Ag Harvest Tab 2017

HARVEST WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

2017

130

Because money doesn't grow on trees ...

NEED A

TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT

LOAN?

YEARS

YOU NEED

Mocse!

Building a better balance between agriculture, communities and the environment.

3600 Coffee Rd, Modesto 1400 J St, Modesto 1401 Geer Rd, Turlock 800-44-Mocse

www.Mocse.org

(209)883-8300 | TID.org

Federally insured by the NCUA

License #0649647

600 E. Main Street, Suite 200 Turlock, CA 95380 209.634.9031 FARM • RANCH • AGRI-BUSINESS

WesternValley.com 37328_1

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

2

AG HARVEST

AG HARVEST

Farmers Feeding Families

C O N T E N T S

CROP VALUES DROP............................................................4 CALIFORNIA NUT PRODUCTION...........................................6 SID’S LEGACY......................................................................8 TUSD FARM THRIVING.......................................................10 IRRIGATION TECH..............................................................11 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

ADVERTISING Beth Flanagan Charles Webber

EDITOR Kristina H. Hacker

Join Today

WRITERS AND PH OTOGRAPHERS Jeff Benziger Angelina Martin Nadine Ono

ART DIRECTOR Harold L. George

www.stanfarmbureau.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

Call (209) 522-7278 1201 L Street, Modesto, CA

To advertise in the next special section contact the advertising department at (209) 634-9141.

Hold your meetings and events at the

Assyrian American Civic Club of Turlock

2618 N. Golden State Blvd.

Turlock, CA 95382

(209) 668-4668 We can help you with all of your catering needs! Big or Small!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

3

AG HARVEST

Crop values drop for second straight year

BY ANGELINA MARTIN Turlock Journal

T

he Stanislaus County Agricultural Report released in September revealed that the value of agricultural commodities in the region continued to drop in 2016, with impacts from the drought and other factors contributing to a decrease of $618 million in crop value for county growers.

The substantial drop in value of crops produced in 2016 comes after a 2015 growing year which suffered a $518 million decrease, just one year after county growers saw record-breaking numbers in 2014. From 2014 to 2015, the total commodity value dropped 12 percent, and from 2015 to 2016, value fell 16 percent.

Total commodity value in 2016 was shown in the report to be $3.3 billion, compared to $4.4 billion in 2014 – an all-time high.

The decrease in the total commodity value for crops grown in Stanislaus County was most likely caused by a number of issues, said Agricultural Commissioner Milton O’Haire, including the drought and a drop in the values of multiple crops, like almond meats, cattle and calves, silage, milk and walnuts. The lack of water throughout the county and low-priced crops resulted in a reduction of yields for many commodities, he said.

“I’d like to emphasize that these are gross values, this is what the growers are paid.

This doesn’t account for any production costs or profits,” said O’Haire. “Despite an

NEW IN-STOCK specials!

279 $ GAS DRYERS ....................................... FROM 379 $ SXS REFRIGERATORS ........................... FROM 659 $ BOTTOM FREEZER REFRIGERATORS ....... FROM 679 $ DISHWASHERS .................................... FROM 199 $ STACKED WASHER & GAS DRYER ......... FROM 599 ELECTRIC DRYERS ................................. FROM

$

All new, open boxed, with 1 year warranty!

OUTLET WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

701 K STREET, MODESTO (209) 238-3000 WWW.DIRECTAPPLIANCE.COM 4

AG HARVEST

uptick in harvested acres, residual impacts from the five-year drought affected yields of some of the commodities.”

Despite holding the number one spot as the county’s top crop, almonds posted the largest value decrease, dropping $366 million from 2015 to 2016. Almonds were ranked as the top crop in 2015 as well, but with a total value of $1.3 billion. This year, the crop dropped below the $1 billion mark with $931 million in total value.

Agricultural Inspector Richard Homer, who helped compile statistical data for the report, said that despite a record-breaking number of almond acres in Stanislaus County in 2016, reduced prices for almond meats (a drop of $2,460 per ton), hulls (dropped from $130 to $60 per ton) and shells (dropped from $25 to $5 per ton) resulted in a drop in value for the crop.

“Some companies were giving away their shells to clear their inventory,” said Homer.

