Agriculture Tours
Reservations for tours will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Tours are held each day. No cameras or videos are allowed at all tour sites.
DAIRY TOUR
Tour features Elkhorn and Milky Way dairies. Located just north of Visalia, these two dairies are stunning examples of large-scale efficiency. Operated by the De Jong family, Elkhorn Dairy milks 3,300 cows three times a day in a state of the art carousel milking parlor. Elkhorn is also installing solar panels to generate a portion of their electricity. At nearby Milky Way Dairy, two herds are managed in tandem and milked three times a day in a double 32 herringbone parlor. This farm also includes 4,000 acres of irrigated crops to feed the cows.
$40 includes box lunch – Choice of Turkey, Beef or Vegetable
Tuesday – Dairy Tour – De Jong Dairy - 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday – Dairy Tour – De Jong Dairy – 10:30 a.m.
Thursday – Dairy Tour – De Jong Dairy – 10:00 a.m.
WINE TOUR
This tour is longer than the others. It showcases four San Joaquin Valley wineries in the Fresno area. This unique wine-tasting tour begins at 9:30 at the Heritage Complex at the International Agri-Center and returns at 3 p.m. Cost is $45 per person and includes wine tasting at the four wineries plus lunch.
Leaves at 9:30
Tour Departs from Heritage Complex 9:30 a.m.
Returns to the Heritage Complex 3 p.m.
Tuesday – Wine Tour – 9:30 a.m.
CITRUS TOUR
Follow the citrus harvest from grove to packing and juicing. Tulare County is a state leader in citrus production and the navel orange harvest is in full swing during February. We will be touring SunPacific Packinghouse in Tulare. We sill see the packing of current fruits such as Navel Oranges, Mandarins and Kiwis. The tour will observe the equipment and facilities at SunPacific.
The tour will continue at University of California Research and Extension Center in Lindcove. We will see their equipment facilities and test site orchard. A special treat will be citrus tasting.
$40 includes box lunch – Choice of Turkey, Beef or Vegetable
Wednesday - February 15th, 2012
Tour Departs from Heritage Complex 10 a.m.
Returns to the Heritage Complex 2 p.m.
Wednesday – Citrus and Cold Storage Tour – 10 a.m.
EXETER CITY MURAL AND SHOPPING TOUR
Situated at the base of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s is the quaint town of Exeter. National recognition was given to the town as "One of America's Prettiest Painted Places." Professional artists have depicted the history and culture of the area in 29 hand painted murals. The walking tour will have a docent that will explain the history of the murals.
After the tour, lunch and shopping are on your own. Exeter has excellent restaurants and a variety of antique shops and specialty stores. We will have room on the bus for your special purchase. A guaranteed fun day.
Tour Departs from Heritage Complex 9:30 a.m.
Returns to the Heritage Complex 3:00 p.m.
Thursday – Exeter Mural Tour – 9:30 a.m.
CITRUS JUICING PLANT TOUR
California Citrus Producers, Inc., better known as simply CCPI, began as a farmer’s cooperative in 1972. CCPI is a family owned and operated company. 17 acre modern facility processes and markets quality fruit juices, concentrates and citrus byproducts both domestically and internationally. Although once a seasonal business following the seasons of the Navel and Valencia oranges, they have grown into a year round processing facility due to the tremendous volumes and varieties of fruit they process in addition to the demand for the finished products they produce.Following the tour of CCPI you will visit a local packing house.
Tour Departs from Heritage Complex 9:30 a.m.
Returns to the Heritage Complex 2:00 p.m.
Thursday – Citrus Juicing Plant– 9:30 a.m.
SPECIAL NOTES and Warnings...
Due to time conflicts, it is only possible to attend one tour per day.
Tour tickets are NOT admission into World Ag Expo.
It is very important that if you plan on riding the Park and Ride Bus to the expo the day of the tour that you choose a Park and Ride Bus that drops off at West Gate 2. Otherwise, you will be dropped off on the opposite side of the grounds. There will not be enough time to walk from Gate 12 to the Ag Tour loading site at Gate 2.
NO REFUND will be given for late arrival.
International Visitors:
For additional information, please call 1.800.999.9186 or email international@farmshow.org
World Ag Expo reservers the right to make substitutions and/or changes to the tour program, schedule, and booking details. Tour participants agree to hold harmless the International Agri-Center, Inc. and it's directors, volunteers, and employees from and against any and all damages, claims, lossess and/or liabilities. *Note: World Ag Expo reserves the right to modify tour prices if necessary.