It is difficult to believe that many years ago, Santa Clara County was the second most productive in America for horticultural crops. Alameda County was also among the top ten most productive counties. Although urban sprawl has replaced almost all of the agricultural land here, San Mateo County which was once the most productive, continues to produce more horticultural crops than all but a few other places.

Because wholesale growers are not normally open to the public, only those who work the crops witness them on a wholesale scale. Most of us are familiar with cut flowers available in retail markets; but few have seen acres of them! This is why the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureau hosts an annual Tour des Fleurs.

Guests to the Tour des Fleurs may select from six package tours which include visits to three each of the eleven hosting horticultural establishments. Guests drive to each of the three locations to attend a one hour guided tour.

Oku Nursery is a century old business growing premier cut roses as well as field flowers. Ano Nuevo Nursery, adjacent to Ano Nuevo State Park, has been producing violas, daisies, calla lilies and other cut flowers for three generations. The vast greenhouse ranges of T & E Pastorino produce still more roses and cut flowers.

The greenhouse ranges of Pastorino Gifts and Plants and Repetto Nursery will be featured during the tour as well as their cut flower fields and pumpkin fields. Fields of dahlias, herbs and produce may be toured at Daylight Nursery. More field flowers may be toured at Cozzolino’s Nursery.

Jacobs Herb Farm / Del Cabo is an organic farm which grows peppermint and spearmint for Tom’s of Maine toothpaste and also various herbs for Whole Foods. Money’s Mushrooms was originally the Campbell’s mushroom plant and now produces more exotic types. Thomas Fogarty Winery is the only winery of the tour and exhibits acres of vineyards.

Yerba Buena Nursery (one of my favorite nurseries) is actually a very specialized retail nursery which grows California native plant species and ferns. Yerba Buena Nursery as well as Thomas Fogarty Winery, T & E Pastorino, Pastorino Gifts and Plants and Repetto Nursery are open to the public; but production facilities may only be toured during the Tour des Fleurs.