Placer Grown

OCTOBER IS PLACERGROWN MONTH | We are proud to be part of Placer County's vibrant agricultural community, and October reminds us of our mission to connect residents and visitors with the local family farmers, ranchers, brewers and vintners who produce the finest fruits, vegetables, meats and other agricultural products the region has to offer.

On Saturday, October 10, the Auburn W**e, Ale and Food Festival fills Old Town and Downtown Auburn from 1 to 5 PM with about 25 regional w**eries and breweries and 25 local restaurants.

On Sunday, October 11, the free, self-guided 2026 Farm & Barn Tour opens working farms and ranches across the county.

Celebrate with a visit to a farm stand, a pumpkin patch, a tasting room or a brewery you have not tried yet. Find a producer near you at getplacergrown.com/directory.

Fall looks good on the vineyard! Good Day Sacramento visited Viña Castellano in Auburn ahead of its fourth annual Fall Festival this weekend, October 3 and 4. Expect local w**e, food, music and makers, all free and family friendly.

And save the date for 2026 Farm & Barn Tour on October 11!

Get a taste:

Viña Castellano’s 4th Annual Fall Festival Celebrate fall in the vineyard at Viña Castellano’s 4th Annual Fall Festival, happening October 3 & 4! This free, family-friendly weekend brings together local w**e, food, music, and makers in a beautiful Sierra Foothills vineyard setting.

Are you ready to FALL in love with your backyard? It’s time for PlacerGROWN’s Farm and Barn Tour!

Don’t worry about grabbing tickets; the Farm and Barn Tour is both free and entirely customizable. Choose from 15-20 destinations to craft the experience that’s right for you!

Enjoy family-friendly activities, farm tours, and agricultural demonstrations while supporting local vendors. Eat, drink, and indulge in the very best in Placer County fall produce.

🍎 Plan your Farm and Barn Tour itinerary here at https://getplacergrown.com/farm-barn-tour/

☀️ For over a decade, husband & wife duo Jeff Novak & Valerie Seymour have grown a diverse bounty of crops at Plum Possum in Lincoln, CA. Their daughter Edith ensures morale stays high on the farm, as she romps around inspecting the quality of their late summer peppers and ground cherries.

🌱 Under their intentional stewardship, this is what they produce here in Placer County, CA through the seasons: Summer Squash, Cucumbers, Basil, Cherry Tomatoes, Melons, Sweet Corn, Peppers, Garlic, Fall Pumpkins, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Dry Beans, Winter Lettuce, Sunchokes, Turmeric, Ginger, Lemongrass, Kale, & more!

You can find their produce at:
🌱 BriarPatch Food Co-op
🥬 Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
🫚 Tahoe Food Hub
🥙 Omakase Por Favor | Japanese-Mexican Raw Bar | Lincoln, CA

📸 AshCat

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE WOMAN FARMER | Whether they’re carrying on the family tradition or sowing seeds for the next generation, Placer County women farmers are at the forefront of local agricultural development.

This month, we’re excited to celebrate six fantastic female farmers for their visionary work, enriching the future of Placer farming:

✨ Carrie Anderson, 5 Stones Family Farm
✨ Patricia Beard, Beard Ranch Preserve
✨ Nicolina Baldwin, S and J Mandarin Grove
✨ Becky Perell, Loomis Alpacas
✨ Roxanne Donohue, Tin Roof Farm
✨Julia Corbett, Smokin Barrel W**ery

💬 Do you know a Placer County woman farmer that deserves a shoutout? Drop a comment or send us a DM!

Justin Miller left Southern California to help carry on his wife’s family farm at Twin Peaks Orchards in Newcastle. Get to know Justin and the four-generation farming legacy he’s helping preserve. Thank you, Abridged by PBS KVIE, for sharing this story from our local farming community!

Justin Miller overhauled his family's life and took a big pay cut to continue the legacy of his wife's family farm. Read more in the comments ⬇️

🌱 A new Farmers’ Market has come to town! Check out Real Food Farmers’ Market in Auburn, CA every Thursday (5pm - 8pm). Elevate your table with the bounty of the season, and know that every purchase is supporting an artisan or small family farm local to this region! Hosted by the Gold Country Food Hub, this market's mission is to bring together real food, real people, and real wholesome goodness. ☀️

📍195 Elm Ave, Auburn, CA 95603

📸 AshCat