[captioning made possible by california farm bureau federation] >> so we all know that california is king when it comes to growing citrus. and when it comes to growing lemons, no one is bigger than this ventura county farm. and with over 7,000 acres of lush lemon trees, limoneira isn't just the biggest lemon grower in california, but in all of north america. based in santa paula, the farm is a testament to what hard work and determination can do. founding fathers nathan blanchard and wallace hardison first bought the land way back in 1893 and named the ranch limoneira, which means "lemon lands" in portuguese. >> and at the time, they wanted to bring about the first full-scale commercial operation citrus ranch in the u.s. and from there, we added, throughout the years, over the last 115-16 years, 3 other families have come into the fold, and that's where we've grown today to be our 7,000 acres that we are in california. >> once called the home of the lemon, it actually took 15 years before those first farmers even turned a profit at the limoneira farm. but they persevered, and as they

[captioning made possible by california farm bureau federation] >> ♪ la la la la la la da da da da... >> here at birk's restaurant in santa clara, they're known for being a south bay institution. since 1989, plate after heaping plate has been served up to a pretty discriminating crowd. and no matter how full they are, most leave room for dessert, desserts that are almost too pretty to eat--almost. >> here we have the orange- creamsicle-flavored ice cream. it sits on a carved-out half of a navel orange. so here is our desserts for our v.i.p. table, special guests, of course. >> chef maurice dissels believes in keeping the menu as unique as possible, and for his desserts, he relies on a local girl done good--sheri tate. >> she brought a sample of her ice creams and sorbets, and as they say, the rest was history. >> it comes as no surprise, really, that ice cream has been called the great american dessert for a reason. each american consumes an average of 23 quarts of ice cream, ice milk, sherbert, and other commercially processed frozen dairy products a year. but even the gre american d

[captioning made possible by california farm bureau federation] >> coming up on "california country"... they're small, but they're mighty popular this time of year. then the hills are alive as a community gets to work harvesting liquid gold. next, it's off to the races as we get a behind-the-scenes tour of a true california classic. it's all ahead, and it starts now. as the farm to fork concept has grown, farmers are used to hearing from chefs on what they like and what will make a great dish. for example, the foreign cinema restaurant in san francisco has garnered local, national and international acclaim as a quintessentially san francisco dining experience. all thanks to their flair for keeping the menu local and fresh. a list of seasonally inspired fare is what restaurant legends are made of. but as any good chef will tell you, they are nothing without their ingredients. >> the menu is really from just a lot of local farmers around here. >> but at the top of today's menu is watermelon. that's right, the once picnic staple is now moving into more and more white tablecloth eateries

charlotte fadipe for "california country tv." >> this segment is brought to you by the california farm bureau federation. the people, the places, the unforgettable tastes of california will be back in a moment. >> welcome back. beyond the bustle of the big city is an undiscovered paradise called california country. >> we're in san francisco. beauty has gone organic. and it's so farm fresh, people like me just can't wait to start feeding their skin. at sephora in the bay area, the hunt is on for the perfect potion to turn back thd hands of time. and thanks to a new product, customers are getting exactly what they asked for. and one thing is for sure--the old adage that you are what you eat takes on an entirely different meaning now. juice beauty is the name of a new product line started by women in the bay area who began to look at skin care from a different perspective. >> [indistinct] organic green apples a little bit? >> ok. um, yeah. yeah, actually. >> yeah. >> some apple. >> it's just really a lot of organic fruits. >> smells like applesauce. >> uh, yeah, but in a good way. i never really thought ab

." >> this segment is brought to you by the california farm bureau federation. >> welcome back to "california country." >> from san diego to watsonville and dozens of places in between, the golden state is the undisputed king of this little berry that packs a huge combination of having great taste, beauty, and nutrition. did you know that california is the only state to produce strawberries all year round? which is exactly why farmers are coming up with brand-new ideas on how to use one of our vorite fruits. drive past the strawberry fields in santa maria this time of the year, and you'll be treated to the fragrance and color of fruit fit for a king. a naturally cool climate mixed with the balmy pacific winds insulate this area from getting too hot or too cold, making california one of the absolute best places in the entire world to grow strawberries--not that you have to tell daren gee that. >> how much do you need? what do you need, a box or two boxes? >> i'm just going to get a flat, at least, a flat, so. >> a flat? >> $5,000. but for you-- [laughs] >> we'll reduce the price. >> a good dea

