Celebrate PlacerGROWN Month

As if you needed an excuse to visit pumpkin patches or farm stands, October is PlacerGROWN Month. PlacerGROWN is an agricultural cooperative that connects residents with local farmers and ranchers. The organization supports and promotes Placer County agriculture in areas including Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin, Roseville and Granite Bay at area farmers' markets, farms and specialty food stores. Crops in the county include flowers, all kinds of fresh produce, mandarin oranges and rice. Since most of us live in neighborhoods with front and backyards measuring about a quarter acre or less, we sometimes forget about Placer County's strong agricultural origins. But PlacerGROWN.org reminds us about the agricultural roots from Gold Rush times when food grown here was provided to the miners to today where local produce is sold throughout the country. Almost 70 years ago, the top crops were plums, cattle, pears, sheep and turkeys. Today's top crops are rice, beef cattle, walnuts, timber and almonds. Total gross value of Placer County agricultural crops and products for 2020 was $90,710,116, representing an increase of $4,002,157 or four percent above 2019's value of $86,707,959. Supporting our local farms is a win-win opportunity for everyone because the farms provide healthy choices and also economically benefits the county. With October being PlacerGROWN Month, this is the perfect time to make a day out of checking out agricultural-based businesses with the entire family. PlacerGrown encourages residents to visit farmers' markets, farm stands, wineries, farm-to-tap breweries and pumpkin patches in Placer County throughout the month. The Placer County Board of Supervisors first proclaimed Celebrate PlacerGROWN Week in 2012 to celebrate "the bounty of PlacerGROWN farm-fresh produce and agriculture" and kicked it off at the Roseville farmers' market at the Fountains. In 2014, the third annual Celebrate PlacerGROWN Week showcased the more than 100 family farms, 20 Placer County Wine Trail wineries and nine farmers' markets in the Placer County region. By 2015, PlacerGROWN Week turned into PlacerGROWN Month. PlacerGROWN executive director Carol Arnold was quoted on Sept. 30, 2015 with "Our region has a rich history, dating back to 1849, of agricultural distinction with a wealth of farm-fresh food and wine prepared locally for your family's home table. PlacerGROWN Month is our way of emphasizing the value of crop-to-tabletop living by sharing opportunities for families to meet and spend time with local farmers, ranchers and vintners who prepare the best quality ingredients." PlacerGROWN's partners include Placer County Vintners Association, Placer County Farm Bureau, Mountain Mandarin Growers Association and the Foothill Farmers' Markets. With Halloween fast approaching, it's all about pumpkin fun the rest of this month. A list of some PlacerGROWN pumpkin patches and farmers' markets are in the infobox above. It's easy to take advantage of what our agricultural businesses offer, not just this month, but every month of the year. Healthy food is a great benefit of living here.