanford University bees even smarter? Will eating their honey make you a rocket scientist? We’ll meet with beekeepers Bill and Ann Snyders to get a peek inside the hives and try some honey (so please bring your EpiPens if you’re allergic!).
Continuing our flight path, get an education in food justice at Swanton Berry Farm, the nation’s first berry farm to be certified organic and the first organic farm to sign a contract with the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO. We’ll be arriving when berry season is in full swing. After a bit of talking and tasting, you’ll have an opportunity to pick your own berries to take home (cost not included in the tour).
Tickets include a farm-fresh lunch featuring seasonal produce, courtesy of CUESA, and tastes at both stops (more details below).
Please note that transportation is not provided for this tour, but directions and parking information will be emailed to all confirmed attendees.
Where to meet: Meet at the West Campus Tennis Courts parking area at Stanford University, where we will convene with Bill and Ann Snyders and walk to their beehives nearby. Please don’t be late, as we cannot wait for stragglers.
Things to know: The weather can be unpredictable. Please dress in layers. Shoes must be appropriate for walking around the farm, closed-toe and preferably waterproof. It is unlikely the bees will be agressive, but almost everyone will have a local reaction to a bee sting, which can be painful. However, if you are anaphylactically allergic to bee stings, you know that is a life-threatening condition, and you should be sure to carry an EpiPen in case you are stung.
The tour is geared toward adults and will probably not be enjoyable for young children. Children who are likely to appreciate an adult-level tour are welcome to come with their guardians. Please call if you have questions.
Bring: A water bottle, layers, sunscreen. Optional: snacks, a camera, and cash for purchases. We will do our best to finish by 3:00 pm at Swanton Berry Farm, but traffic conditions can be unpredictable and we can’t guarantee an exact end time for our tour.
We sincerely thank our farm tour sponsor, First National Bank of Northern California, for underwriting tour costs.
Please note: Tickets are nonrefundable but are transferable to another guest for this tour.
A note about price: CUESA is committed to providing accessible food system education to all. If you are interested in a scholarship for one of our farm tours, please email Carrie Sullivan (carrie@cuesa.org) for a scholarship application.