The San Joaquin Valley, often called the “fruit basket of the world,” has some of the highest concentration of pesticides and herbicides in the world. Central Valley families all live with the consequences. The excessive tillage contributes to the serious carbon imbalance that creates the conditions for huge wildfires and drought.
At the same time, small organic family farmers have been working to change the way food is grown without pesticides or other poisons, shouldering their responsibility as stewards of the earth. They produce some of the sweetest stone fruits like peaches, plums, nectarines, and apricots.
Most of the Valley’s supermarkets purchase fruit from huge distributors who purchase from large industrial-sized farms forcing many farmers to drive hundreds of miles, to Los Angeles or San Francisco, to sell their fruit.
Since 2008, community members have been trying to remedy this situation by introducing local consumers to the local organic fruit growers at the Annual Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee.
This year’s event takes place on June 27 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Kingsburg Historical Park (2321 Sierra St., Kingsburg). Six organic farmers who grow peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots and other varieties of stone fruit will offer samples of their fruit.
The event celebrates those who farm in the Central Valley using sustainable and regenerative farming practices, introduces those farmers to the community they serve, and creates excitement and support in the community for those small farmers struggling to provide healthy food and fight climate change through farming ecologically.
The mission of the jubilee is to generate increased demand for local, organic, and sustainably grown produce through education and promotion; support the growth and development of local farms and locally owned food-related businesses through collaboration; increase the availability of and access to healthy local food in urban communities; and to educate the public on the health benefits of growing and eating organically produced food through an immersive, family-friendly, fun and entertaining event for the entire community.
This year, six organic farmers will be offering samples of their stone fruit. The community is invited to meet the farmers, taste their fruit and purchase bags of their favorite varieties. Also available for purchase will be fruit pies, jams, popsicles, Ampersand ice cream, food trucks and beer on tap.
Other activities include a jam-making demonstration by the Central Valley Master Food Preservers, live music from “Ripe For Pickin’” and other local musicians, and children’s craft activities.
Tickets for this family-friendly event are $10 in advance, free for children 12 and under, and free admission for anyone with an EBT card. More information and advance tickets can be found at fruitjubilee.com.
