Growing popularity of fresh, locally grown produce is helping small-scale farmers.

The story focused on a tour last week organized by UC Cooperative Extension and the UC Agricultural Sustainability Institute intended to help small growers find new avenues to sell their products.

"Everyone wants to do business with them," said David Visher, a project analyst who helped organize the workshop.  "We're not advocating that they choose processors over farmers' markets. We're just trying to show them their options and introduce them to the right people so they can make their own choices."

One of the growers on the tour, Emma Torbert, told the reporter she returned to her farm near Davis with a head full of possibilities.

Read more about the tour in the UC Food Blog post Cultivating connections between farmers and food buyers.