Cattle and calves came in behind almonds as the commodity with the second-greatest drop in value, falling $104 million and going from the number three crop in 2015 to number four in 2016. The drop in cattle and calves’ value was the result of dramatically reduced prices for cattle from 2015 to 2016, said Homer.

For the third straight year, walnuts fell down the list of the county’s top crops, going from fifth to sixth and dropping in value by $37 million. This year, walnuts were surpassed by nursery fruit trees, nut trees and vines on the list. In 2015, chickens went ahead of walnuts on the list and in 2014, they were exceeded by cattle and calves.

“The total amount of walnut acres increased, along with yield, but prices dropped by $695 a ton,” said Homer.

Other agricultural commodities that experienced a drop in value in 2016 were silage at $46 million due to decreased prices, chickens at $9 million due to a drop in production by nearly a million birds and a slight decrease in price per bird and milk at $36 million due to a small drop in production and decreased prices in all milk categories.

Four of the top 10 crops saw an increase in value, including almond pollinations, which increased by $2 million thanks to an increase in almond acres and slight increase in hive cost, peaches at $11 million, turkeys at $8 million, with the total amount of birds sold increasing by over 200,000 birds, and nursery fruit trees, nut trees and vines, which increased by $36 million.

“The number of units sold increased by over three million trees and vines,” said Homer. “This shows that farmers are continuing to plan crops for agriculture’s future.”

According to Homer, the top 10 crops in Stanislaus County alone represent 83 percent of the county’s total crop values. When the top crops are added to the other 210 crops that are grown throughout the county, Stanislaus County ranks higher than 18 states, beating places like New Mexico and Louisiana in agricultural value.

“Just our top 10 crops’ value, $2.7 billion, would beat 16 other states,” said Homer.

To view the 2016 Stanislaus County Agricultural Report, visit www.stanag.org.

The number of units sold increased by over three million trees and vines. This shows that farmers are continuing to plan crops for agriculture’s future. ­—Ag Inspector Richard Homer

GOURMET CALIFORNIA ALMONDS

FROM OUR ORCHARDS TO YOU!

O TRY OUR

Pantone 374 C

L SEASONA V A L ORS ALMOND F G:

INCLUDIN

lazed Espresso G wirl Glazed S e lin Pumpkin Pra le Glazed Caramel App

ur philosophy is to give our customers the finest quality products by controlling every aspect of production, from the orchard to the marketplace – from the ground up.

Pantone 469 C

Pantone 343 C

Stop in at one of our stores to find a great selection of over 50 flavors of California almond products. From seasoned to chocolate or glazed, we have something for everyone as well as gluten-free almond flour and other natural products for your fall baking creations.

Visit Our Modesto Company Store in McHenry Village Open Monday-Wednesday 10am-7pm, Thursday -Saturday 10am-8pm • Sunday 1pm-6pm

Stewart & Jasper Co., Retail Logo Prepared 06.30.06

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

5

AG HARVEST

1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 58 • (209) 577-NUTS Newman

3500 Shiells Road

(209) 862-0555

Patterson

2985 Renzo Ln., Suite D

(209) 895-9463

Monterey

400 Cannery Row, Suite C

(831) 375-NUTS

Mixed bag forecasted for 2017 California nut production STAFF REPORTS

T

Turlock Journal

he 2017 California almond crop is forecasted to increase 5.1 percent over the 2016 crop, while walnut production is expected to be down 5 percent, according to the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service — Pacific Regional Office.

Based on 1 million bearing acres, the objective forecast for the 2017 almond crop is 2.25 billion meat pounds.

Almond Board of California funds the annual forecast administered by USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Following the Subjective Forecast each year, the Objective Report is the second and final forecast of almond production, providing almond growers and handlers information about the projected harvest size to direct business decisions for the year.

“Almond trees thrive in our state because California is home to the world’s most efficient almond growers, who continually improve farming practices through research and innovation,” said Richard Waycott, ABC president and CEO, in response to the announcement. “It’s one of the few places on earth with a Mediterranean climate perfect for growing them, so it’s no wonder we’ve been successfully growing them here for over 150 years.”

