What Farmers Around the World Have in Common

Farmers and agricultural leaders from around the world gathered in Scotland for the Global Agritourism Conference—with a curious Highland coo joining the group photo.

Last month, John and I had the privilege of attending the Global Agritourism Conference in Scotland. Farmers from more than 150 countries came together to share ideas, successes, and challenges. While the landscapes, crops, and accents were wonderfully different, I was struck by how similar the conversations were.

Whether you grow barley in Scotland, lychees in Australia, coconuts in Oman, or avocados in California, we're all asking the same questions. How do we remain profitable while caring for the land? How do we preserve traditions while adapting to a changing economy? How do we invite our communities to experience agriculture in meaningful ways?

I met farmers who had installed wind turbines to generate electricity. Others had added dairy vending machines where customers fill reusable bottles with fresh milk. Some had opened gelato shops, while others welcomed families to pick their own strawberries. They were strengthening agriculture, creating jobs, diversifying their businesses, and helping people reconnect with where their food comes from.

Here at Heritage Valley Family Orchard, our answers look a little different. We've planted lavender alongside our avocados, established year-round beehives, grow heirloom avocado varieties and unusual citrus, and continue to look for ways to share the ranch with our community. Diversification isn't a hobby or a side business. It's part of building a family farm that can thrive for another generation.

Our group visited the Scottish farm where barley is grown for a locally produced 12-year-old whisky.

One statistic kept coming to mind. In 1920, roughly one out of every four Americans worked in agriculture. Today, it's about one out of every one hundred. That's not surprising. A century ago, many people also worked on the railroads, operated telephone switchboards, or shod horses for a living. The economy evolved, and so did our workforce.

Agriculture, I believe, is different.

Farmers don't simply produce food. We care for working landscapes that benefit everyone. Healthy farms sequester carbon, provide habitat for wildlife, give Monarch butterflies places to rest during migration, and offer red-tailed hawks, owls, pollinators, and countless other species a place to live. Every decision we make influences not only this year's harvest but also the health of the land for generations to come.

That is why farmers need allies.

Not everyone needs to become a farmer, but all of us benefit from understanding the people who grow our food. Every season brings difficult decisions about water, labor, regulations, markets, weather, and stewardship. Those decisions may look different around the world, but the goal is remarkably consistent: to leave the land healthier and the farm stronger than we found it.

Sampling 12-year-old whisky made with barley grown on the very land where we were standing - a memorable example of agriculture, tradition, and local storytelling coming together.

That challenge has become even greater in California. In the late 1960s,when we started growing avocados, California ranches enjoyed a natural advantage. For a few months each year, we were essentially the only major supplier of fresh avocados. That seasonal window has disappeared as Mexico expanded production into different elevations, extending its harvest season, while Peru, Colombia, and other countries entered the global marketplace.

California growers pay fair wages and operate under some of the highest environmental and food safety standards in the world, yet we compete against imports produced under very different rules. As a result, we earned 50% less from the packing house for our avocados this season than we did last year. 50%!

The California Avocado Commission is advocating for a seasonal import policy that would create a fairer marketplace for California growers. It is a thoughtful proposal that would help preserve California agriculture while continuing to provide consumers with year-round avocados.

If you have a few minutes, I hope you'll watch this video and consider lending your voice in support. If you've ever bitten into a warm peach straight from the tree, picked berries with your family, wandered through an orchard, or simply believe family farms are worth preserving, then you're already part of this story.

Agriculture doesn't just need more farmers.

It needs more allies.

Thank you for being one of ours.

With guacamole and gratitude,

Alice