Thank you, farmers

Chicoans live not only in the No. 1 food-producing state in the nation, but also in the heart of this breadbasket of America. Residents of the North State are, quite literally, surrounded by things to eat. On the outskirts of town, orchardists work to provide the U.S. with such crops as almonds, walnuts and olives, while other farmers tend to various row crops, including tomatoes, beans and peas. In the foothills, cattle and sheep graze in pastures.

We may have to shop at small grocers and farmers’ markets to get the very freshest of this bounty, but several of the large supermarkets also carry a selection of local fruits and vegetables. Travel almost anywhere else in the U.S. and you’ll see a dearth of variety and quality of produce. In short, we’re extremely fortunate to have such easy access to both delicious and healthy food.

In this, our second annual Farm to Table issue, we’ve highlighted just a few of the folks who are contributing to the local food movement. There are countless others who deserve praise, and we want to thank them for their dedication to agriculture. We want to pay special thanks to the little guys—the ones who work the hardest and connect personally with their customers.

We also are grateful that our local university, Chico State, runs a College of Agriculture, educating farmers and ranchers of the future on the best practices of this industry. Indeed, preparing these students to enter the workforce is crucial to the state’s economic vitality. Given that the average age of a U.S. farmer is 58 years old, educating young people in this field has never been as important as it is today.

So, the next time you’re at a farmers’ market, or you meet someone who grows food, give them your thanks.