Sowing the seeds of opportunity

Sowing the seeds of opportunity
Solano and Yolo growers, civic leaders discuss teamwork to ensure future of farming
By Ann Schmidt-Fogarty/Reporter Correspondent
Article Launched: 05/04/2008



Mark Wilson grows grapes in the Clarksburg area of Yolo County and believes that more dollars need to stay in local counties to promote agriculture. (Deo Ferrer/Woodland Daily Democrat)

It's only spring, but farmer Raj Sharma is already getting phone calls. "Everyone wants to know when my stand is opening-they can hardly wait to eat a fresh peach," he said.

Sharma grows approximately 2,000 acres of peaches and walnuts in Solano, Sutter and Yuba counties. He is focusing this year on upgrading his currently closed Sunrise Farms stand in the Vacaville-Dixon Greenbelt. And he's hoping that his efforts to grow his business right along with his crops will be supported by those who regulate him.

Others are hopeful as well. Recently working with counterparts from Yolo County, Solano economic officials helped organize the first ever Yolo/Solano Economic Development Summit, designed to discuss ways that both counties can work together to ensure a bright future for agriculture.

"People are starting to care more about where their food comes from, and how we can keep the rural elements in our counties," explained Michael Ammann, president of the Solano Economic Development Corporation. "This first-ever meeting gives both our counties the opportunity to work on some common issues that will help sustain agriculture."

Ammann pointed out that the opportunities could range from added value to crops by processors to renewable energy and ag tourism.

Participants at the summit included members of the Solano and Yolo County boards of supervisors, farm bureaus and other agriculture, business and government officials. While no official decisions were made at the meeting, avenues of future opportunities were discussed, including a team approach to attracting more agribusiness dollars. Processing, distribution and other ag-related businesses that could serve both counties were on the agenda, and participants also learned more about the possibility of Solano and Yolo counties becoming destination areas for those who want to learn more about how their food is grown.

"There's no reason why we couldn't get another $500 million a year in agribusiness activity," said Solano County Dist. 5 Supervisor Mike Reagan. "We need to get out of our 'time warp' when farming issues were dealt with a 'one-wrench-fits-all' approach. That has stifled our growers. The summit underlined the need for us to work collaboratively and creatively if we want agriculture to survive."

Yolo County wine grape grower Mark Wilson pointed to Napa Valley as an area that is successful as a result of support for all the elements involved in agriculture.

"Some people think that Napa has the best grapes in the world, but if they had to truck their grapes to Fresno for processing, who would know how special Napa is?" he asked. "Napa has great winemakers but without the infrastructure, it wouldn't be anywhere."

Wilson said he and other farmers are holding off on major investments until they learn how much support will be given for infrastructure in their county in the next General Plan. "Agriculture isn't just farming," he emphasized. "We need to keep more dollars in our counties. Right now, my nursery stock comes from someplace else, my tractors come from someplace else and my grapes are sent someplace else. We need our dollars to stay where we farm."

While Raj Sharma continues to grow his business in Solano County, he is convinced he could do it faster with more support from regulatory officials. "I would like them to tell me how I can do something instead of why I can't do it," he said. Sharma is also certain that if farmers find new ways to market their products, the public will continue to come and support the needs of those who want to stay in agriculture.

"The constant thing I hear from people is 'Oh, man, I've never tasted a peach like this in my whole life.' They bite into the fruit before they get back in their car," he said. "Last year I spent three hours just talking with a couple who came to my stand and asked about what we do."

Reagan said if officials do not offer that support, prospects could be grim in the future.

"If we don't do something to help our farmers remain in business, the land either becomes fallow or it becomes houses," he said. "If we want that beautiful view of crops as we drive past them on our freeways, we have to make sure the farmers who own that land remain profitable."