Ag Harvest 2021

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The TUSD Farm is excited to welcome back students this school year! Currently, agriculture students from both high schools are managing a variety of FFA projects at the Farm including vegetable gardening, floriculture management, succulent propagation, row crops for Child Nutrition, orchard management, and agriculture education at the elementary sites.

Wednesday Workshops are also a new FFA opportunity at the Farm this year, where students can enhance their agriculture education from industry professionals.

These will include local industry tours and bringing in experts to share knowledge with our students! This fall the Farm also hosted a LifeLab “NGSS in the Garden” training for teachers to practice skills combining science and garden education for our elementary site gardens. TUSD OnTrack students have also been busy gaining workbased skills using the Farm as their daily worksite. We love seeing students and staff back at the Farm once again!

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Almond Board: Walnut production 2020/2021 sees record forecast down crop, record shipments STAFF REPORTS

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he 2021 California walnut production is forecast at 670,000 tons, down 15% from 2020’s record production of 785,000 tons. The forecast is based on 385,000 bearing acres, up 1% from 2020’s estimated bearing acreage of 380,000.

Widespread freezing temperatures in late fall of 2020 resulted in frost damage to walnut orchards across the state. Growers reported the frost damage delayed leaf out and reduced nut set in affected orchards. Addition-

STAFF REPORTS

N

ot surprisingly, after five consecutive years of record harvests, the California almond industry exported more nuts in the 2020-21 crop year than ever before. “We set records for exports in every month but January. It was truly incredible,” said Bryce Spycher, Manager of Marketing Order Services for the Almond Board of California.

Global shipments of nuts from Aug. 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021 were 2.9 billion pounds, an increase of 22.16% over the previous year. That growth mirrored the size of the crop, which came in at a record 3.107 billion pounds.

Where did all those nuts go? About 808 million

pounds stayed in the United States to feed domestic markets; the rest ended up in markets spanning every corner of the globe. After the U.S., the countries with the biggest appetite for almonds were India (362 million pounds), Spain (239 million pounds), China (162 million pounds), Germany (157 million pounds) and the United Arab Emirates (123 million pounds).

The record exports reflect positively on the hard work of many people in the industry, including members of the Almond Board, which aggressively seeks to expand existing export markets while also growing demand in new regions. ABC officials also are in close contact with trade officials in many nations, answering questions

and serving as an important voice representing U.S. growers and handlers.

Looking ahead, the 2021 California Almond Objective Forecast does not expect this year’s crop to reach record levels. If those numbers prove to be correct, Spycher said that total supply available for the 2021/22 marketing year will be similar to what was available in 2020/21 when the carry-in inventory is taken into account.

“Western Europe finished 2020/21 with strong shipments,” Spycher said.

“Asia Pacific imported more than 800 million pounds last year; considerably higher than previous years. There were records all around in 2020-21. This past year will be looked at for years to come.”

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ally, because of the state’s drought conditions, orchards experienced a higher degree of freeze injury. Walnut growers throughout the state struggled with drought conditions and water availability, as most of the state is in a drought emergency. Chilling hours were up from last year.

Survey data indicated an average nut set per tree of 992, down 17% from 2020’s average of 1,197. Percent of sound kernels inshell was 99.5% statewide. In-shell weight per nut was 22.2 grams, while the average in-shell suture measurement was 32.4 millimeters. The

in-shell cross-width measurement was 33.4 and the average length in-shell was 37.9 millimeters.

Estimated nut sets, sizing measurements, average number of trees per acre, and estimated bearing acreage were used in the statistical models.

The 2021 Walnut Objective Measurement Survey was officially conducted from July 25 through August 26, 2021. There were a few samples completed before July 25th for training and scheduling purposes. There were 1,402 trees sampled from 701 orchards

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Agriculture sees a decline in value due to pandemic, report finds

BY PAWAN NAIDU

S

tanislaus County agriculture had to deal with the ramifications of the pandemic last year and it was reflected in the annual agricultural report for 2020. The county experienced a general slowdown in the farming economy.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors were presented with the Agricultural Report for 2020 on Tuesday, which showed that the value of agricultural commodities produced here last year decreased three percent from 2019 to 2020, going from $3,598,404,000 to $3,476,093,000. According to Agriculture Commission Kamaljit Bagri, this past year brought unprecedent challenges to the agriculture industry.

