AG Harvest 2023

HARVEST

OCTOBER 2023

2023

Ag Pathways TUSD is proud to offer a robust Agricultural program with high-levels of instruction, industry standard equipment and materials, job-skill certifications, leadership and work-based learning opportunities, as well as access to our very own growing and thriving TUSD Farm. The Agriculture and Natural Resources sector is designed to provide a foundation for all agriculture students in California. The Supervised Agricultural Experience Program and the FFA are an integral part of each course. Reach out to learn more including how you can help support our scholars!

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C O N T E N T S

TOP CROPS....................................................... 6

TUSD REPORT.................................................... 8

RAM FARMS.................................................... 10

FARMERS MARKET ........................................... 12

ALMOND SPOKESPERSON............................... 14 PUBLISHER/OWNER Hank Vander Veen EDITOR Kristina Hacker ART DIRECTOR Harold L. George GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

ADVERTISING Beth Flanagan Charles Webber WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Kristina Hacker Chris Correa Joe Cortez

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Milk reclaims No. 1 spot on county ag commodity report

BY JOE CORTEZ

For the first time since 2012, almonds were knocked off their perch as the top agricultural commodity in Stanislaus County, according to the recently released 2022 county crop report.

Another year of drought, worldwide trade stalls, and unseasonable weather events left their mark on the value of ag commodities, causing a shake-up of the top commodities.

Overall, Stanislaus County reported just over $3.725 billion in gross revenue, an increase of 5 percent from 2021’s total of $3.5 billion.

“This is an increase of $180 million, up 5 percent from the 2021 value of $3.5 billion,” said Agricultural Commissioner Linda Pinfold, during her presentation to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

“That puts us higher in agricultural value than 52 of the 58 counties in California.

Even better, we outrank 15 states. So, I’m just saying, we’re kind of a big deal.”

High milk prices were the main reason that milk was able to reclaim the top spot, according to Pinfold, as well as depressed almond prices. Milk had been the county’s top commodity until 2013, when almonds took over and remained number one until 2022.

Walnuts fared even worse, dropping entirely out of the top 10.

The report provides a statistical description of commodities including acres harvested and total production value; it is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of its data compilation for the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and only represents the gross value of commodities and does not reflect production costs or profits.

Agriculture is a primary industry for Stanislaus County.

“Everyone knows that eight of our 10 largest major manufacturing employers are ag-based,” said District 2 Supervisor Vito

Chiesa, a farmer. “It’s going to be the base of our economy for quite some time, and I’m proud of that.”

This year’s crop theme highlighted the future of agriculture, and the programs that develop leadership and agriculture experiences, such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America, and the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program.

The average American is at least three generations removed from a farm, Pinfold said during her presentation. These programs serve kids from as young as 5 years old.

“With less than 2 percent of the U.S. population in food and fiber production, we can only hope that their experiences in these programs creates connection and

OCTOBER 2023

foundation for understanding agricultural industry in the future.”

Chiesa echoed those sentiments.

“Farming is very honorable profession, as far as I’m concerned,” said Chiesa. “But there’s a lack of people choosing ag as a profession. … And if not for programs like 4-H and FFA and the Young Farmers and Ranchers and groups like the Farm Bureau running programs that continue to put in front of people the importance of the industry, my fear is that we’ll consolidate farms just like we consolidate about every other business.”

Here are a few highlights from the 2022 crop report: Fruit and nut crops, formerly the largest commodity, were toppled by livestock

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and poultry products. Scarcity in the egg market due to avian influenza and Proposition 12 livestock housing requirements drove prices up in the marketplace leading to an 111 percent increase in value. Hay and silage prices once again saw a significant rise due to persistent drought affecting forage, bolstering the feed market. Walnuts had a loss of 61 percent, dropping them from the top 10 for the first time in 20 years due to trade challenges and late season high heat affecting the crop quality.

The 2022 report, as well as reports from past years, is available www.stanag.org/ crop-statistics.shtm

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10 years at the TUSD Farm

BY CHRISTOPHER CORREA

There’s a lot happening at the TUSD Farm, and community members were given a glimpse at Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

2023 marked the 10th year of the TUSD Farm at 625 E. Taylor Rd. Giving an update to the Board was coordinator Hali Bream.

One of the highlights from the presentation was the amount of almonds produced.

According to Bream, 8,019 pounds of almonds were harvested this year.

