Valley News

August 28, 2006
Farmers showcase produce
Sowing seed goodwill on the farm

By Kimberly K. Fu/Staff Writer - The Reporter, Vacaville, CA

What began as a trickle Sunday morning soon morphed into a downpour as more than 100 people descended on Suisun Valley for the first-ever Suisun Valley Harvest Trails Fun Family Farm Days.

"It was just a super success," said Tracy Ellison, event organizer and ambassador for the Suisun Valley Fund, near day's end. "I don't think I saw a parking lot that was unfull, if that's a word."

Ellison wasn't exaggerating.

Alaina Burns, 9, of Napa, feeds a Llama at Parker Farms on Sunday afternoon while Margaret Ricci looks on during Suisun Valley's Fun Family Farm Days event. (Ryan Chalk/The Reporter)

For example, take the always-busy Larry's Produce on Suisun Valley at Ledgewood roads. As one of the event's 16 destinations, it was packed more than usual. If visitors were lucky, they scored a spot on a neighboring street or in the mud outside the produce stand's gates. No one, however, seemed to mind.

Scores of people traipsed through the sunflower gardens, picked fresh veggies from the surrounding fields and chatted with an artist who was painting nearby. Janeane Covarrubias, of Los Angeles, made her way off a hay wagon that had transported 10 members of her family on a tour of the farm and explained that she was having a ball.

"We had a really good time," she said. "It's great to experience all the fresh fruit and the heirloom tomatoes ... It's a great example of country life, especially coming from a big city."

Her nephew agreed. Andrew Lechuga, 10, of Vacaville, said he enjoyed the views of the cucumbers and dills.

"I like the cucumbers because I like to eat them and I like the dills because I like to pick them," he said.

At The Vegetable Patch, at 2820 Rockville Road, Fairfield residents Zenen Vinluan and her daughter, 10-year-old Alyssa, relaxed on a bench and indulged in bargain-priced hotdogs and watermelon. Both are frequent shoppers at the produce stand and had no idea that Sunday was a special occasion.

"I was going to stop off at KFC but a hot dog is so much better," said Vinluan.

As Melodie Swiggart, of Vacaville, snagged two fat and tasty heirloom tomatoes at Parker Farms, down the street at 2991 Rockville Road, other visitors potted seeds or pet the furry llamas.

"The ambience makes you want to shop here," she said. "I work over at Lemon Tree Mobile Home Park and I told everyone about this place. About half the park must come here."

San Francisco resident Lisa Chew and her group of seven ended their day at 99 Cherry Orchard, 2627 Rockville Road.

"We're from the city. This is a great opportunity to see what farm life is all about ... especially to see that fresh fruit comes from farms and not just Safeway," she said, nodding her head toward the youngest, pint-sized family members. "We'll seriously think about coming back. It's really, truly for the whole family."