“This year’s report reflects a historic pandemic year

that changed markets suddenly and dramatically and created numerous challenges along the entire production chain. As lockdown orders went into effect, consumers changed eating habits as schools and restaurants closed,” she said.

“Locally, after emerging from a dry winter, the summer dragged into a historic fire season that burned significant rangeland on the westside of the county in the 47-day SCU Lightning Complex fire. Additionally, we experienced a dry fall that saw little rain into midDecember.”

The news wasn’t all bad, however.

“A few bright spots emerged despite these factors, such as the increase in value of livestock products including eggs and dairy, and increases in yield and value of freestone peaches, cherries and sweet pota-

toes,” the report stated.

Almonds remained the No. 1 crop in Stanislaus County in 2020, according to the report, with a value of $1,123,961,000 which was a $105 million decrease from 2019. Almonds make up a smaller percentage than the county’s total commodity value than it did last year. In 2019, almonds represented 34 percent of the county’s total commodity value; in 2020, almonds accounted for 32 percent.

The second-highest valued commodity in 2020 was milk and it contributes even more value than it did in 2018. It was an increase in value by $128 million compared to last year. Milk accounts for 21 percent of the county’s total commodity value, while it accounted for 17 percent last year.

Chickens came in at No. 3 as they did last year and were valued at $342,099,000

OCTOBER 2021

— a decrease of over $23 million. The fourth-ranked commodity in 2020 were cattle and calves, which account for six percent of total commodity value which was the same as 2019. This commodity saw an increase of $3 million from last year.

Nursery, vines, and fruit and nut trees made the top 10 list at No. 5, followed by silage and walnuts at sixth and seventh. The three commodities combined account for 11 percent of the county’s total commodity value. All three experienced a loss compared to 2019 with silage being the most significant at $34 million.

Unlike almond production, No. 8 on the list — almond pollution — saw in increase compared to last year. Pollination was valued at $$88,800,000 in 2020, increasing by $5 million, and represented three percent of the total commodity value.

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Turkeys decreased by $6 million in 2020 but still came in at No. 9 on the list, while tomatoes replaced melons at No. 10 and entered the top 10 with a total value of $37,991,000.

As a whole, the top 10 commodities in Stanislaus County represent 86 percent of the county’s total production value. When combined with the other 220 commodities produced in Stanislaus County, the area’s agricultural production ranks higher than 20 states.

Stanislaus County also issued 4,643 export certificates to 99 countries in 2020, which are issued to certify that the commodity meets the plant cleanliness requirements of the importing country. The top 10 countries that Stanislaus County exported commodities to in 2020 were Korea (949 certificates), Japan

(883), India (789), Turkey (626), Germany (598), United Arab Emirates (586), China (551), Spain (547), Vietnam (455) and the Italy (264).

Of those certificates, 60 percent were for almonds, 25 percent for walnuts, 10 percent for seed, one percent for fruit, one percent for spices and all other combined commodities accounted for the remaining three percent.

All these products were grown on the 3,621 farms in reported in Stanislaus County in 2020. Of those, 94 percent were family farms and 64 percent were orchard farms. They are made up of 722,546 acres with an average of 200 acres per farm. The largest farm in Stanislaus County is 850 acres, and the smallest is .02 acres. The average age of a Stanislaus County farmer is 59.6.

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Ceres Ag Center provides hands-on learning environment

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BY DALE BUTLER

.E. teacher Dean Dewing wanted to pass on his love for horticulture to students at Hidahl Elementary so he decided to create a school garden.

With assistance from longtime Central Valley High School agriculture teacher Ken Moncrief, Dewing’s idea became a reality this past school year.

“Initially, I called Ken to see if he could help us start a little one on campus,” Dewing said. “He opened the high-school garden. He gave us the keys to the kingdom so to speak.

We had everything we needed to start gardening.”

The high-school garden is located at the Ceres Ag Center, which sits on 6.5 acres of land behind the elementary school.

“It was the perfect time for them to be able to use the farm,” Moncrief said. “All of the high school kids weren’t able to do anything out there because of COVID. They did all of our seed planting and greenhouse work until the school district opened for secondary (7-12) students. It was so exciting to see the kids pick stuff they’d take home in bags. It was a lot of fun.”

“It’s been a great experience for the students,” Dewing said. “We got a lot of support from Ken and our principal (Mrs. Adams). I’m going to do everything in my power to keep the garden going. It’s highly beneficial for the kids. They get to see the whole process from seed to table.”