The National Agriculture Statistics Service said the latest almond crop forecast is up 2.3 percent compared

to the May subjective forecast of 2.2 billion pounds. The estimate is up 5.1 percent from the 2016 crop production of 2.14 billion meat pounds.

Almond trees thrive in our state because California is home to the world’s most efficient almond growers, who continually improve farming practices through research and innovation. ­—Richard Waycott

The average nut set per tree is 5,714, down 7.2 percent from the 2016 almond crop. The Nonpareil average nut set is 5,717 up 2.4 percent compared to last year’s set.

The average kernel weight for all varieties sampled was 1.57 grams, up 6.1 percent compared to the 2016 average weight of 1.48 grams.

The 2017 California walnut production is forecast at 650,000 tons, down 5 percent from 2016’s record production of 686,000 tons. This forecast is based on the 2017 Walnut Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was officially conducted Aug. 1 through Aug. 19, 2017.

The 2017 walnut season began with adequate chilling hours and record amounts of rain during the winter and spring months. There were reports of orchards being saturated for several weeks which resulted in a compromised root system. A higher than average insect problem was also reported. During the excessive heat waves over the summer, growers applied sunburn preventative materials. Harvest is expected to begin during the middle of September.

The 2017 Walnut O.M. Survey utilized a total of 737 blocks with two sample trees per block. Survey data indicated a record low average nut set of 1,141 per tree, down 19 percent from 2016’s average of 1,406. Percent of sound kernels in-shell was 98.1 percent Statewide. In-shell weight per nut was 23.4 grams, while the average in-shell suture measurement was 32.7 millimeters. The in-shell cross-width measurement was 33.3 and the average length in-shell was 38.6 millimeters. All of the sizing measurements were above the previous year’s levels.

2485 Geer Rd, Turlock CA 95382 209-656-9219 www.yonansjewelers.com

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

6

AG HARVEST

15TH ANNUAL

Lending in your Community

Dianna Bettencourt Turlock Branch Manager

633.2867

Mike Garcia

Commercial Loans

343.7607

Call us about your next project today!

Victoria Gaffney

Sarah Williams

343.7601

320.7852

Commercial Loans

Cash Management

www.ovcb.com Oakdale • Sonora • Modesto • Turlock • Patterson Escalon • Ripon • Stockton • Manteca • Tracy

MILES OF MAZES, CORN CANNONS, COW TRAIN RIDES, CORN SEED PIT, TWO HUGE PIPE SLIDES

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL SERVICE

HAUNTED MAZE, HAYRIDES, PIG RACES, PETTING ZOO, PEDAL CAR RACEWAY, ZOMBIE SHOOTING RANGE, PEDAL KART RACEWAY

Don’t miss the Alice in Wonderland maze OPEN SEPT. 30th - OCT. 31st

Specializing in

Storm Drains & Spot Repair

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS 10 A.M. TO 10 P.M. SUNDAYS 10 A.M. TO 8 P.M. OCT. 23rd THRU 31st OPEN EVERY DAY NOON TO 6 P.M.

10% OFF

Residential & Commercial Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Service Discount for Labor only Exp 10/31/17

• Sewer Pipeline Service • Remodeling & Re-Piping • Specializing in Storm Drains and “Spot Repair”

ZOMBIE SHOOTING RANGE! SHOOT PAINT GUNS AT ZOMBIES IN A HAUNTED ROOM

• Grease Traps • Toilets • Back Flow Prevention • Hydro-jetting Services • Preventative Maintenance Inspection | Gas | Water

2665 Sperry Ave. • Mile East of I-5, Patterson

(209) 892-2015

24 HOUR AVAILABILITY

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

WWW.FANTOZZIFARMS.COM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

7

AG HARVEST

JEFF BENZIGER/The Courier

Sid Long has been an integral part of Superior Fruit Ranch since his grandfather gave him the opportunity in 1955. The ranch, located on Whitmore Avenue between Ceres and Hughson, has been growing peaches and almonds and other crops since the early 1900s.

Ranching is in Sid Long’s blood

BY JEFF BENZIGER

T

Ceres Courier

he medical emergency of his grandfather, the late Fred Moffet, 62 years ago set the course of Sid Long’s life.

