In November 2015, the UC Small Farm Program announced online publication of our latest guide, "Marketing Regional Farms and Wineries: A Guide for California Agricultural Marketing Groups"

The focus of this guide is to share the experiences and advice of a representative group of leaders of farm and wine trail associations and other agricultural marketing groups with other groups of California producers with similar goals and intentions.

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Chris Flores, formerly with El Dorado County Dept. of Agriculture, and current Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner, shares this exciting news:

On December 15, 2015, after 8 years of discussion and planning, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors passed the Targeted General Plan Amendments and the comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (ZOU). All of the draft Ranch Marketing and Winery Ordinance (see Article 4 of the ZOU) changes were approved, as well as the addition of 17,000 acres of expanded Agricultural Districts. The Ranch Marketing Ordinance (in Article 4 of the ZOU) now allows for ranch marketing on grazing land (i.e. guest ranches and supplemental activities).

Congratulations to all who worked hard for this in El Dorado County!
The full Zoning Ordinance Update and the final EIR are now online.

Any other county plan or ordinance changes in the works? Please tell us what is going on in your county and we'll share your news or updates or thoughts in the February newsletter.

Guido Frosini, True Grass Farms by Janae Lloyd

The upcoming California Small Farm Conference (CSFC) in Sacramento, CA  is scheduled for March 5 - 8, 2016. Offering field courses, educational and interactive workshops, a trade show, tasting reception and multiple networking opportunities, the CSFC is the state's premier gathering for small-scale farmers, farmers' market managers, agricultural students, educators and advocates. We hope to see you there! UC Small Farm people will be leading the Direct Marketing Field Course and the Specialty Foods Short Course on Sunday March 6.

Mara & Her Basket by Fernanada Vega

Sacramento region food and beverage producers are invited to participate in the "Taste of Sacramento" Tasting Reception on Monday March 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Tasting Reception is the pinnacle event of the California Small Farm Conference and highlights the beautiful bounty of the region. This is a valuable opportunity to show off your products, network, connect with new clients and farmers' market managers from around the state and support California's small farms. We invite you to be a part of this wonderful marketing and sales opportunity.

• Marketing Regional Farms and Wineries: A Guide for California Agricultural Marketing Groups - published online in November 2015 by the UC Small Farm Program. This guide is based on interviews with and presentations by 24 leaders of farm and wine trails, agritourism associations and regional agricultural marketing groups, intended to help other similar groups.
• Farm Based Education Network
  A free international member network established to strengthen and support the work of educators, farmers and community leaders providing access and experiences of all kinds on productive working farms 
• Integrating Safety into Agritourism  
  This website contains a variety of walkthroughs, based on the type of operation, to help owners identify health and safety hazards and provides resources that can be used to help fix these hazards. It's a great tool that can be used to help keep children (and everyone) safe when they visit farms and ranches.
• North America Farm Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) - a membership based trade association dedicated to providing endless peer-to-peer learning opportunities, connections and resources, for farmers who are passionate about the business of agritourism and farm direct marketing.  
• UC Small Farm Program Agritourism - research reports, factsheets, handouts and presentations from workshops, articles and current projects
• World Wide Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF US) - linking visitors with organic farmers for educational exchange
• Farm Stay U.S. - A website operated by the U.S. Farm Stay Association (and Scottie Jones of Leaping Lamb Farm in Alsea, Oregon), for promoting farm and ranch stays in the United States. The site includes resource sections for farm stay operators and for farm stay visitors.