More than 100 Hidahl students in grades 4-6 have been spending parts of their Friday mornings at the Ceres Ag Center this school year.

Dewing escorts the first of his three classes to the student garden at 8:20 a.m. The last class takes the short walk back to campus at 11:10 a.m.

“We’re transitioning to our winter garden,” he said. We have two rows (for crops) that are 70 yards long and we have eight raised beds. We haven’t put anything in the ground yet. We’re going to plant garlic,

onions, leeks, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, spinach, snow peas and beets.”

The kids are excited about the process,” he added. “They’re very interested in everything. They’re good workers. They care.”

More than 75 Hidahl students in grades 4-6 spent parts of their instructional days at the Ceres Ag Center during the 2020-21 school year.

When Ceres Unified elementary schools reopened for full-time inperson learning in April, Hidahl’s students gardened between 8:20 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. on Wednesdays.

They utilized the farm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 12:30-2 p.m., during distance learning.

Moncrief provided everything students needed to farm, including seeds, garden boxes and tools.

They planted lettuce, kale, spinach, fennel and snow pea seeds.

They harvested lettuce, kale and spinach.

“It was a bright spot during COVID,” Dewing said. “The kids were excited to be outside doing something new. The whole experience was uplifting. Many of the students are interested in gardening now.”

“Kids don’t learn by sitting and hearing about it,” Moncrief said.

“They need to do it. Hands-on experience is vital.”

“We split up assignments,” Dewing said. “Some students would plant.

Some students would weed. Some students would transplant plants into pots in the greenhouse. They got to see how the whole process worked. The students were little sponges. They absorbed a lot about gardening. That was my goal.”

Hidahl Elementary plans to start a garden club in the near future.

“I’d like to set up a stand in front of Hidahl where parents can buy whatever is in season at that moment,” Dewing said. “The students will run it. I will be there for support.”

“I’ve encouraged the students to start their own gardens at home if they have room,” he added.

Spearheaded by Moncrief, Ceres Unified broke ground on the Ceres Ag Center construction project in 2009-10.

The district provided 6.5 acres of land, which had a value of $100,000 at the time of donation, for the farm and assistance in financing for a tractor that cost $25,000.

Moncrief installed shingles on the 3,000-square foot instructional/processing/storage building.

“After five years, the state provided opportunities for grants,” Moncrief said.

Expansion included adding a swine barn, a large livestock building and a greenhouse.

The farm has fruit trees, table grapes, berry patches and row crops.

“We’ve spent close to $2 million in state grants to build livestock facilities and upgrade our plant facilities,” Moncrief said.

“For a lot of our students, this is their first experience with farming or livestock,” said Beth Jimenez, communications specialist for Ceres Unified. “It really exposes them to possible career pathways that they might not otherwise have encountered.”

Future Farmers of America (FFA) members from Central Valley and Ceres High raise livestock for the Stanislaus County Fair at the Ceres Ag Center.

Students are also in charge of planting, tending and harvesting row crops, fruits and vegetables for Ceres Unified’s Child Nutrition Department.

The district purchased $23,000 worth of produce from the Ceres Ag Center this past year.

“The key to our success is the relationship we have with the school district,” Moncrief said. “They primarily buy our grapes, peaches, plums and pluots. They serve it for lunch.”

“That’s our funding source for our day-to-day cost,” he added.

“We walked into this golden opportunity,” Dewing stated. “We have access to everything. Our goal is to keep it (the student garden) running.”

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TOP TWO PICS: Hidahl Elementary students in grades 4-6 spent parts of their instructional days gardening at the Ceres Ag Center during the 2020-21 school year; MIDDLE PIC: Neda Nasser, Aiva Caballero and their Hidahl Elementary classmates learned how to garden at the Ceres Agriculture Center during the 2020-21 school year; LEFT: Ceres Unified School District P.E. teacher Dean Dewing helped start a school garden for Hidahl Elementary students at the Ceres Agriculture Center this past school year.

Photos courtesy of Ceres Unified School District

TUSD Farms picks up where they left off before the pandemic

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BY PAWAN NAIDU

he Turlock Unified School District farm continues to provide students an opportunity to learn about agriculture practices. They are in the full swing of the school year and students can expect to take care of wildlife, monitor fruit trees and much more.

