U-Pick Summer Fruit Farm Tour
Sunday, July 10, 2016, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Work your way among the vines and uncover some delicious fruit on this tour of two family farms. Glashoff Farms and Capay Organic will host us for a day of berry and tomato picking and a glimpse into farm life.
Did you know that tomatoes are actually a fruit, botanically speaking, and that blackberries are a member of the rose family? Learn more about the variety of fruit and nuts grown by Glashoff Farms, and the vast array of vegetables and fruits grown by Capay Organic on this all-day tour.
Tickets include round-trip transportation from the Ferry Building in San Francisco in a comfortable bus, berries and cherry tomatoes you will pick yourselves, and a farm-fresh lunch featuring seasonal produce, courtesy of CUESA.
About Glashoff Farms
Larry and Maria Glashoff are both third-generation farmers in Suisun Valley. At Glashoff Farms, they currently farm 89 acres, which includes the site of the original Glashoff Ranch established by Larry’s grandfather, Herman, in the early 1900’s. Maria’s grandparents’ farm was right down the road. The Glashoff family’s interest in and love of farming led them to open Glashoff’s Fruit stand in the early 1970’s. The fruit stand became well known for its quality fruits and vegetables grown on the farm. While a number of changes have taken place since then, including the growth of their family, Larry and Maria continue to sell their produce directly to the public. They now specialize in boysenberries, 4 varieties of blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Larry’s interest in growing berries began with a 4-H project when he was 13 years old. Larry and Maria also grow oranges, prunes, walnuts, and craft low sugar homemade jams, jellies and marmalades as well as fresh squeezed orange juice and roasted walnut oil. In addition to their love of farming, they strive to be good stewards of the family farm. Larry and Maria are constantly searching for better ways to grow their product in a sustainable manner. That means organic methods of pest control, drip irrigation, bird netting, and hand weeding where possible. They have been able to dramatically reduce their use of chemicals and for most of their crops, including all berries and walnuts, they have totally eliminated chemical pesticides.
About Capay Organic
In 1976, inspired by the idea of farming sustainably, Kathy Barsotti and Martin Barnes started Capay Organic farm with 20 acres of star thistle and a dream. Today at Capay Organic their three sons uphold their parents’ vision by practicing healthy crop rotation, encouraging a diverse ecosystem around the fields, efficiently using local water sources, and carefully selecting produce varieties that grow well and taste great. The micro-climate and soil type at their location in the fertile Capay Valley creates an ideal farming environment for nearly 60 types and over 130 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Their diverse crop list allows them to offer fresh, organic, seasonal produce to wholesale, retail, foodservice and restaurant partners year-round. The family has made it their mission to transform agriculture in America by connecting local farms and communities using methods that are environmentally and economically sustainable. With the help of their wives, their family of employees, and the budding third generation of their families, Noah, Thaddeus and Freeman are continuing the food revolution that began on their farm 40 years ago.
Where to meet: Meet in front of the Ferry Building on the south side of the clock tower, at the curb. Please arrive by 8:45 am; we leave at 9:00 am. Please be prompt! 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 farms, closed-toe and preferably waterproof.
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, a book or other entertainment for the bus, and cash for purchases. We will do our best to return by 5:00 pm, but traffic conditions can be unpredictable and we can’t guarantee a punctual arrival.
We sincerely thank our farm tour sponsor, First National Bank of Northern California, for underwriting tour costs and Coach 21 for providing a discount on the bus charter fee.
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.