Grow Fresh, Buy Local
This program emphasizes the importance of gardening and supporting local farms and orchards. The Grow Fresh component is implemented by the Garden Mentoring Committee which provides training and on-site consultation for the development of gardens for private parties, neighborhoods, and schools. Buy Local promotes purchasing produce at farmers markets, roadside stands and from Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs).
Supportive activities include Farm Table Dinners, Farmers in the Field photo contest and a directory of local farms and orchards.
Garden mentoring program
This group meets monthly to provide help for those desiring to raise a garden. Schools, neighborhoods, churches, senior housing, and private residents are encouraged to participate. The group provides free individual coaching, group instruction, use of tools, planning materials and soil analysis. Experienced gardeners or mentors demonstrate gardening techniques.
Community Food Alliance
A collaboration of groups and individuals helping to improve nutrition and food availability in Tehama County. Meeting monthly, representatives of agriculture, food pantries, nutrition programs, farmers markets, education, health, retails and restaurant businesses work to facilitate the coordination of a healthy food system within the county. Special projects of the Alliance include observance of National Farmer’s Market Week and National Food Day,
Farm Table Dinners
For several years now, Tehama Together has sponsored the bi-annual Farm Table Dinner, designed to showcase the agricultural abundance found in Tehama County. This spectacular event always sells out, as participants look forward to a five course meal, prepared by a local chef, using only locally sourced produce, beverages and meat. Guests start off their evening with appetizers, music, and tours by the farm host. The evening ambiance under a big open tent, with linen tablecloths, vintage china, local florals and printed menus, makes for a memorable evening.
Directory of Local Farms and Orchards
A collaboration of groups and individuals helping to improve nutrition and food availability in Tehama County. Meeting monthly, representatives of agriculture, food pantries, nutrition programs, farmers markets, education, health, retails and restaurant businesses work to facilitate the coordination of a healthy food system within the county. Special projects of the Alliance include observance of National Farmer’s Market Week and National Food Day, the Farm Table Dinner program and the Farmers in the Fields photo contest.
Farmers market promotion
One of the top priorities of the “Grow Fresh – Buy Local” movement is to promote farmers markets. Currently there are 4 such markets in Tehama County (2 in Red Bluff, 1 in Lake California, 1 in Corning). Fliers, newspaper articles and subsidies for vendors are examples of additional activities to promote the local markets.
Yearly Mandarin Picking
For the past five years CFA has organized a group of volunteers to visit Whiteley Orchard in Corning to pick mandarins. The mandarins are then taken to the Tehama County Food Bank for distribution during mid January. The event involves 20 volunteers picking approximately 2,100 pounds of mandarins.
Farmers In The Field Photo Contest
To implement this program, owners of 24 local farms and orchards were invited to participate by being paired with a local, volunteer photographer to have their photos entered into a photo contest. The resulting photos were initially displayed at the Tehama Country Visitors Centers and at Pine Street Plaza. Additionally, they were displayed at large fundraising dinners and commercial businesses and the photos were reproduced as postcards for the community.