The TUSD farm started hosting weekly workshops on Wednesday for high school students to learn more about the agriculture industry. In one of the workshops in early October, Dr. Hallock visited with students and taught them about soil chemistry.

TUSD students don’t only learn on the farm, using new technology provided by the district, students take garden lessons to learn

about plants and animals.

Turlock Junior High School taste tested peaches to compare the difference between processed and fresh market varieties.

Over 1,065 pounds of peaches and 600 pounds of plouts from the farm has been delivered to the Child Nutrition Department in the district.

Sixth graders at Brown Elementary began an ongoing plant science NGSS investigation where they will come up with a hypothesis, collect data to determine evidence and see what they can prove about plant growth.

The farm will have a swine barn full of piglets and blossoming fruit and nut trees in the spring. Soon, they will welcome dairy heifers, sheep and goats to the farm as well. The Pitman High School

Samsung science team semi-finalists have been visiting the farm to prepare their project protocols and test samples.

The fruit orchard will be in bloom in the coming months, enticing bees and beautifully coloring the back of our farm in pink and white. The floriculture shrubs in the front of the farm are ready to expose their blooms as well.

High school FFA projects are beginning to be in full force at the TUSD farm. This year they will be planting winter crops and monitoring them as they harvest.

TUSD was just informed last week that they will be a recipient of a Golden Bell Award for their farm. For nearly 40 years, the California Schools Boards Association has used the Golden Bell Award to recognize outstanding public-

Photo contributed

The Turlock Unified School District farm is a place of learning for all ages, while also providing fruits and nuts for the Child Nutrition Department.

school programs and governance

panel makes initial recommenda-

of school boards in school districts

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Mini Acres of alpacas L

BY KRISTINA HACKER

arry and Maureen Macedo are the definition of modern farmers. Along with producing high-quality fiber from their herd of alpacas and llamas, their Golf Link Road farm is also a popular agritourism destination and they are a source of manure used to enrich crops and pasture around the area. Additionally, the Macedos partner with local entrepreneurs to offer painting and yoga classes and host birthday celebrations.

What started out as a way for the Turlock locals to help their daughter get high-quality alpaca yarn for knitting at a cheaper price turned into second careers for the former accountant and teacher.

The Macedos spent two years researching alpacas before starting their own herd.

“Almost 15 years ago, we started out on a little half acre and then moved to a place in Stevinson that had 10 acres. And this place became available little bit over seven years ago, and it’s been a godsend here,” said Larry.

The two are now experts in raising alpacas and llamas — with Maureen a past president of both

the California Alpacas Owners Association and Llama Association — and host their own industry show at the Merced County Fairgrounds each spring.

“We harvest the fiber and we both have gone through certification for sorting and skirting and determining the grade of fiber, because the grade determines the softness and ability to feel next to your skin,” said Maureen.

Their farm, Macedo’s Mini Acres, sells a number of products from the fiber from alpaca yarn and batts for crafters, along with dryer balls, shawls, hats and needle felt kits that Maureen said is popular with homeschooled kids in the area.

The Macedos said there are a lot of benefits to using alpaca fiber. It is antimicrobial, naturally wicks away moisture and is fire resistant.

Alpaca fiber is also 15% warmer than wool, according to Maureen.

Over the past year and half the Macedos saw a drop in their agritourism business due to the cancellation of school groups and other tours because of COVID-19.

As restrictions have lifted, smaller group tours are now back on the farm. Those visiting the farm learn

all about the process of raising alpacas and llamas to shearing and processing the fiber. They get to feed and visit with the alpacas and try their hand at spinning the fiber.

They also offer an “adopt an alpaca” program where kids can sponsor a specific alpaca and make regular visits to check in on their animal.

The pandemic hasn’t been all bad for the alpaca farmers, as there has been a higher demand for locally-sourced fiber.

“There’s been a resurgence in the last year and a half with people who want to go back to doing things like knowing where your clothes come from,” said Maureen.

The Macedos take advantage of all parts of their farm. Along with the agritourism and fiber production, the they have a grant to basically farm carbon by covering acres of their land with top cover and they produce high-quality manure. The Macedos recently donated 160 bags of manure to cover the entirety of the Turlock Community Garden.