Moffet, then part owner and manager of the sprawling 320-acre Superior Fruit Ranch between Ceres and Hughson, suffered a stroke in 1955 as Sid was weeks into ag classes at Modesto Junior College.

“I was six weeks into the second year,” said Long, now 81. “He called me in and told me that he knew things weren’t progressing the way they should out here so I

had a choice to either quit school and come out here and try to make a go of farming or the ranch was going to be sold. I decided to quit school the next day.”

Grandpa Moffet proved a great mentor for his young grandson. Fred served on the Turlock Irrigation District board when the first Don Pedro Dam was constructed and dedicated in 1922. Sid remembers riding around on the ranch with his grandpa and seeing the peach growing industry up close and personal. Sid, who grew up in tightknit Ceres where he played sports before graduating from Ceres High in 1953, lived with his parents in his grandparents’ two WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

story home on what is now the Richland Shopping Center site. For Sid’s high school agriculture project, he grew almond and walnut trees on eight acres he rented from his grandfather behind the Moffet house.

With Fred handing the mantel to Sid, schooling came in form of real-life on-thejob training.

“I always enjoyed farming. It was just something I thoroughly enjoyed. I think when there’s something you thoroughly enjoy you’re a much better student than if you’re pursuing something that maybe your whole interest level isn’t in.”

8

AG HARVEST

The ranch became a way of life for Sid and family, including his three children – Krisi Thornton, Pamela Speed and Scott Long. Today Scott helps manage the ranch.

Sid became good friends with Hughson neighbor, the late Henry Voss who served as director of the California Department of Food & Agriculture. Long also developed close ties with the Berryhills, who operated the Ceres Dehydrator which “employed just about half of Ceres back then.” In fact, the dry yard was right across the street from the Moffet residence. At one time Long served on the Growers Harvesting Committee – designed to recruit an

I always enjoyed farming. It was just something I thoroughly enjoyed.

I think when there’s something you thoroughly enjoy you’re a much better student than if you’re pursuing something that maybe your whole interest level isn’t in. adequate labor supply during harvest – along with friend Clare Berryhill. Berryhill was a state Assemblyman and Senator and also state Food and Agriculture Director.

Traditions formed around the ranch, such as the Vosses and Longs getting together annually to host an end-ofharvest barbecue on the second Saturday of October. The tradition ended in 2006 as the ranch celebrated its 100th anniversary since Voss had passed away and the ranch was growing more almonds which pushed harvest later into the year.

Two-thirds of Superior Fruit Ranch is now planted in almonds with the remaining third in peaches. The change came about because of stricter pest control laws, economics and a greater global demand for almonds.

“Peaches are more labor intensive than almonds. In peaches you’ve got to prune and you’ve got to thin and hand harvest. We do have a machine but most canners still prefer to have handpicked. In almonds you’ve got some pruning and everything else is done mechanically.”

California used to export its crops overseas but now imports more from nations such as China and Greece.

When Long started out farming, approximately 60,000 acres of California soil were in peach production, producing about 900,000 tons annually. Now there’s less than 20,000 acres producing approximately 320,000 tons. Back then there were also less time-consuming regulation to deal with and more time for farming.

Community minded, Sid served on the Ceres Planning Commission and eight years on the Ceres School Board from 1959 to 1966. Starting in 1985 Long served four consecutive terms as a director on the Turlock Irrigation District board of trustees – just like grandfather Fred had – at the prompting of lifelong friend Phillip Short of Hughson. Long and Short served on the TID board for 16 years together, boasting about being the “long and short” of things.

Having been a part of the farming community, which knows the grave importance of water availability, Long doesn’t understand the antipathy of state legislators toward building new water storage projects.

“This year is a classic example. Nothing has been done

WE OFFER 24 HR MOBILE SERVICE

Wholesale Tires & Wheels SPECIALIZING IN Big Rigs, Farm & Dairy Equipment

209-668-1073 1030 W. Main St., Turlock

FOR TIRES & TIRE REPAIR

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

9

in 50 years since New Melones and think of who much water was lost just in the events of the last couple of weeks that could have been captures.”

