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3/23/07
National Agriculture Week celebrates puts focus on local farmers
By Ines Bebea - Daily Republic
Ray Erickson, owner of the Erickson Ranch on Cordelia Road, walks through the blooming fruit trees on his ranch. (Photo by Zachary Kaufman)
FAIRFIELD - Spring is finally here, and the apricots, peaches, plums and pears from the 30 acres in the Erickson Ranch are just a few weeks away.
Although many of the Fairfield farm stands werent open during the National Agriculture Week celebration this week, Ray Erickson is looking forward to selling his produce and farm-made jam in the summer. With a passion for farm life grown from working side-by-side with his father, Ericksons commitment runs deeper than family connections.
'What I like best is being around nature,' Erickson said. 'You get to see all the seasonal changes, and to watch how the seeds you plant begin to grow.'
Growing produce is the easy part. Staying competitive in a global economy is a different story altogether.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, imports of fruits and preparations, including frozen juices from China, increased from $160 million in 2002 to $480 million in 2006. China also exported $339 million vegetables and preparations in 2006 to the U.S. China is No. 2 on a list of biggest exporters to the U.S.
The increase in volume of imported produce is the motivation behind Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association support for Agriculture Week.
'The primary reason is to bring back focus on to the local farmer who grows our food,' said John Sildeira, director of Pacific Coast Farmers Association. 'The grown-local, buy-local campaign is something that we want to encourage people to do. Because when we make that choice, we are helping California family farms stay in business.'
Many California farms are struggling under the weight of the global economy, Sildeira added. Their disappearance will bring an end to the relationship between the local farmer and consumers.
'If we lose our local farmer, we lose the connection with how and from where the food we consume makes its way to our dinner table,' Sildeira said. 'Agriculture Week is celebrated during the first day of spring to let people known that fresh crops from their local farmers are available.'
To diversify his marketability, Erickson and his wife began making and selling jam from their own produce two years ago.
'Because of county regulations, we had to build a commercial kitchen in order to sell it on the farm,' Erickson said. 'But by selling the jam, we get to offer our customers an additional product.'
To stay competitive, Erickson also sells directly to grocers and farmers markets in Sonoma, Petaluma and Oakland.
'Many farmers are doing more than just farming,' said Tracy Ellison, agricultural ambassador for the Suisun Valley Fund Advisory Committee. 'Farmers are looking for value-added items, as they are getting ready for the season. They are not just about farming the land, they are looking for other ways to be sustainable.'
Ellison compared Ericksons jam making to what the grape growers have been doing for years. Wine grape growers dont just sell grapes, they sell wine as well, which is their biggest value-added item.
'Grape growers also diversify by having wine tasting rooms,' she said. 'Making jam or dried fruit from your own produce is the same concept, times change and they have to find ways to stay in business.'
Reach Ines Bebea at 427-6934 or ibebea@dailyrepublic.net.
Economic Impact of California Agriculture
Farmers generate $59 billion
Agriculture supports 1.1 million jobs, accounting for 7.4 percent of all employment
Fresh and processed fruits account for $30 billion and 567,000 jobs
Animal products account for $11 billion and 214,000 jobs
Food and feed grains account for $10 billion and 192,000 jobs
In Californias Central valley, agriculture accounts for 21 percent of all income and 25 percent of all employment
Source: The University of California Agricultural Issues Center, UC Davis
Erickson Ranch
Produce stand and dahlia patch
2482 Cordelia Road
864-0557