Regional Ag Summit Looks At Food Production

Regional Ag Summit Looks At Food Production
BY RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN/MediaNews Group
Article Created: 04/11/2008

A recent summit to discuss the state of agriculture in Solano and Yolo counties found steps must be taken to ensure food production doesn't vanish from the area, several local officials said.

Agriculture, business and government officials gathered at UC Davis on March 26 for what Solano County Supervisor Mike Reagan described as a "lively discussion" on the impact the industry has on the region's economic viability.

The Yolo/Solano Economic Development Summit was organized "to create awareness for a unified marketing approach to increase awareness of the agriculture industry, and to seek opportunities to develop vehicles that will lead to a structured agriculture tourism industry," according to a Solano Economic Development statement.

"Too often we overlook the importance of agriculture in both Solano and Yolo counties," said Michael Ammann, president of Solano EDC. "With this summit we hope to begin a dialogue that brings together the key players and increases opportunities in agriculture."

Sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., UC Davis, California Association for Local Economic Development, California Academy for Economic Development, Solano EDC and Yolo County Economic Development Division, the summit clarified some issues, Reagan said.

"Basically, both Solano and Yolo counties suffer from the demise of agriculture processing in the area," Reagan said. "Farmers have no place to sell their crops. When you have to transport your product more than 50 miles, you can't compete."

Yolo County officials are working on creating zones dedicated to food processing and Solano County, particularly the northern parts, also has some sites where agricultural processing would be suitable, Reagan and Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez said.

"The areas in the Suisun Valley we're looking at for ag tourism," Reagan said. "And there are areas near Dixon that would work for processing. Also Rio Vista, Vacaville has some areas, and just outside Vacaville, there are opportunities and we have to start looking at that."

Amman called the summit "the first step in a process that will bring attention to the area and perhaps result in a structured ag-tourism industry that pulls residents from both the Bay Area and Sacramento to visit Yolo/Solano to tour farms and ranches and purchase a vast array of agriculture products that are grown here."

Besides the economic angle to allowing food production to go by the wayside in Solano and Yolo counties, there's also the safety factor to consider, the men said.

"It used to be that most food came from within 50 miles of where it was grown," Vasquez said. "If you're worried about food safety, this is an issue."