He’s also suspicious of the state’s proposal to flush up to 40 percent of flows of the Tuolumne River to the Delta, feeling it’s just a move so that the state can build the twin tunnels to suck up the sacrificed water and pipe it to Southern California for urban uses.

“I cannot understand how legally they can override the water rights that we got in the Raker Act. It’s going to end up a welfare project for the attorneys.”

For now, it looks like the three-generation family oversight of the ranch could be sun-setting when Sid is gone and Scott retires. None of his grandchildren appear to be interested in farming, he said.

How long will Superior Fruit Ranch be around? No one knows but Sid is hopeful that the green buffer zones created in talks between Ceres and Hughson city officials means it will always be growing crops by and for future generations.

AG HARVEST

Pitman student David Herrera gathers tomatoes on the TUSD Farm.

Sofia Duran arranges vegetables grown on the TUSD Farm during Pitman’s culinary arts class.

Photo contributed

Photo contributed

TUSD Farm continues to thrive

BY ANGELINA MARTIN

T

Turlock Journal

he Turlock Unified School District recognized both a need and an interest in 2012 for a place where students could house their fair animals, grow fruits and nuts, take advantage of open pastures and pick fresh vegetables from gardens — a vision that, today, is embodied by the TUSD Farm, where Turlock’s future farmers are able to apply their skills in an authentic, working farm environment.

Since the idea for a farm became reality, the 10-acre farm has grown from a blank slate into a full-fledged agricultural and science-based “learning lab” for students, taking them out of the confines of the classroom and into the real world of farming. The TUSD Farm gives students from both Turlock and Pitman high schools a place to raise their animals, like cattle and pigs, for the fair, and is also home to acres of walnut and almond trees, as well as apri-

cot, nectarine, peach, plum and pluot trees.

In the summer, students also enjoy the rows of annual and perennial flowers that help to draw in hummingbirds, bees and beneficial bugs.

“The overall goal of the TUSD Farm is to provide students with an opportunity and the facility to apply their skills in an authentic working farm environment,” said Career Technical Education principal David Lattig. “We can only teach so much in the classroom where much of the learning experience tends to be theoretically based.”

The TUSD Farm has given students countless opportunities to expand their agricultural knowledge beyond them classroom, especially thanks to a new District Farm Management class offered at both high schools. Designed as a capstone class, the class emphasizes the application of skills learned in prerequisite classes and address essential skills in farm maintenance, animal husbandry, and plant husbandry.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

Students in the farm management class visit the farm frequently to work on various projects, like the farm’s garden, and have also begun work on the farm’s corrals for a new beef and dairy facility. Tomatoes, peppers and the rest of the garden’s summer crop have been harvested by the class, much to the delight of Pitman’s Culinary Arts class, which frequently uses the garden’s bounty in the classroom kitchen.

Between the two high schools, 24 students enrolled in the farm management class are currently working to cultivate soil and repair irrigation in preparation for the next crop.

“The TUSD Farm has and will continue to serve as a learning laboratory for our Agriculture students to apply and reinforce the skills they have acquired throughout the course of their instruction,” said THS agriculture instructor Kevin McGuire.

The farm management class has also formed a partnership with The Greenery Nursery in Turlock, said PHS Agriculture Department Chair Luke Gocke, in order

10

AG HARVEST

to help students receive a firsthand look at the industry, and has already planted its fall and winter garden, which includes varieties like broccoli, Swiss chard, kale, peas and more. The end of summer harvest gave students the opportunity to deliver a bounty of pumpkins to Brown Elementary School first graders last month, and the efforts of cultivating the summer garden provided winter squash and green beans as well.

Most recently, Farm Volunteer Laura Brem and her daughter Layne, a thirdgrade student at Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy, were able to harvest over 100 pumpkins at the farm, which were given to the Culinary Arts kitchens at both high schools.

“The garden is a year-round learning destination, which will bring science to life for our students in Turlock Unified School District,” said TUSD Chief Communication Coordinator Marie Russell.

Modern water demands help irrigation tech program thrive at MJC

BY NADINE ONO

T

echnology has changed the way farmers irrigate their crops in the Central Valley, a region that produces a quarter of the nation’s food. One local community college is responding by teaching students how to design and create irrigation systems, while filling a gap in the local industry’s workforce.

