California Trip Itinerary
Itinerary SDARL Alumni California Trip
July 15-22, 2007
Dan and RaeJean Gee Penny Dye
Craig and Glenda Blindert Chris Wirt
Walt and Jan Bones Cheri Rath
Gary and Amy Cammack Jeanie Votava
Brian and Rebecca Havlik Ed Briggs
Terry and Sandi Jaspers Craig Dybedahl
Scott and Paula Phillips
Ken and Kelli McFarland
John and Brenda Reisch
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Sunday, July 15 |
Group arrives in Sacramento
6:30 pm Motor coach departs Holiday Inn Express for dinner
‘Welcome to California’ Dinner (OYO)* 210 Railroad Ave Winters, CA 95694 530-795-4503
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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites 2070 Freeway Drive Woodland, CA 95776 530-662-7750
(Holiday Inn will provide shuttle service from the Sacramento Airport)
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Monday, July 16 |
Breakfast: Holiday Inn Express
8:00 am Motor coach departs Holiday Inn Express
Lunch: Fresh Choice 8697 San Ysidro Avenue Gilroy, CA 408-842-6919
1:30 pm Arrive Ocean Mist Farms 1085 S Ocean Mist Parkway Castroville, CA 95012 831-633-5833 Contact: Joe Pezzini (Chair of Leafy Green Marketing Agreement) Tim Driscoll
Tour Ocean Mist Farms: Third & fourth generation of original families growing artichokes and row crops since 1924 (asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cardone, cauliflower, celery, fava beans, fennel, onions, leeks, lettuces, papuni, Romaine, spinach, sweet corn). All the plant breeding, growing, harvesting, packing and cooling operations are state-of-the-art and state-of-science. Discussion of recent E.Coli problem in spinach.
Dinner: McPhee’s Grill 416 S Main Templeton, CA 805-434-3204
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1103 Spring Street Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-238-2660 |
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Tuesday, July 17 |
Breakfast: At J.Lohr Winery Paso Robles Inn Paso Robles (JLWPR) Wine Center
7:00 am Motor coach departs Paso Robles Inn
7:30 am arrive J.Lohr Vineyards 6169 Airport Rd Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-239-8900
Tour J. Lohr Vineyards Jerry Lohr is a Raymond, SD native and SDSU graduate. His vineyard at Paso Robles was purchased in 1988 and now encompasses 2,000 acres of vineyards, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other red varieties. The goal of J.Lohr brands is to produce varieties that can compete with the finest in the world using a style that focuses on flavor and complexity through vineyard selection. 7:30-8:00am Light Breakfast and meet at JLWPR Wine Center for introductory briefing by Jerry on vineyard 8:00-9:45am Vineyard Tour 1) Hilltop for photo op and break into three groups (Steve C., Anji, Jerry) getting out into vineyard to explain farming and rotate among backhoe pits. 2) PR 12 to show 3 Gregoires, 1 Pellenc with 3 row sprayer, 2 Pellenc heads, Pre pruner 3) PR 12 for Carrie research project 9:45-10:15am Back to JLWPR Wine Center for introductory briefing by Jerry on winery and Carrie on her research project. 10:15-11:30am Walking tour of small lot winery, crush pad, F3 fermenters, B-1 & B-2 barrel rooms, storage/blending building, utility core, laboratory. 11:30-12:00 Back to wine center. Questions and answers, shopping. 12:00-1:00pm Lunch on north and east patio. Contact: Laura Marble, Wine Club Director Jerry Lohr, Owner/President J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
2:00 pm Visit Paso Robles Campus High School farm. Learn about FFA projects, FFA chapter farms in CA. Contact: Robbie Helberg (current SDSU Animal Science student)
3:30 pm Free time (motel is within walking distance of downtown)
6:00 pm Dinner: Santa Maria Style Tri-Tip BBQ at the home of Robbie Helberg
Visit with local agricultural leaders
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Wednesday, July 18 |
