Sean Doherty , co-founder of Sean Doherty Farms , sells hybrid sunflower seeds to multinational companies but says the strong dollar may send buyers elsewhere .
visitors from across the state during the blossoms ’ summer peak .
To guide these visitors through the region , the Yolo County Visitors Bureau has developed a Sunflower Experience Pass that lists local businesses running sunflower-themed events , including wine tastings and balloon rides . Notably , it doesn ’ t include a list of sunflower fields .
“ Sunflowers are huge in Yolo County , and we have visitors coming from all over to view them ,” says Tiffany Dozier , PR and communications director of the Yolo County Visitors Bureau . The bureau only works with two or three sunflower farmers each year , who allow visitors on the SacTown Bites tour , she says . On its website , Visit Yolo , the bureau posted a list of dos and don ’ ts for flower seekers that discourages parking or walking on other farms . Most farmers don ’ t want visitors on their property , Dozier notes .
She says the farmers who take part in the tour have not indicated a need to reduce acreage but acknowledges that her sample size is small . “ Given that we only work with a few select farmers who are willing to host visitors , we don ’ t anticipate seeing any decline in the consumer sunflower interest for our experience pass ,” she says .
For now , the photoshoots and wine pairings will continue , even if the flowers look more sun-dried than usual and the yellow blooms don ’ t stretch quite as far toward the horizon . The real test will come next season , after seed companies have adjusted their buying practices to global conflicts , especially if the fighting and the drought drag on .
“ The world is still just sorting it out ,” says Doherty . “ It ’ s going to be interesting to see how that plays out over the fall and winter , between this runaway inflation and supply chain disruptions . … I don ’ t know if everything has affected us yet , but it surely will by next year .”
Jennifer Fergesen is senior editor for Comstock ’ s magazine . She writes about food for publications around the world and has received awards for her reporting on the restaurants of the global Filipino diaspora . See her work at jcfrgsn . journoportfolio . com and globalcarinderia . com .
August 2022 | comstocksmag . com 39