You can learn about Orange County’s agricultural roots and food production at these sites:
TANAKA FARMS
You can take a guided wagon tour through Tanaka’s 30-acre farm in Irvine and learn how seasonal fruits and vegetables grow while tasting samples. The people at the family-owned and -operated farm believe that the more a child sees and touches crops, the more likely he is to eat them.
Sixty crops grow throughout the year, and a variety of tours is offered.
You can spend the day at the farm on the Cookout Tour, a two- to three-hour guided walk during which you pick vegetables in the field, then prepare them to be barbecued with staff assistance and eat them.
The pumpkin patch begins Thursday.
After your tour, you might take home a freshly picked giant Maui onion or sweet corn from the market stand. Tanaka Farms is open daily. Refer to the website for times and availability on all tours, and wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat. Parking is free. 53803/4 University Drive, Irvine. Information: 949-653-2100 or tanakafarms.com
CENTENNIAL FARM
Piglets, goats, peacocks, cows and a giant ox are just a few of the animals to check out at the Centennial Farm in Costa Mesa, where livestock is a large part of the experience.
The 3-acre working farm at the OC Fair & Event Center was created to educate visitors about agriculture and its significance to daily life. Visitors can watch a cow being milked inside the Millennium Barn or get to know the animals’ names, ages and genders on the educational signs throughout the farm.
There is an abundance of lush vegetation, including pumpkins, acorn squash, habanero peppers, cabbage, Japanese cucumbers, a coffee bean tree, pineapple guava, vibrant sunflowers and more.
The planters are low to the ground, making it easy for kids to see, touch and smell the crops (just no picking them). Once the crops are harvested, they are donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County or placed in produce bins for visitors to take home in lieu of donations.
Free school tours and affordable gardening classes are offered on-site by reservation. Parking and entrance are free most of the year.
Refer to the website for hours of operation, animal births and the cow-milking schedule. 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Information: 714-708-1500 or ocfair.com/farm.
THE INCREDIBLE EDIBLE FARM
You can engage your children early on in meaningful volunteer work and connect them to our county’s agricultural roots at the Incredible Edible Farm in Irvine.
Families can learn about those who are less fortunate in the community and why fresh produce plays an important role in helping them.
The farm, in partnership with the city of Irvine, the Orange County Great Park, Solutions for Urban Agriculture and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, was created to help provide hunger relief to 200,000 residents, including more than 141,000 children, in Orange County each month.
During the 2½-hour shifts, volunteers plant or harvest more than 13 seasonal crops, including cauliflower, green beans, broccoli, zucchini, cabbage, lettuce, onions and varieties of squash, watermelons and peppers, on the 4.5-acre plot with staff supervision.
The produce is taken to Second Harvest Food Bank and distributed to charities.
The farm is closed Sundays and Mondays. Registration is required, and volunteers must be at least 7 years old and accompanied by an adult. Closed-toe shoes are required. Parking is free.
Refer to the website for availability. The entrance on Marine Way will be closed for construction through November. The alternate route is Trabuco Road off Sand Canyon Avenue. 8014 Marine Way, Irvine. 949-653-290,0 feedoc.org or facebook.com/ IncredibleEdibleFarm.
THE FARM + FOOD LAB
Kids can watch egg laying, dig through a worm compost bin or spot monarchs in the Butterfly Garden at the Farm + Food Lab in Irvine.
The 1-acre working organic farm inside the Orange County Great Park is an interactive outdoor classroom for children and adults. Visitors can learn about the importance of local food production, organic practices, agricultural history and how to start their own garden.
There are also pickling and canning classes offered.
Each planter box is low to the ground and offers a theme, such as the Ethnic Garden (with produce from Mexico, Asia, the Middle East or Africa that thrives in our climate) or the Pizza and Spaghetti Garden (more common crops like eggplant, squash, tomatoes, onions and peppers).
Magnifying glasses at each station encourage kids to find critters.
Several garden-themed cutouts are great for taking photos, and picnic tables provide space for lunch.
All of the produce harvested at the Farm + Food Lab is donated to food banks. It’s open daily, and parking and admission are free.
The entrance on Marine Way will be closed for construction through November. The alternate route is Trabuco Road off Sand Canyon Avenue. 6950 Marine Way, Irvine. 866-829-3829, cityofirvine.org.
