VENTURA COUNTY — A new non-profit organization has been created to provide educational resources and highlight the important roles played by farmers, ranchers and agriculture in Ventura County. The 501(c)(3) organization, Treasure Our Farms, will showcase local growers and livestock ranchers, and provide a forum for discussion and information about the diverse agricultural business and issues in the county.
Ventura County agricultural output is estimated at about $3.5 billion annually, according to its annual Crop Report. This output includes the nation’s largest supply of lemons, $627 million in strawberries, and 50 other crops worth more than $1 million each. One of every 10 jobs in Ventura County is connected to agriculture, which contributes more than $76 million in indirect business taxes to the county each year. However, many consumers in the county and elsewhere are not aware of where many of these foods come from, or how they are grown, often right next door.
“This organization was established to remind people to Treasure Our Farms and to provide a history of farming roots and farming stories in Ventura County,” said Craig Underwood of Underwood Family Farms. “Treasure Our Farms provides a deeper understanding of how agriculture and its partnering industries impact and support our local economy and how the agriculture industry touches so many lives in our community”
Ventura agriculture has very deep roots in the county, with some farm families going back five generations. Farms closest to our cities produce nearly all of our vegetables and fruits. However, like many agricultural regions, the county’s farming areas are under pressure from water issues, drought, invasive pests and pathogens, and the need to feed a growing population both at home and internationally. Treasure Our Farms was established to inform the Ventura County community of these and other issues and to illustrate the farm treasures that lie under our feet. The organization plans to profile farmers, ranchers and other members of the agricultural community, provide educational opportunities for children and adults, notices of agricultural events and a forum to discuss the future of agriculture in Ventura County.
For more information, contact us, or visit www.treasureourfarms.com.