October 08, 2009

The University Agricultural Laboratory – better known as the University Farm – at Fresno State will open to the public for weekly tours on Fridays during the summer, beginning Friday, May 2.

The hour-long tours from 4 to 5 p.m. on are free and open to the public, but limited to 10 persons each Friday. Tours will begin and end at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market at Chestnut and Barstow avenues. 

Each tour of the 1,000-acre farm provides a look at some of the 25 enterprises where agriculture students put to work what they learn in classrooms in the College of Agricultural Science and Technology.

Among the stops is the Floral Lab, the award-winning Fresno State Winery, vineyards, a tour of the field crops, orchards and the dairy.

After the tour, guests may attend the market’s wine tastings, which are held 4-6 p.m. every Thursday and Friday. Tastings are $5 per person for samples of three featured wines and participats get to keep a commemorative Fresno State wine glass. (Must be 21 years or older to participate in wine tasting).

The student-operated Farm Market sells fruit and vegetables, nuts, dairy products, meat, wine, plants and a variety of food products grown on the farm and processed by students. Proceeds from Farm Market sales are used to make improvements on the farm and enhance students’ learning experiences.

To book a tour, contact Melinda Dresser-Oakes in Agricultural Operations at 559.278.2011 or e-mail mdoakes@csufresno.edu.