#74 Almonds, Livestock, Fruit
        & Fresh Veggies

Maisie Jane’s Unique Gifts & Nuts
1324 Dayton Road • Tours: 530-899-7909
www.maisiejanes.com

Blue Diamond Nut & Gift Shop
703 Miller Ave.
530-895-1853

California State University Farm
South on Park Ave. toward Durham, turn right on Hegan
Hrs: Mon.-Fri., 8-5 Tours 898-6343

As one of the fourth generation of almond growers, Maisie Jane turned a high school FFA project into a na-tionwide business, and in 1999, was the first woman to win the N. American Collegiate Entrepreneur award.

A visit to her shop gives one a good sense of the history of the almond business. You'll see her great grandfather's almond draper, an old maul (used to knock the nuts from the trees), a photo series of then/now, and even an armoire taken from Annie Bidwell's garage that is now used for displaying almond products. Also on display are 14 varieties of almonds and six varieties of walnuts.

Providing CSUC students with hands-on experience in both crop and livestock management, the University Farm (1,000 acres) offers tours providing visitors with a good over-view of Sacramento Valley agriculture. The farm's Meat Lab prepares beef, lamb, and pork for sale to the public and is known for its large assortment of recipes, sausages and jerky.

The best thing about going in February to Golden West Nuts Harvest Shop, after you've sampled the goods, is looking at the beautiful almond orchards in bloom across from the shop. The grand and glorious blooming almond orchards are the first signs of spring in the area.

At the Chambers Harvest Shop, you'll find almonds and walnuts, along with extra virgin olive oil from Lodestar and Chaffin Farms, many of the Lundberg Rice products, and jams, butters, honey, sun-dried tomatoes and risotto. All are available in gift baskets year round.

Mooney Farms have been offering the world's most complete line of sun dried tomato products for generations. Family-owned and operated, they've been growing, drying and processing these products, which are all Certified as Kosher. Check their website to find sun dried tomato sauce, pesto, risotto and many more products, recipes, and their unique gift baskets.

We used to go to Grandpa's farm in southern Indiana and pick our sweet corn for Grandma's supper. Nothing ever tasted better-partly because it was fresh from the field and partly because we'd picked it ourselves. We've found a place that's a close second to that experience.

TJ Farms allows you to pick your own or to purchase what they've picked. Either way, the veggies are always fresh and delicious, and there's a good feeling about getting them at the farm. The following is a good general time frame for ripe fruit and vegetables: Watermelon Aug./Sept.; Pumpkins & Banana Squash in Oct.; & Kiwi late Oct./Nov.

At Jack-O-Lantern time, you can wander through TJ Farms' Pumpkin Patch to select just the right "head." You can also view the quail pen or slip into the sales room for a free sample of their Kiwi concoctions.