AFF’s 7th Influencer Tour Highlights Important Work of Produce Farmers and Farm Workers

The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) hosted its seventh Safe Fruits and Veggies Farm Tour for registered dietitians, health and nutrition writers and social influencers on August 12, 13 and 14 featuring crops on the Central Coast of California. Participants visited strawberry, citrus and vegetable farms, toured a citrus packing facility as well as learned more about on-farm tech innovations at the Cal Poly Strawberry Center.

“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.

The 2024 tour guests are contributors to Good Morning America, The Today Show, Washington Post, ABC News, Food and Wine, Vogue, Southern Living, Parents, Eating Well, Food Network, Shape, Forbes, among others.  In addition to their significant reach in mainstream media, they have millions of combined followers on social media.

On the first full day, tour guests visited Good Farms and Golden State Farms in Santa Maria. At Good Farms, they learned more in-depth information about strawberry production and harvest.  Guests were also challenged to pick strawberries themselves to see firsthand the skill it takes to harvest a quality tray for consumers.  They then viewed the professional harvesting crew in action.

“The guests were definitely amazed by the crews at Good Farms and the skill it takes to harvest a quality tray of berries. They left with an enhanced appreciation for the berries they see in the produce aisle,” Thorne said.

In addition to harvest and production, the team at Good Farms also showed their new film-seal packaging technology which reduces plastic use and increases the shelf-life of strawberries.

Next the tour group visited Golden State Farms, to learn more about pest and disease control strategies where they viewed a Bug-Vac in operation.  The Bug-Vac is a tractor-mounted, mechanical lygus-control measure which effectively removes 50% to 60% of the lygus from the field.

Golden State Farms is a two-generation, family-run operation founded by Manuel and Sylvia Paniagua, who were formerly farm workers, and their daughter, Mayra.  Many California strawberry farmers also established their farms after working in the fields illustrating the opportunities for advancement the industry provides.

After lunch, the AFF guests toured the Cal Poly Strawberry Center with Director Dr. Gerald Holmes and his team of scientists and grad students. Guests learned about the latest research in entomology, plant pathology as well as innovations in automation to improve labor efficiency. The guests were also able to examine the damage caused by soil pests and diseases in the experimental fields.

On day two, Limoneira hosted the guests in Ventura and provided tours of their lemon groves, including their adoption of a trellising system that allows for denser plantings for more effective land use as well as an overview of sustainable farming practices used in citrus production. Guests also toured Limoneira’s packing facilities and on-site solar farm.

A visit to Terry Farms’ bell pepper and pimento fields completed the tour. Will Terry provided guests with information about the unique nature of the Ventura County Farming region as well as how bell peppers are grown and harvested in the field.  Terry Farms is a 135-year-old, multi-generational farming operation.

To help advance the AFF’s mission of providing credible, science-based information, 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, also joined the tour so guests had access to their food safety, regulatory and toxicology knowledge throughout the experience.

Since the first tour in 2017, the AFF has provided over 55 influencers with a unique on-farm, multi-commodity experience.  This has allowed the AFF to build a strong network of nutrition communicators which has enhanced the organization’s work to communicate fact-based information to consumers as well as counter misinformation about the safety of produce.

The AFF extends sincere appreciation to the sponsors who made this tour possible including the California Strawberry Commission the International Fresh Produce Association, and Western Growers Association.

“Our thanks to all of our guests, sponsors, Dr. Winter and Dr. Sims, the farmers and facility managers for making this tour such a special event,” Thorne says.  “These tours are always so educational, insightful and motivating for everyone involved.  It also re-invigorates our pride in our amazing farming community as they work diligently every day to provide safe and wholesome fruits and vegetables to consumers.”

To see many of the real-time social media posts by guests, visit @safeproduce.

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The Alliance for Food and Farming is a non-profit organization formed in 1989 which represents organic and conventional farmers and farms of all sizes.  Alliance contributors are limited to farmers of fruits and vegetables, companies that sell, market or ship fruits and vegetables or organizations that represent produce farmers.  Our mission is to deliver credible information about the safety of fruits and vegetables.  Learn more at safefruitsandveggies.com.