2009 First Fruits Celebration
The 2009 First Fruits Celebration was hosted by the Yolo Ag Futures Alliance (AFA) at Glide Ranch on May 18th in Davis, CA. Attendees gathered to support the Yolo AFA, learn about the status of agriculture, connect with community members and leaders, and celebrate the bounty of Yolo County.
The historic beauty of Glide Ranch, intermittent breezes, and the hometown sounds of the Doc Hollar Band greeted guests. Local fruit, nuts, olive oil, almond butter, cheese and wine were enjoyed in the shade of lush vines hanging overhead. Rick Landon, Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner, welcomed guests to the event and gave an overview of agriculture and the work of the AFA in Yolo County.
Many thanks to our guests and the sponsors of this event: Pacific Star Gardens, Pollock Farms, Dixon Ridge Farms, Davis Bike Club, Yolo Land & Cattle, Yolo Federal Credit Union, First Northern Bank, Carbahal & Company, Supervisor Jim Provenza, J G Jelks Farm, Berryessa Gap Winery, River Dog Farms, Yolo Press, Copper Hill Stone, Village Bakery, Full Belly Farm, Nugget Market, and the Doc Hollar Band.
Yolo County AFA: Taking action to improve agricultural viability
Yolo County is known for both its successful farms and for its progressive, city-centered development pattern. Both may be in jeopardy as development pressures, government fiscal concerns, and a variety of mitigation programs threaten to take ag land out of production.
The Yolo County Ag Futures Alliance has identified ag land mitigation as a significant opportunity to affect public policy and improve the results for agriculture and the environment. The group has developed a set of mitigation principles) to guide policy and has made detailed recommendations to the County on its 2006 Ag Conservation Easement Ordinance (YAFA Ag Ord Recommendation.pdf).
In addition, the group has been working closely with the county on its update of the General Plan to ensure that policy supports local agriculture to the greatest extent possible. AFA members speak regularly in public hearings to promote smart ag policies and the group has worked to promote adoption of its recommendations throughout the process. Some of its proposals, including the creation of farmland conservation zones, the development of a farmland mitigation bank and the creation of a farmland prosperity fund are outlined in the group’s General Plan recommendations submitted in September 2007. YAFA 2008 General Plan Update
The Yolo AFA is also addressing a range of other key issues related to agricultural prosperity in the county. A major focus for the coming year will be to research the obstacles to agricultural processing and develop an action plan to attract the value-added activities necessary to support farmers’ viability.
Yolo AFA History
Yolo County is blessed with a mild climate, relatively ample water, and close proximity to two of California’s biggest markets—San Francisco and Sacramento. These same blessings make Yolo County an ideal site for additional population growth. As a result Ag finds itself caught in the middle between its desire to become economically and environmentally sustainable and the pressure to convert land to non-farm uses. This backdrop made Yolo County one of the high-priority locations for the expansion of the AFA process beyond Ventura County.
The leader of the effort to introduce the AFA process in the County was Rick Landon, Yolo Co. Agricultural Commissioner. In the spring of 2004, Rick helped organize a series of introductory meetings about the AFA. Calling his contacts in farming, ranching, the environmental community, agriculture support agencies, and community leaders, Rick encouraged them to consider a building a new coalition to support agriculture. Several meetings later, a core group agreed to launch the Yolo AFA.
The first formal Roundtable Meeting of the AFA was held in October 2004 with 24 participants invited representing production agriculture, environmental and civic organizations, and support agencies.
You may contact the group directly by emailing them at .