Visions for Capay Valley agritourism in 2015 from members of the CVV Ag Task Force:

  • Agritourism in the Capay Valley will be embraced by the community, shared by the landowners and acknowledged by Northern CA as a destination.
  • Capay Valley agritourism will create an expansion of knowledge of place, build pride among residents of their unique place, and celebrate the enterprises that make this place special.
  • Capay Valley will offer a diverse, engaging collection of farm and outdoors-based tours, events, stay-overs, shopping and dining options, available year-round
  • Double the number of participants and events in agritourism in Capay Valley over 2013, with increased differentiation of types of events that go on.
  • A viable, sustainable set of groups that can collaborate with each other, local farmers and rural tourism individuals to allow for improved cash-flow and long term viability of small family-owned farms
  • Agritourism will be closely related to small-scale production agriculture
  • Capay Valley agritourism will provide a better answer to the question, “What else can I see in your area”, and will encourage more visitors to stay more than one day.

Do you share any of these visions for the Capay Valley? Do you have a different vision?

Please attend the March 6, 2014 meeting of the Capay Valley Vision’s Agricultural Task Force to help shape the “Building a Farm Trail” project in the Capay Valley.

The project, coordinated by the CVV Ag Task Force and the UC Small Farm Program and funded by the CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, plans to create, print and distribute a tour map showcasing agritourism and other rural tourism operations in the Capay Valley; to develop and promote an online (website) version of the map linking to participants’ websites; to use social media to promote agritourism activities in the valley; and to organize and promote a collaborative agritourism event or activity in 2014.

Plansand decisions on the project so far:

Capay Valley Vision’s Agricultural Task Force met with the UC project team (which includes experienced agritourism and economic development consultants) on February 6, 2014, and agreed on the following:

  • The group supports developing an agritourism tour map for the Capay Valley
  • The Capay Valley Vision Agricultural Task Force will coordinate the project in the valley, and is open to new members who wish to participate
  • Broader discussion and involvement of other Capay Valley growers and agricultural organizations is needed and will be encouraged and actively invited
  • The boundaries of the map will be the same as the Capay Valley Vision defined boundaries of the region – basically from Madison to Rumsey
  • No farms or other businesses will be noted on the map unless they want to be included
  • The map should include smaller and newer farms that wish to be included, and inclusion should be affordable to all
  • The map will include historical, cultural and natural recreation information about the Capay Valley region, and should answer the question, “Why come to the Capay Valley?”
  • The project team will move forward with creating and sending out an RFP for graphic design for a printed map. Suggestions for graphic designers will be solicited from the community. The content of the map is still to be determined by the group.

Brainstorm sessions at the February 6 meeting:

  • What is special about the Capay Valley?
  • River
  • Diversified small farms, many organic
  • Casino
  • Close to large population centers
  • Golfing
  • Wine Tasting, Olive Oil Tasting
  • Hiking, Birding
  • River Rafting
  • Hoes Down Harvest Festival, Mothers’ Day Garden Tour, Tomato Festival, etc.
  • Geology, Tilting Valley
  • Native Culture and History
  • Railroad History
  • Who else should be involved in and/or consulted about this project (in addition to those attending the Feb. 6 meeting)? These were named, but this is not an exclusive list:
  • Seka Hills, Tribe
  • Capay Organics
  • Manas Ranch
  • Durst Organics
  • Taber Event Center
  • Cache Creek Lavender Farm
  • John Foster
  • Capay Valley Vineyards
  • Gretchen and John Ceteras
  • More young farmers (Pasture 42, ChowDown Farms, Annie Hehger)
  • Jeff and Annie Main
  • Capay Valley Farm Shop growers
  • Capay Valley General Plan Committee
  • Capay Valley Grown members
  • Grange members
  • Community Development Corp.

Please join us at the next meeting of the Capay Valley Vision’s Agricultural Task Force on Thursday March 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the LBL room above the Esparto Chamber office

Contacts: Paul Muller, CVV Ag Task Force Chair, , (530) 796-2214

Penny Leff, UC Small Farm Program, (project coordinator), ,
530-752-7779