Get An Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Tour Of Farms, Fish, And Flowers At This One-Day Festival In Northern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published July 06, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
From local farmers’ markets to the farm-to-table movement, there are more and more opportunities to enjoy fresh foods and support local businesses. Once a year, in Northern California, there is even more opportunity to connect with and appreciate them by going behind the scenes at this annual event in Half Moon Bay, California – the Farms, Fish and Flowers Festival held on July 22, 2023.
Half Moon Bay is known to many as a coastal city, just south of San Francisco, with a scenic crescent-shaped beach and a famous surf location. What many may not know is that the city actually started as a rural agricultural area in the 1800s.
At its heart, this is still a genuine farm community, and every year, the Coastside Chamber of Commerce (Coastside365) in Half Moon Bay brings the community behind the scenes of local farms, historical sites, nurseries, and greenhouses.
This is an opportunity to tour various host facilities and operations that are not generally open to the public. Attendees will learn gardening tips, keys to efficiency and sustainability, local and family history, and more - all of which contribute to these businesses becoming what they are today.
A variety of tours will be available for locals and visitors to choose from. Tickets for each tour cost $40 and consist of a curated selection of three of the local host organizations, and will be scheduled to accommodate travel time between properties and a lunch break.
Coastside Farmers Markets, one of the event participants, aims to connect local residents with Coastside farmers, fishermen, and culinary artisans through weekly markets that feature the freshest, highest quality, and most creative products in the area.
If you choose a package that includes a guided tour of Blue House Farm, you will visit the 60-acre property where you will see and learn about the year-round cultivation of certified organic fruits, vegetables, and beautiful cut flowers.
Learn about the cool educational programs at The HEAL Project Farm. Standing for “Health. Environment. Agriculture. Learning,” Through school-to-farm field trips and garden classes, The HEAL Project teaches youngsters where our food comes from and why it matters.
Another host location this year is Pomponio Ranch Meat, where the motto is, “Raised better, Tastes better!” Get an inside look at the holistic, sustainable methods used to raise pigs and cattle to produce truly flavorful as well as conscientious meat products.
Attendees at the 32nd Annual Farms, Fish and Flowers event will certainly come away with a deeper understanding of local agriculture and farming. Have you ever attended this event? What do you think about these “backstage” tours? If you’d like to attend this year, visit the Coastside365 website for details (including the final list of participating hosts), tour options, and tickets. If you want to see even more of Half Moon Bay, consider a scenic e-bike tour of the coastal and downtown areas!
