As the Farm Smart program at the University of California Desert Research and Extension Center ends its season, attendance numbers reveal an overwhelming response from winter visitors.
According to program outreach coordinator Nancy Caywood, the program has had 2,819 winter visitors this year.
That number includes attendance from locals, but also from the Imperial Valley winter visitors who usually come from the north to spend their winter in warmer lands.
“We have a lot of them that just come in and they say they just really have a respect for farmers as they find out what goes into vegetable production and also cotton as well,” Caywood said.
She said this has been a very good year for the program and it has broken daily records almost every day.
For the winter visitors, this is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Valley and many of them come every year and bring their friends.
Canadian resident Linda Ashbaugh said the main reason she comes every year is the picking of the vegetables.
“Because it is fun and I wanted to introduce my Canadian friends to the farm tour,” Ashbaugh said. “I knew we’d get to pick some vegetables right from the field.”
Every year, the Farm Smart visitors get a PowerPoint presentation on the farm, they get to make a recipe and then they get to go on a hay ride around the farm.
“Our mission is to nurture an awareness about agriculture and natural and renewable resources,” Caywood said.
For many winter visitors, this is their only chance to pick up fresh produce since the weather in their hometowns is usually very cold.
“The veggies and everything is so nice and green; at home it is white,” said Anna Hildebrand, a visitor from Canada.
Dates for the winter visitors program have already been set for next season. It starts Jan. 22 and ends Feb. 26.
The program is made possible thanks to many donations from companies around the Valley. Caywood said the community is what makes the program successful.
“Without our community we cannot have this,” Caywood said. “In a way we want to represent the community and make this a very positive program for our winter visitors.”
Multimedia Producer Laura Gonzalez can be reached at 760-337-3440 or lgonzalez@ivpressonline.com
According to program outreach coordinator Nancy Caywood, the program has had 2,819 winter visitors this year.
That number includes attendance from locals, but also from the Imperial Valley winter visitors who usually come from the north to spend their winter in warmer lands.
“We have a lot of them that just come in and they say they just really have a respect for farmers as they find out what goes into vegetable production and also cotton as well,” Caywood said.
She said this has been a very good year for the program and it has broken daily records almost every day.
For the winter visitors, this is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Valley and many of them come every year and bring their friends.
Canadian resident Linda Ashbaugh said the main reason she comes every year is the picking of the vegetables.
“Because it is fun and I wanted to introduce my Canadian friends to the farm tour,” Ashbaugh said. “I knew we’d get to pick some vegetables right from the field.”
Every year, the Farm Smart visitors get a PowerPoint presentation on the farm, they get to make a recipe and then they get to go on a hay ride around the farm.
“Our mission is to nurture an awareness about agriculture and natural and renewable resources,” Caywood said.
For many winter visitors, this is their only chance to pick up fresh produce since the weather in their hometowns is usually very cold.
“The veggies and everything is so nice and green; at home it is white,” said Anna Hildebrand, a visitor from Canada.
Dates for the winter visitors program have already been set for next season. It starts Jan. 22 and ends Feb. 26.
The program is made possible thanks to many donations from companies around the Valley. Caywood said the community is what makes the program successful.
“Without our community we cannot have this,” Caywood said. “In a way we want to represent the community and make this a very positive program for our winter visitors.”
Multimedia Producer Laura Gonzalez can be reached at 760-337-3440 or lgonzalez@ivpressonline.com