Breakfast: Available at Paso Robles Inn (OYO)
7:00 am Motor coach departs Paso Robles Inn
9:00 am Arrive LosGatos Tomato 19806 Gale Avenue Huron, CA 93234 559-945-2700
Tour LosGotas Tomato Paste Production Facility: This facility is owned by four neighboring farming operations. Harris Ranch is one of the partners. Tomato paste is packaged into 300 gallon aseptic bags and shipped throughout the U.S. Contact: Chris Woolf
10:30 am Tour Harris Ranch Feedlot Harris Ranch has become known world- wide for producing beef under Harris Ranch label. Harris Ranch Beef Company is California’s largest fed beef processor. Harris Feeding Company is the largest cattle feeder on the West Coast and 14th largest nationally with a 100,000 head feedlot. Harris Feeding Company feeds about 1/3 of all the cattle finished in California. Contact: Jeff Shimmone
Lunch: The Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant (Jockey Club) Contact: Tami Gomes
2:30 pm Arrive Ruiz Foods Dinuba, CA 800-477-6474 “America’s Favorite Brand of Frozen Mexican Food”
Tour Ruiz Foods: Multimillion-dollar company 2,500 employees and a place in Small Business Administrations Hall of Fame. 300,000 sq.ft. facility producing authentic Mexican food. Located in the heart of San Jaoquin Valley. Contact: George Pelch
Dinner: (OYO) |
2305 West Shaw Fresno, CA 93711 559-226-3850
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Thursday, July 19 |
Breakfast: Piccadilly Inn – Shaw
8:15 am Motor coast departs Piccadilly Inn
9:00 am Arrive Busseto Foods 1351 N Crystal Ave Fresno, CA 93728 Ph 559-485-9982 Contact: Paul Gillum
Tour Busseto Foods: Specializing in gourmet dry cured meats, European style salami, proscuitto, pepperoni pancella, dry coppa, breseola
Lunch: To be determined
Arrive PR Farms, Inc. 2917 East Shepherd Clovis, CA 93619 Contact: Pat Recuitti/Vincent Recuitti/Lori Forfan
1:30 pm Tour PR Farms, Inc.: A highly diversified growing, packing and shipping operation located in the heart of the agriculturally-rich central San Joaquin Valley. Products grown, packed and shipped by PR Farms include almonds, apples, grapes, olives, oranges and tree fruit. Quality is a focus at PR Farms.
Option: spend the entire or ½ day shopping or sightseeing on your own in Fresno/Clovis
Dinner: On your own at Fig Garden Village Visit Whole Foods at Fig Garden Village (OYO)
Dining choices: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar Chef’s Table Chipotle Mexican Grill Elbow Room Restaurant La Boulangerie French Bakery & Café Me-N-Ed’s Slices Patio Café Quizno’s The Ripe Tomato Restaurant
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Piccadilly Inn - Shaw |
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Friday, July 20 |
Breakfast: Piccadilly Inn – Shaw
7:30 am Motor coach departs Piccadilly Inn
Arrive at Kim Roginia’s Tomato and Vegetable Operation 6780E S. Bear Creek Drive Merced, CA 95340 Contact: Kim Roginia
Tour tomato packing, sorting, shipping process, and walnut, bell pepper operation
Lunch: In Merced, CA with area agricultural leaders
Arrive at Duarte Nursery (DN) 1555 Baldwin Road Houghson, CA 95326 209-530-0351
2:00 pm Tour DN: almonds, cherries, peaches, plums, pistachios. DN is family-owned and operated. It is the largest permanent crop nursery in the U.S. DN has their own vineyards and orchards which includes many experimental varieties. Contacts: John Arellano Jennifer Wickstrom
Dinner: (OYO)
Option: attend the Merced County Fair The Merced County Fair in Merced, CA is the area’s best annual family attraction. (July 17-22)
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Comfort Inn 730 Motel Drive Merced, CA 95340 209-383-0643 |
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Saturday, July 21 |
Breakfast: At the Comfort Inn
7:30 am Motor Coach departs Comfort Inn
8:30 am Arrive at Hilmar Cheese Company 9001 North Lander Ave Hilmar, CA 95324 209-667-6076