Also happening in 2023 across parts of multiple academic years was the district’s participation in the annual University of California Harvest of the Month. Each

month, participating instructors and their students learn about and grow a seasonal produce. January was winter squash, February was beans, March was chard, April was strawberries, May was lettuce, June was plums, July was tomatoes, August was bell peppers, September was grapes and October is broccoli. Pomegranates and turnips will round out the year in November and December, respectively. Ninety-six teachers across TUSD are participating in the program.

Also grown at the farm is a variety of fruit such as apricots, peaches and plums. Everything grown on the grounds is brought back to the students for school lunches, culinary arts programs across the district and for While most TUSD 

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students have already experienced the farm in some capacity, whether it be their class taking a field trip to the property or FFA students caring for their animals on the grounds, the same can’t be said for many parents and community members. That could change by attending the TUSD Farm to School Expo on April 19. The annual event, which began last year, gives folks an opportunity to browse the farm and get up close with livestock and the crops. There will also be several informational booths regarding wellness and nutrition education.

Also coming soon to the farm is a brand new sheep and goat facility. On Sept. 19, the TUSD Board awarded a bid with Simile Construction to complete the installation of the new facility.

The project has been in the works for over a year. The metal building with an extended covered barn of roughly 5,500 square feet has an estimated cost of $1.2 million and will be paid for

by Career Technical Education grant funds from the State of California.

Though goats and sheep have been present at the farm alongside cows and pigs, the new facility will allow even more to be housed while having them in a space specifically tailored to their needs.

Additional updates on the TUSD Farm can be found on Instagram at @TUSD_Farm.

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More pumpkins at RAM Farms this season

BY JOE CORTEZ

This season marks the 16th year that local farmers Ron and Karen Macedo have operated a pumpkin patch in east Turlock.

Their annual pumpkin harvest is not only a fun backdrop for fall photos and family activities, but they are also great for eating, carving and decorating.

RAM Farms features more than 40 varieties of pumpkins.

“We have six different white varieties alone,” said Karen Macedo. “We have heirlooms, hybrids, and the typical orange carvers — about seven different sizes. Our orange carvers are beautiful this year.”

Another point of pride for the Macedos is that their pumpkins are being recognized statewide.

“This year, we’re happy to say that our pumpkins have been noticed and we are selling them throughout California,” said Macedo. “I can’t say exactly where, so I’ll

just say that our pumpkins can be found at the happiest place on earth.”

Those same pumpkins that are decorating a certain amusement park in Anaheim can also decorate your porch — and you don’t even have to go to the pumpkin patch to make it happen.

RAM Farms is featuring a Patch-toPorch service where you can have an assortment of gourds delivered to your home.

“We have two packages — 25 or 15 pumpkins,” said Macedo. “The package of 25 is $300 and the package of 15 is $225.

And you can add hay bales and cornstalks to your order.”

The RAM Farms Pumpkin Patch, located at the intersection of East Canal Drive and North Daubenberger Road, is open seven days a week through Halloween.

For more information on RAM Farms’ attractions through October, visit: ramfarms.com.

Photo contributed

RAM Farms, located at the intersection of East Canal Drive and North Daubenberger Road in Turlock, features more than 40 varieties of pumpkins.

HARVEST PUMPKIN GUIDE

Perfect for Eating

Perfect for Carving

 Delicata Squash — This winter squash is good for baking, frying, braising or steaming.  Fairytale Pumpkin — You can serve roasted pumpkin slices, or use in soups and stews or desserts.  Long Island Cheese Pumpkin — This pumpkin is very versatile and most parts of the plant are edible - shell, flesh, seeds, and flowers. Ripe flesh can be boiled, baked, steamed, pickled, or roasted, and enjoyed in soups, purees, desserts, preserves, pasta, and stews.

 Captain Jack Pumpkin — This extra-large pumpkin boasts a classic tall, barrel shape. Weighing up to 45 pounds apiece, these pumpkins make splendid jack o’ lanterns or canvasses for 3D carvings.

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Perfect for Decorating

 Decorative Gourds, Warty Winged Gourd, Casperita Pumpkin, Pump-ke-mon Pumpkin, Sunlight Pumpkin, Warty Goblin, Turk’s Turbin, Pink Porcelain Doll Pumpkin

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Extended farmers market offers Market Match program

BY JOE CORTEZ

The Turlock Certified Farmers Market will be extending its current season through the end of December, and then re-open two months earlier than usual in March of 2024.

Typically, the market season begins in May and lasts through October.

“This extends the season by two months on each end,” said Nick Schuller, market director for TCFM. “It will be open for 10 months out of the year.”

The bonus season will feature a smaller, shorter market, but not by much. Beginning in November, TCFM will be located on just one block of Main Street — likely between Center and Thor streets — and is slated to run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 60 minutes less than its current hours.