To learn more about Macedo’s Mini Acre or to schedule a visit, go to: https://macedosminiacres.com/

KRISTINA HACKER/The Journal

TOP: Larry Macedo feeds some of the alpacas on his farm that is a popular agritourism destination; LEFT: Maureen Macedo of Macedo’s Mini Acres displays some of the dyed alpaca fiber they produce on their Turlock area farm; ABOVE: Macedo’s Mini Acres, located on Golf Link Road just outside of Turlock city limits, is home to 90 alpacas and a few llamas; FAR LEFT: The Macedos show their alpacas and llamas in a variety of shows around the region and the California State Fair.

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Ferraris honored for dedication in protecting local farmland

BY PAWAN NAIDU

J

ohn and Jeani Ferrari are passionate about conserving the area’s richest resource, its farmland. The second-generation growers of sweet potatoes, walnuts and almonds, they are also longtime supporters of the California Farmland Trust and its mission. For their years of service, the Ferraris were recognized with the 2021 California Farmland Trust’s Vance Kennedy Award.

The Vance Kennedy Award was established 2014 in honor of Dr. Vance Kennedy, a founding member, for his extraordinary contribution to the California Farmland Trust. Award

recipients demonstrate significant commitment and contributions that have furthered the protection of farmland and the farms that feed your family.

“Farmland Working Group was formed as a nonprofit organization with a bold mission statement: to preserve the agricultural foundation of our region and promote smart growth in our urban communities through education, outreach and action. The organization’s printed materials start with a broad vision: ‘Striving to protect food, families and farmland,’” said Jeani Ferrari. “Farmland Working Group recognizes the urgency of preserving Stanislaus County’s highly

productive farmland for the long-term.”

California Farmland Trust was started in 1995 at the request of then Congressman Gary Condit.

Back then it was known as the Farmland Working Group (FWG) and they discussed the important issues of preserving agriculture land in the local region of the Central Valley. Jeani Ferrari started attending meetings in 1998 and became the first president in 1999. She continues serve on the executive board 22 years later.

The Ferraris have an agricultural conservation easement on one of their farms and hope to permanently protect additional

Photo contributed

John Ferrari surveys a field of sweet potato plants. The Ferraris are secondgeneration farmers and grow crops in both Stanislaus and Merced counties.

farmland in the future. John and Jeani Ferrari have a vision for a vibrant future where agriculture not only remains viable, but thrives, thus allowing the third and future generations to keep farming.

“Without the farmland, Stanislaus County would have no agriculture foundation, no farmers, processors, distributors or the dozens of commodities and foods,” said Jeani Ferrari. “Our

mission is to preserve the agricultural foundation of our region and promote smart growth in our urban communities through education, outreach and action.”

The Ferraris believe that it is up to local communities to preserve farmland and make sure we have a thriving agriculture industry for the future.

“It will not be the State of California or the county

that protects the important farmland surrounding Turlock. The state and county have fixed borders. It will be up to the cities in Stanislaus County, as well as the surrounding region of the Central Valley, to protect the state’s most important non-renewable resource, the agricultural land the highquality irrigation system that makes this farmland the world’s most productive,” Jeani Ferrari said.

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Grant to establish food safety concentration at Stan State S

STAFF REPORTS

tanislaus State has received a $275,000 threeyear grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a new undergraduate concentration in food safety — a vital need in the Central Valley’s agricultural industries.

The USDA announced on Friday that Stanislaus State is among 21 universities to receive a National Institute of Food and Agriculture HispanicServing Institutions Education Grant for the University’s Career Ready — Ag Food Safety program, which will facilitate the planning and implementation of a food safety program as a curriculum concentration.

“This grant will allow us to increase our agriculture footprint at Stanislaus State by adding a concentration in an area that is critical to the industry in the Central Valley,” President Ellen Junn said. “It will help us serve members of the next-generation workforce who may not have thought about food safety as a career. We want to train them to move seamlessly from education into industry.”

The grant will help Stan State develop a cross-disciplinary program designed to attract students from underrepresented and underserved populations who might lack understanding of the breadth of career opportunities available to students who complete a science-based curriculum, gain industry-recognized certifications and participate in experiential learning placements within agriculture industries.

The project addresses two priorities: Attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups to pre-

pare them for careers related to the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences; and Provide opportunities and access to FANH careers in the public and private sector.

The Career Ready — Ag Food Safety pathway is a progressive step in aligning industry needs and educational output. The program will allow students to recognize career opportunities they may not have previously known about or considered. The proposed program will expand from the traditional focus of agriculture majors by incorporating STEM majors whose skills and knowledge complement the food safety needs of agriculture industries in our region.