[captioning made possible by california farm bureau federation] [captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org] [horns honking] [siren wails] announcer: big dreams and goodrades aren't enough to get into college. there are actual steps you need to take. finding someone who can help is the first and most important. for the next steps, go to knowhow2go.org.

. >> this segment is brought to you by the california farm bureau federation.ightseeing in california is a world tour of the chic and unique, all in one state. don't miss your exclusive tour when we come back. >> our dad used to say, when you work hard for something, protect it. >> that's why he got nationwide insurance more than 30 years ago. >> we're still with them today because no matter what changes in our lives, whether it's starting a business or building a house. >> having kids or buying a car. >> with an on your side review from nationwide insurance, we get the coverage we need at the right price for us. ♪ nationwide is on your side >> make sure your coverage keeps up with your life. ask your local agent or call 877-306-1252 today. >> it's one thing to buy things in boxes and packages and just have it show up, it's another thing to actually know where that is produced and where it's come from and how it's produced. and i think that even goes further when you have some kind of personal connection to it. >> literally, farm to table. literally, it's like

[captioning made possible by california farm bureau federation] >> coming up on "california country"..meet the face of andy boy produce. yes, there really is an andy boy. >> who is this? >> yep. it's me. >> oh. >> then she's getting her goat, but that's a good thing for this talented farmer. >> you see how comfortable the baby is? you can't carry the big one. >> then as the weather heats up, it's time to get gardening and our expert has the tips to get you started. >> think of the best salsa you've ever had. it was the fresh cilantro, wasn't it? >> it's all ahead and it starts now. take a walk through your average produce aisle these days and there are more choices than ever, but one farm has a very eye-catching marketing strategy to entice you. and it all has to do with the bright picture of a little boy named andy. but have you ever stopped to wonder, who is this andy boy guy anyway? >> andy boy's my father, andy d'arrigo, he's the face on the label and a lot of people ask, is there an andy boy and i say, yes, there is. >> who is this? >> yep. it's me. >> oh. ha ha. you see, when fo

[captioning made possible by california farm bureau federation] [captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org] >> good morning. i am the general manager of the recreation department. we're very happy to have the chance to promote our efforts to provide san francisco's kids with fun opportunities to enjoy summer. all children have a home this summer at rec and parks. we are encouraging the kids to be active and get out and play. rec and parks has a long history of offering a summer camps. mayor newsom: this year, we are stepping up. >> you were going to do the whole thing. mayor newsom: it is an honor to have phil ginsberg, the director, with us today. he will be introducing all of the speakers in just a moment. i have to be able to announce this. i am very excited about this. for two months, phil has been wanting to tell everyone about the good work they have been doing for the summer. a preamble is important. there has been a lot of news about the frustration advanced because of cuts over a unified school district. it is appropriate to be concerned. the one under $

california farm bureau says changing the law would put some farmers out of business. the governor has not said whether he will sign the bill. >>> 7:45. we're following some new developments about that controversial firing of the federalulture department official. the secretary of agriculture now says he needs to take another look at the supposed racist comments made by that employee. alison burns is live in our washington, d.c. bureau with much more on this. >> reporter: the second issued a statement overnight saying he will conduct a thorough rereview -- review over the firing of that worker. but the employee says she's not sure she would go back. this video is the controversy and has been blasted all over the internet. the full story is coming out. the farmer's family says the woman helped them and she said the clip was taken out of context. she says no one at usda wanted to hear her side or see the whole video before forcing her out earlier this week. >> having the tape out there even before and not being will to look at it, to have them come forward now say they are willing to do that, i guess is sort of bittersweet to me. >> reporter: she was making the rounds on tv when she said she was forced to resign from th