California's Central Valley, a sun-drenched quilt of fertile fields and orchards, grows over 50% of the nation's fruits and nuts and 30% of the country's produce. But beyond the region’s bounty, each community crafts unique experiences that weave together history, heritage, and hands-on fun that celebrate their agricultural roots. Here are just some of the ways you can explore the agritourism scene in the Central Valley.
For the oenophile in you, Lodi’s title of "Zinfandel Capital of the World" is sure to catch your attention. Incredibly, most of the vineyards planted here as early as the late 1800s have avoided grafting — this wine is cultivated from the original old roots! Sip award-winning zins and over 125 other varietals — or craft your own personal blend at a local winery. Or you can savor the essence of the region in every sip along Madera Wine Trail and Yosemite Sierra Wine Road. Each offers scenic journeys through rolling vineyards, just minutes from Yosemite National Park. If you fancy oil over wine, make a stop at Modesto's Sciabica Family Olive Oil to taste their generations-old award-winning products. Interested in touring an olive mill? Yolo County’s Séka Hills Olive Mill & Tasting Room reflects the working partnership with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, whose agricultural products are available for sale, too.
Visalia, home of the International AgriCenter, has largely influenced the Imagine U Children's Museum's ag-related exhibits. At the AgriCenter itself, educational ‘AgVentures’ ignite young minds with the wonders of agriculture. Want to see that inspiration in action? Make sure to visit Oakdale's SONS Farm Fresh. The popular fruit stand is run by a young generation of siblings, selling their hand-picked produce and freshly gathered eggs. In the fall, their pumpkin patch overflows with more than 60 varieties. Urban-inclined families have no reason to fret while in Stockton. The In Season Nursery & Market is a green haven in the city, offering gardening classes, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere amidst fresh produce.
Yolo County's Farm-to-Table dinners bring together taste, smell, and visuals, using the freshest seasonal ingredients. At the Hilmar Cheese Visitor’s Center, "The Big Cheese" awaits (all 640 pounds of it!), along with squeaky-fresh cheese curds. Modesto's MoFresh Program keeps you in the loop on what's ripe and ready, while you-pick berry farms in various communities offer the thrill of harvesting your own sweet rewards. For a unique twist, Madera County's Valley Pistachio farm store offers a glimpse into the world of this delectable nut, and Naturally Nuts in Visalia tempts tastebuds with their sugar-free chocolates (34 varieties, as a matter of fact).
Yolo County's sunflower fields are a photographer's paradise, while their lavender farms and zinnia fields offer a fragrant escape. Oakdale's American Rooted Flower Farm and Backroad Blooms invite you to pick your own bouquets, creating a personalized souvenir of your Central Valley adventure. In Madera County, Nomad Resort offers glamping under the stars in a 30-acre orchard, and the Kern Family Farm's WWOOF program immerses you in the rhythms of sustainable farming.
Oakdale, the "Cowboy Capital of the World," exudes Western charm with its annual rodeo and rich ranching heritage. Hilmar's cheesemaking tradition dates back generations, evident in the largest hand-painted dairy mural at the factory’s visitor center. In Visalia, the World Ag Expo at the International AgriCenter is a testament to the region's agricultural prowess, while the Modesto Almond Blossom Cruise includes a stop at an abandoned mill site and the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi. Imaginations easily see the bygone days in the Central Valley.
California's Central Valley isn't just a farming giant, it's a wonderland of agritourism. Sip your way through wine trails and olive oil tastings, let kids get dirty, savor farm-to-table feasts, and pick your own posies. History buffs can soak up Old West charm and explore cheesemaking dynasties, while nature lovers can glamp in orchards and marvel at sunflower fields. Central Valley's communities cultivate unique experiences that put the "culture" in agriculture.