Tour Hilmar Cheese Company: World’s largest single-sight producer of cheese, whey and lactose. Utilize world’s largest volume of Jersey milk. Hilmar Cheese has done a fantastic job of bridging the gap between the diary producer and dairy consumer. The Visitor’s Center draws thousands of people each year and features fabulous exhibits. Contact: Denise Skidmore
Tour Claus Dairy: CA ranks #1 in the U.S. in total dairy cows (1.7 million cows on 2,030 dairies) and #1 in total milk production (21% of U.S. milk supply). The average herd size is 850 milking cows, with 46% of all dairies over 500 head. Tulare County and the five counties in the central valley account for 49% of the total milk production and has an average herd size of 1,300 head. The Clauss’ milk over 3,500 Jerseys and are located next door to Hilmar Cheese Company. Contact: Kimberly Clauss Danny Avila, Dairy Manager
Lunch: Hilmar Deli Café
P.M. Travel to Sacramento (possible stop to be determined)
Dinner: ‘Farewell to California’ Dinner - To be determined |
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites 2070 Freeway Drive Woodland, CA 95776 530-662-7750
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Sunday, July 22 Breakfast: At the Holiday Inn Express
Woodland,CA
Group departs Sacramento or
departs for additional time in California
General comments:
¬ (OYO) = on your own – meals at alumni expense
¬ Expect hot weather (100°F +) in the Central Valley of California in July
Dress/Clothes
¬ Use good judgment for warm weather. We will be outside for most tours. (Bring long-sleeved shirt, blouse.)
¬ Most tours of processing plants will not permit open-toed shoes. Closed-toed walking, tennis shoes are acceptable. Examples:
Busseto Tour requirements are: Jerry Lohr suggests:
closed-toed shoes, no sandles hats/caps
long slacks, no shorts or skirts long sleeves
no sleeveless shirts, blouses slacks, no shorts
temperature in the coolers will be 34° F closed-toe shoes
no exceptions to this dress policy
¬ Hats, caps – very important for hot, sunny days.
¬ Shorts, sandals – great for evenings.
¬ Bring swimsuits.
¬ Bring sunscreen.
¬ Evening dinners will be casual dress.
Packing/Suitcases
¬ Use good judgment.
¬ Motor coach will have adequate space for luggage.
Transportation
¬ European style 47 passenger motor coach.
¬ DVD players, reclining seats, restrooms.
¬ SDARL will provide a cooler with water on the motor coach.
¬ Delta Charters
PO Box 5547
Stockton, CA 95205
ph 209-465-1053
Expenses – SDARL Responsibility
¬ Motor coach transportation.
¬ Costs associated with tours, parking, special fees, etc.
¬ Motel room + tax.
¬ Thank you gifts.
¬ Some meals to include – 6 breakfasts
6 lunches
3 dinners
Expenses – Participant Responsibility
¬ Motel incidental charges (telephone, movies, room services).
¬ Some meals - 1 breakfast
1 lunch
4 dinners
¬ Shopping and gifts.
¬ Motor coach driver gratuity (suggest $10/person/day if we have a good driver).
Airline reminders:
¬ Must have picture ID.
¬ No liquids or gels in larger than 3 oz. containers.
¬ Liquids, gels and/or aerosols are permitted through security checkpoints. Items must fit in one clear, re-sealable quart or liter-sized plastic bag, in containers of 3.4 oz/100ml or less.
¬ Plastic bags must be completely sealed and will be x-rayed at the security checkpoint separately.
¬ Carry-on luggage is limited to one item in addition to a briefcase.
¬ Checked luggage is limited to two items/person.
¬ Most airlines have a 50 lb. weight limit on checked items.
Pictures:
¬ You are welcome to bring cameras. Bring adequate film and digital cards.
¬ I will ask about taking pictures at every location (some plants do not allow photos).
¬ I will take pictures with my digital and will edit and share photos when we return.
Lodging:
¬ Most motels will have internet access.
¬ Bring a battery operated alarm clock.
Name Tags:
¬ Bring SDARL name tags.
¬ I will provide name tags for spouses.