Monday, March 15, 2010

Suisun Valley plan details sweeping tourism-based vision

An emerging Suisun Valley vision comes with some built-in tension: How can the rural area be transformed into an agricultural tourist draw without creating a tourist trap? 'We do want tourists and growth out there, but we want to keep it quaint and assessable and like it is,' said Tracy Ellison, agricultural ambassador for Suisun Valley Harvest Trails. Solano County's draft Suisun Valley Strategic Plan grapples with this issue…. Many area farmers want to see a revitalized valley with more wineries, no fallow farmland and various commercial enterprises such as restaurants to help attract tourists. Suisun Valley could become a Napa Valley of sorts, but on a smaller, mom-and-pop scale. 'Napa is tremendously commercial,' Suisun Valley farmer Derrick Lum said. 'We have an opportunity to grow it in the right way.'

For the complete article visit Daily Republic online