Chico

Chico, California, United States

Life’s a little different out at Chico State’s University Farm. Time moves a little slower, the sun shines a little brighter, and the produce grown through the Organic Vegetable Project is just that much more delicious.

311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln
Chico, CA

As one of Chico’s hidden gems in plain sight, the 800-acre Paul L. Byrne Memorial University Farm is the bedrock for agricultural education at Chico State. Established in 1960, students both attend class labs and work as part-time employees at the facility, which includes a beef unit, a mushroom unit, an organic dairy unit, and so much more. There’s a good chance that if you’ve eaten at a local restaurant in town, you’ve eaten something grown or raised at the University Farm.

311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln
Chico, CA

The monthly tours at the University Farm are when members of the public can hop on a tractor and explore Chico State’s “living laboratory.”

311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln
Chico, CA

What started as one acre of produce has grown into three acres and more than 50 varieties of vegetables to supply the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. The project incorporates the efforts of students, faculty, local farmers and other members of the community to help support the local food movement and small scale organic vegetable production. Its goal, among several other initiatives, is to identify and share information about the latest and greatest new vegetable varieties to help local farmers get a leg up on the competition.

311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln
Chico, CA

At the University Farm, you can also get hands-on at the annual "U-Pick Peaches" event, which takes place in early- and mid-August as the fruit ripens.

311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln
Chico, CA

So plan a visit to learn more about the work the next generation of ag students are doing at Chico State's University Farm in Northern California.