“This new concentration will do a ton of good for students across our community looking to break into the food and ag industry,” said Rep. Josh Harder. “It’s so important we’re getting Valley kids ready for high paying Valley jobs. Our Valley feeds the world, and I’m so excited we’ll be training another generation to take the reins.”

Emily Lawrence, director of the National Ag Science Center at Stan State said the idea for the program came in response to what the university has heard from agricultural businesses in the Central Valley.

“The program provides training for an area in the industry that is really lacking,” Lawrence said. “Our faculty members have done so much work to lay the foundation during the past decade and have engaged with a relevant and critical segment of our region’s agriculture industry.

This program will allow us to train students who will enter the workforce prepared for a career that plays a vital role in agriculture.”

Deans David Evans of the

Photo contributed

Stanislaus State is among 21 universities to receive a National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grant for the University’s Career Ready — Ag Food Safety program.

College of Science and James Tuedio of the College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences said faculty members will develop a curriculum that is multidisciplinary and cuts across colleges.

“We’re calling it convergent disciplines because there are science, agriculture and business courses involved,” Evans said. “They are all coming together to provide this really robust and well-rounded curriculum for students to go into the field of food safety and quality assurance.”

Lawrence added that the program will feature a unique aspect by offering industry certifications as part of the curriculum.

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“Typically, industry certifications are offered separately, such as Saturday or evening courses,” Lawrence said. “These certifications will be embedded in the curriculum so that students will graduate with this whole package.”

The grant includes funding that will cover tuition, books and other related expenses for an undergraduate student and will provide internship and mentoring opportunities for multiple students.

Stanislaus State is among 21 California State University campuses with an HSI designation. HSIs are defined under the Higher Education Act as colleges or universities where at least 25

percent of the undergraduate, full-time enrollment is Hispanic; and at least half of the institution’s degree-seeking students are lowincome. HSI institutions are eligible for federal funding and grants from the U.S. departments of Education, Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development to expand and enhance academic programs and recruitment efforts.

Founded in 1996, the National Ag Science Center has developed outreach programs with partners from the Stanislaus County community, ag industry and educational institutions. In 2019, the Center became part of Stanislaus State.

Pumpkins in high demand this season

BY PAWAN NAIDU

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urlock’s R.A.M. Farms has experienced a high demand for pumpkins this year as companies from other parts of the country are looking at a possible shortage of the popular fall gourd.

Reports of pumpkin blight in the Midwest, weather extremes and COVID-19-related shipping delays have many questioning if there will be a pumpkin shortage in this area.

According to local pumpkin grower Ron Macedo, the short answer is ‘no.’

“We’ve been having a lot

of orders; it’s been a very good year. You’re talking about Turlock; this is kind of the pumpkin capital around here, so we ship all over the West Coast,” said Macedo of R.A.M. Farms.

Macedo has been filling a lot of orders lately, but isn’t aware if other brokers are experiencing a shortage. He just makes sure “Turlock isn’t going to be short.”

Ron and Karen Macedo opened R.A.M. Farms in 2007 after some pesky squirrels forced them to find a new farm. They started growing pumpkins in the back and realized if they “cleaned and dressed

up” the farm a little bit they could sell more. Growing corn his whole life, Ron decided to make a corn maze for Turlock to enjoy as well.

After that, they expanded into the winter season with Christmas trees and made an ice rink.

There isn’t a fee to the pumpkin patch itself and most activities are free with a purchase of a pumpkin.

The corn maze returned Oct. 1 and “spook-tacular journeys” take place at dusk on Friday and Saturday nights. Visitors are asked to bring their own flashlights and must be accompanied by an adult. Children under

PAWAN NAIDU/The Journal

There are plenty of pumpkins for everyone in Turlock this holiday season, according to Ron Macedo of R.A.M. Farms.

5 are not recommended.

It isn’t just a time for the pumpkin business, R.A.M. Farms has been getting a lot of enthusiastic visitors who are excited for the fall season.

“We’re very fortunate,

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people are just very happy to be outside and happy to be involved. It’s been very good for business for us.

People want to celebrate, be outside and just walk around,” said Macedo. “It’s a great location here on the

east side of town in a great neighborhood. It’s just a lot of fun.”

The corn maze is a newer edition to R.A.M. Farms and it has become a pretty popular attraction, said Macedo.

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