A season of change

While parts of our lives have been put on hold because of the pandemic, nature has not stopped.

Fields brim with tomatoes, corn and sunflowers that smile at us along country roads. Cattle graze on dry or green grass, depending on where they're located. And orchards, now nearly done producing a kaleidoscope of stone fruit, transition to nuts and other fall crops.

As the host of California Bountiful TV for 17 years, Tracy Sellers has experienced firsthand the seasonal shifts of agriculture and, in this issue, takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the program she describes as a weekly, 30-minute travel exploration across California.

In a Q&A, Sellers describes farmers and ranchers as the most positive people she's met. Several stories in this issue also highlight their tendency to help others in times of need: Farmers have teamed up during the pandemic to create food boxes for people facing food insecurity and a former Olympic medalist with farm ties used her marketing expertise to help businesses weather the economic slowdown. Meanwhile, an urban gardener shifted her business model to aid farmers who'd mentored her.

In other stories, you'll see crews harvest grapes under the light of the moon for the fall crush, pumpkin patches that delight visitors young and old, and schoolchildren using their skills and imaginations to create whimsical tales about California crops.

As the days grow shorter and the warm glow of autumn light falls, this issue of California Bountiful brings you stories that reflect the richness of the season.