Locals and visitors alike will have a chance to explore San
Benito County’s agricultural offerings this Sunday. Several local
organizations and businesses have put together an entire day of
activities to showcase the area’s most prominent industry and reach
out to members of the community.
Hollister – Locals and visitors alike will have a chance to explore San Benito County’s agricultural offerings this Sunday. Several local organizations and businesses have put together an entire day of activities to showcase the area’s most prominent industry and reach out to members of the community.
An educational “morning farm bus tour” will kick off the day, making stops at local farms including T.O. Cattle Company, Dobler ranch, and Calera Winery, where tourists can also participate in a wine tasting. The tour leaves from San Benito County Historical Park Sunday morning. That afternoon, the park will host a free harvest fair with local food tasting, live music and tours of historical buildings.
The harvest fair, which is in its fourth year, has brought out as many as 200 people in the past according to Julie Morris, of sponsoring company Morris Grass-fed Beef. Morris and others are looking forward to sharing and celebrating San Benito County’s agricultural heritage with its residents.
“We want to support local agriculture so people realize that there are people out there who make a living from growing food. It’s not just about going to Costco and buying food, and it’s not always from other countries,” says Karen Tonascia. Tonascia and her husband, Joe, own Bertuccio’s fruit stand, which will operate a booth at the harvest fair.
Although the farm bus tour and harvest fair are primarily geared towards San Benito County residents, they may also bring out new customers and tourists from more urban nearby cities. Sunday’s events illustrate “exactly what we’re trying to do for tourism,” says San Benito County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Theresa Kiernan.
“We’re hoping people will come and get a wonderful taste of what San Benito County has to offer so they’ll come back again and again. (Agriculture) is what draws people to the area,” she adds.
Morris says the fair will be very family-oriented. Morris Grass-fed Beef and the other sponsors are putting the festival on in collaboration with the Community Alliance With Family Farmers, an organization aimed largely at educating kids about local agriculture.
The harvest fair will run from 1-4pm, and admission is free. The farm bus tour will leave the San Benito County Historical Park at 9:15am. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children, and can be purchased by calling Ruthie Schafer at (831)334-5625. San Benito County Historical Park is located on Highway 25 two miles south of Tres Pinos.
Jessica Quandt is a staff writer for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at jq*****@fr***********.com.
