Made in Central Valley, California

Home to bustling communities, quirky towns, and some of the most fertile farmland in the United States, Central Valley, California is full of unique sights, sounds and tastes.

Visitors will find food, wine, music and art that’s uniquely made only in Central Valley, created and grown by the locals.

Made in Yolo

Sitting at the most northern part of the Central Valley, visitors to Yolo County will find peaceful farmland and an abundance of locally grown produce. This ranges from fruit and vegetables, to honey and lavender. The Capay Valley Lavender Farm spans 27 acres and grows herbs, figs, pomegranates, citrus and olives. Founded by 64-year-old farmer Sherri Wood in 2017, Capay Valley Lavender grows five acres of lavender and produces many lavender-made products, including lavender lip balm, hand cream, essential oil, candles as well as tea and syrups. Visitors can experience tours of the farm, enjoy a picnic in stunning scenery, and take part in hands-on workshops.

Made in Lodi

Home to 32% of California’s Zinfandel, Lodi’s 100,000 acres of vineyards produce over 100 award winning wines. Visitors can enjoy wine tours, tastings and dinner pairings whilst sitting down with the people who have grown grapes and made wine for generations. McKenzie Winery is a family run business and has been for six generations, located by the Mokelumne River. Each varietal fruit is hand-picked, then fermented and aged in carefully selected barrels.

Made in Fresno

As one of the top agricultural counties in the US farming is a key element in Fresno’s economy and culture. With nearly 200 million acres of farmland producing more than 300 premium crops, Fresno County’s farms make for scenic landscapes. Visitors can buy produce directly from the farms and learn about the stories behind generational farmers. Basilwood Farm is a family owned and operated goat farm that produces skin nourishing goat milk soap as well as skincare, deodorant and even laundry soap. The farm has been in their family for 20 years and visitors don’t just walk away with a bar of soap, they are welcomed to help milk the goats, name new kids, and help on farm projects and workshops.

Made in Visalia

Like much of the Central Valley, Visalia has an abundance of farm fresh produce that is never grown far from where it’s bought. Visalia’s farmers market is one of the biggest in the region and runs year-round. Visitors will find an abundance of seasonal, fresh fruits that are grown in the California sunshine on farms that surround the city. As well as being able to buy the farm produce, master gardeners also attend and offer advice to help visitors grow their own fruit, vegetables and plants There is music every first Saturday of the month and every last Saturday kids can take part in a free activity.

Made in Modesto

Modesto is a growing city that sits at the very heart of Central Valley. The city’s downtown area is a colourful collection of over 100 unique street murals painted by international artists. Wander the streets that serve as an open-air art exhibition, taking in the artwork or follow the Modesto Mural Walk Audio Tour. The first of its kind, this guided street art audio tour takes users from Rodin Ranch farm market past restaurants, coffee shops, museums, and galleries. Taking just under an hour, the audio tour introduces the artists who created the murals and the stories behind them.

Made in Bakersfield

A buzzing city in the south of Central Valley, Bakersfield has a style of its own and even a music genre named after it. The gritty style of country music, Bakersfield Sound, was born in the Southern California town during the mid-50s and pioneered by country music legends Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Bakersfield, known as ‘Nashville West’, has since become a hub for all kinds of music. The town has many ‘sounds’ for visitors to explore and enjoy in the many music venues, including Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, a celebrated venue among country music fans.

For more information visit www.visitcentralvalley.com

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