Modesto Junior College’s Irrigation Technology program is the first of its kind in the state. It offers both an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree and an Irrigation Technology certificate providing students the opportunity to learn the skills they need to work in agriculture water management.

“The population continues to increase as does the water needs for the state of California and the nation,” said Steve Amador, the program’s faculty advisor.

“The water resources that we have now are continually being taxed more and more, so there’s really a lot of interest in conserving water and doing things the right way.”

The Irrigation Technology program started as the demand increased for the one irrigation class offered to MJC science students.

“So we decided to start an irrigation degree, an A.S. degree,” added Amador.

“We decided to build some facilities, look for some money for student travel and really just expand and promote the program.”

The program is funded by a Strong Workforce Program regional investment administered through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and a threeyear grant from the National Science Foundation.

The first graduates completed the program earlier this year. “I was proud that we had 24 who were irriga-

tion majors,” said Amador.

“Some of them finished and received degrees and some of them have a few more classes to take. We were at 95 percent full-time employment or summer internships in the irrigation field.”

One of those graduates is Ryan Lehikainen. “I was going to school for ag business. Irrigation has always been an issue in California, so I took a class to get some knowledge of irrigation. It sparked my interest. The program that Mr. Amador has at MJC really caught my eye and I decided spend another semester at MJC to get that degree.”

Lehikainen, a Modesto native, was brought on as an intern at the Central Irrigation Company and after graduation, was hired as a full-time irrigation designer.

“The systems we design are designed to meet the evapotranspiration (the combination of evaporation and transpiration from plant material) rates of the plant.

So each plant has a different water requirement that makes sense,” explained Lehikainen. “An almond tree each day during the summer requires .28 inches of water a day to sustain healthy growth and a healthy nut.

So the system we design is designed to give exactly .28 inches of water to that tree in a specific area.”

Central Irrigation Company’s owner Keith Yamamoto explained the importance of MJC’s program.

“There’s a huge need in the middle for someone who is technologically savvy, who has an understanding for engineering, but didn’t have the means or desire to go on to a large four-year university.”

Irrigation designers use software such as AutoCAD and don’t necessarily need an engineering degree. “What’s also important is you have to

have some common sense – how things work, and also understand ag and the area.

It’s very important that you can relate what you learn and apply it to the field,” said Yamamoto.

MJC’s program not only offers the A.S. degree, but also provides a way for current irrigation technicians to increase their worth with their current employers.

According to Amador, “I have several students who work for irrigation companies and come in and take a couple of classes, get a certificate and go back to get a raise or more responsibility at work, whatever the case may be.”

Programs such as MJC’s Irrigation Technology Program fills a workforce gap in an industry that it vital to the country’s food supply.

After playing a role in the creation of the $200-million Strong Workforce Program, the Summit has helped to support the program’s implementation, highlighting programs successfully engaging and maintaining relationships with employers.

Expanding and improving these types of workforce programs through the California Community Colleges will be one of the topics at the California Economic Summit, which will be held in San Diego on Nov. 2-3.

The Summit will also drive a broad effort to strengthen rural communities through infrastructure and job creation programs in regions which have struggled with higher rates of poverty, higher concentrations of minimum wage workers, and lower broadband connectivity than anywhere else in California.

This article was reprinted with permission from CA Fwd. For more information, visit: http://www.caeconomy.org/pages/summit

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

11

Holiday Open House YOU ARE INVITED

TO

OUR...

Saturday, November 11, from 10 am to 3 pm

JOIN US AT THE HILMAR CHEESE COMPANY VISITOR CENTER FOR...

• FREE Admission & Samples • Santa & Daisy Arrive at Noon ~ available until 2 pm to take your holiday family photo (no fee) • Cheese Carving Competition, Ice Cream Making & BBQ • Learn more at www.hilmarcheese.com Hours: Monday–Saturday, 7am to 7pm & Sunday, 7am to 5pm. Closed major holidays.

9001 NORTH LANDER AVENUE/HWY 165 • HILMAR, CALIFORNIA 95324 • 209.656.1196 • 800.577.5772 HILMARCHEESE.COM

AG HARVEST

WE’VE GOT THE 209 COVERED 209MAGAZINE.COM