Campaign seeks to combine Ag industry and tourism
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The San Joaquin Valley grows a large variety of the nation's fresh fruits and vegetables. Now there's a push to combine the agriculture industry and tourism.
Fresno County is the top producing agriculture county in the state with the value of the 2012 crop reaching nearly $6.6 billion. California is by far the largest agriculture region in the United States, with a total crop value of $44.7 billion. (Compare that to the second largest state, Iowa, with a $31.9 billion value).
Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross and Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta will host a luncheon for agriculture and business leaders in the Valley. The purpose of the luncheon is to highlight the important role agritourism plays in California's economy and in the San Joaquin Valley and introduce local agriculture leaders to the California Grown and Visit California "Always in Season" campaign.
The Valley has been home to several events focused on Ag and tourism. From the Madera County Wine Trail, which takes wine enthusiasts on a tour of the wines produced locally, to tree adoption programs at Two Sisters U-Pick Apricots, where people reap the fruits of the labor to the fruit trail program, which takes people on a tour of fruit stands in Fresno County.
