From Seedling to Supper: Discover How Your Food Begins

Plantel Nurseries in Santa Maria, California grows over a billion fruit and vegetable seedlings a year.

We are excited to announce our first-ever Santa Barbara County “Farm Day Every Day” tour, set to take place at Plantel Nurseries in Santa Maria on Saturday, February 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This free event is an excellent opportunity to explore the agricultural process and learn how your food begins its journey.

Plantel Nurseries, a leading grower of vegetable seedlings, plays a vital role in the agricultural industry. With its large greenhouses, Plantel produces over one billion seedlings annually, which are then sent to farms across the region, where they are planted and nurtured. These seedlings help support the growth of crops on approximately 36,000 acres of farmland.

During the tour, participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at the greenhouse operations, gaining a deeper understanding of the process of growing and shipping vegetable transplants. They will also discover how technology enhances the plant-growing process, and they’ll even take home vegetable seedlings to try their hand at growing at home.

Caitlin Paulus-Case, SEEAG’s program director, emphasizes the value of such an experience: “It’s not often that you can spend a few hours on a working farm and see firsthand how the food we eat is grown,” she says. “Plantel Nurseries is at the start of it all.”

This family-friendly event is open to all ages and provides an interactive, educational experience for anyone curious about agriculture. Coffee, pastries, and fruit will be served to enjoy during the tour.

The tour is limited to 75 participants, so don’t miss out on this chance to connect with agriculture in a new way. Registration opens on Friday, February 14 at 10:00 a.m. and can be completed through the SEEAG website at https://www.seeag.org/farm-day-every-day. Be sure to secure your spot before it fills up!

SEEAG’s “Farm Day Every Day” tours alternate between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, offering a year-round opportunity to connect with local agriculture and learn about the food that nourishes our communities.

We look forward to seeing you there!