Efforts to market, enhance Suisun Valley progressing

Efforts to market, enhance Suisun Valley progressing
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | January 16, 2009

FAIRFIELD - Attempts to move Suisun Valley into a newer, more prosperous era are picking up speed.

A Suisun Valley marketing study has just been released by the Suisun Valley Fund. It seeks ways to promote the 10,000-acre valley as a destination along the lines of a smaller, more down-to-earth Napa.

Meanwhile, Solano County is creating a Suisun Valley plan to help transform the area into an agritourism destination. The kickoff meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the county Government Center multipurpose room, 675 Texas St.

Both efforts are related. Solano County will use the Suisun Valley Fund marketing study for its own planning efforts. The study lays out the challenges the valley faces and suggests solutions.

Many Suisun Valley growers and residents view the valley as 'the best-kept secret,' the marketing study says.

'In order to position Suisun Valley as a viable agritourism destination for a more regional market, it will be imperative to let the secret out,' it says.

The study suggested such efforts as establishing a valley visitors center, expanding on the Fun Family Farm Days events, working with local downtown groups and hotels, and offering tours to travel writers.

But, it noted, Suisun Valley has limited farms, wineries and restaurants compared to Napa, which it calls the valley's most direct competitor. Nor has the valley acquired Napa's reputation.

Patience will be needed, the study said. It recommended focusing marketing efforts regionally and gradually expanding to a larger market.

Meanwhile, Solano County is trying to increase the number of Suisun Valley attractions -- the wineries, restaurants, produce stands and thriving farms -- as part of its General Plan update.

The Tuesday workshop will review what has already been accomplished, such as the new, voter-approved Solano County General Plan vision of Suisun Valley as an agritourism area. Valley farmers helped craft that vision.

Details are lacking. For example, the General Plan lists possible locations for seven agritourism centers with such businesses as bed-and-breakfasts and stores. Yet even the locations are only asterisks on a map.

In coming months, the specifics for the agritourism centers will emerge.

'We're going back and defining them -- what's the scope of them, what uses will come into them,' county Principal Planner Jim Louie said. 'Some of them could be five acres in size, some two, some 15.'

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.