Celebrate California Farmers and Farmworkers

When it comes to agricultural output, California is truly the cream of the crop. The Golden State produces one-third of the nation's vegetables and two-thirds of its fruit. And those grapes you're enjoying, either in a bowl or in a glass? Odds are they were grown on a California farm.

While the California sunshine, mild temperatures, and fertile soil make for optimal growing conditions, there would be no California agricultural industry without hardworking farmers and farmworkers. They toil day in and day out all year long to cultivate everything from juicy oranges and peaches to crunchy almonds. In recognition of those tireless workers, California Grown has designated October California Farmer and Farmworker Month.

To mark the occasion, California Now Podcast host Soterios Johnson interviews farmers located in two of the state’s richest agricultural regions—the Central Valley and the Central Coast. Johnson first learns about the family history and traditions of a multigenerational peach and stone-fruit farm outside of Fresno. He then talks with an urban winemaker based in Paso Robles who got her start cleaning wine cellars. After that, he chats with a Central Valley grape and almond farmer who has been working the fields for 50 years.

Guests

Nikiko Masumoto of Masumoto Family Farm

Vailia From, founder and owner of Desperada Wines

Steve Schafer, owner of the San Joaquin Winery

Resources

Tradition is a large part of Nikiko Masumoto's experience working on her family's peach farm in the Central Valley.

Good Eggs

Bi-Rite

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace

Waterbar

Central Valley

Visit Fresno County

Stone Fruit Drive-Thru

Adopt-a-Tree

Winemaker Vailia From spends as much time in the fields as she does running her Tin City tasting room.

Paso Robles

Desperada Wines

San Luis Obispo

Tin City

Bien Nacido Vineyard

Central Coast Tourism

As fourth generation farmer Steve Schafer can tell you, there's a big difference between growing grapes and growing almonds.

California Association of Wine Grape Growers

San Joaquin Winery

About the Host

Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis in 2016 and continues to explore his surroundings. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.