The extended season will allow TCFM customers to continue using their Cal-

Fresh benefits and make use of TCFM’s Market Match program.

Market Match is funded through the California Department of Food and Agriculture and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

If customers use their Cal-Fresh benefits to purchase tokens at the market’s info booth (at the intersection of Main and Thor), TCFM will match their purchase dollar for dollar, up to $20 per EBT card each market day. Market Match is good for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms.

Schuller pointed out — and was backed up by information found on foodrenegade. com — that the average apple purchased in a grocery story was picked about 14 months before it’s sold.

“Over the course of those 14 months, that apple is not getting better,” said 

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Schuller. “The average age of an apple here at the farmers market is three or four days.

Maybe less than that.

“Market Match makes the premium quality foods of the market accessible to all Turlockers,” said Schuller. “ Foods like eggs, plums, grapes, peaches, tomatoes, carrots, basil, microgreens, gourmet mushrooms, berries, hummus, fresh bread, beef, sausage, cheese, milk, jerky and lots more are eligible for purchase with Cal-Fresh benefits of Pandemic EBT.” Cal-Fresh and Market Match will be available during TCFM’s extended season.

“This is the first year we’ve done Market Match,” said Schuller. “Saturday, we nearly met our goal. The goal is $300 of Market Match each week until the end of the season, and we got $293 this past weekend.

That money all goes to the vendors, and when the vendors go to pay their stall fees, instead of them paying me, I’m paying

them.”

According to Schuller, a tenth of one percent of all food stamps are spent at farmers markets. The vast majority is spent at grocery stores and convenience stores.

“Market Match is a program designed to incentivize people to come and spend with small farmers doing the direct sales,” Schuller said.

The city’s other weekend market, Market Downtown Turlock, which features made goods as opposed to food and produce, also will extend its season through the end 2023.

Usually open on Sundays, MDT will operate on Saturdays during the extended season, meaning there will be vendors on both sides of Golden State Boulevard during the final two months of the 2023 season. It will be situated on Main Street between First Street and Broadway.

Journal file photo

By extending the Turlock Certified Farmers Market season to the end of the year and offering programs like Market Match for EBT card users, market organizers hope more kids like Mason Santana (shown left) will enjoy fresh, locally grown produce.

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New Hall of Fame spokesperson for California Almonds

BY JOE CORTEZ

It’s prime time for California Almonds.

NFL Hall of Famer Deion “Prime Time” Sanders and California Almonds have teamed up to help consumers of almonds “own their prime.”

Sanders and California Almonds are encouraging individuals to be smart about the post-exercise recovery regimen. Almonds are rich in nutrients that can help with exercise recovery – making them a It is great way to “own your prime.”

“You can’t achieve your prime unless you put in the work … daily,” Sanders said in a press release issued by California Almonds. “In order to be your best you, you’ve got to recover with the right stuff. It’s all about consistency.

I’m partnering with California Almonds to share how almonds help me stay prime, all the time. It don’t stop, baby.”

Sanders, who won Super Bowl championships with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, was in the news this week with for his coaching exploits.

The six-time All-Pro spent the past three seasons coaching at Jackson State, a small, historically black college in Jackson, Mississippi. The Tigers were 23-3 over the past two seasons, with a perfect 16-0 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Sanders was hired by the Pac-12’s University of Colorado prior to the start of the 2023 season, and led the Buffaloes to a stunning 45-42 victory Saturday over TCU, the runner-up in last year’s national championship game.

That’s good news for California Almonds since Sanders’ national profile has never been higher following the victory over Texas Christian.

According to research funded by the Almond Board of California, almonds may improve your recovery response from physical activity. Among 64 adults ages 30-65 who are occasional exercisers, the study found that most participants who ate almonds experienced reduced fatigue and tension during muscle recovery, increased leg and lower back strength, and decreased muscle damage during the first day of recovery.

“What we found tells us definitively that almonds should be added to sports nutrition strategies to help people recover better from exercise,” says David C. Nieman, professor and principal investigator at Appalachian State University. “Carbs get most of the attention when it comes to fueling for exercise, but almonds offer a nutrition package, including good unsaturated fats, the antioxidant vitamin E, and

Photo contributed

NFL Hall of Famer Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is now a spokesperson for California Almonds.

proanthocyanidins — a class of polyphenols, which are protective compounds in plants that help explain the beneficial outcomes in our study.”

You can catch Sanders in action with California

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Almonds on CBS, Fox, ESPN, and social media. For more inspiration on how to Own Your Prime from Coach Prime himself, visit Almonds.com and follow California Almonds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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