News

Sierra Oro Farm Trail Fall Tasting Boxes
Available Through Nov. 30
Enjoy a taste of Butte County farms and wineries delivered to your doorstep while also supporting gifts for families in need

OROVILLE, CALIF. (Nov. 5, 2021) -- Open a Sierra Oro Farm Trail tasting box and delight in the harvest celebration landing directly on your doorstep while also helping families in need.

The Sierra Oro Farm Trail has created three uniquely designed boxes that allow locals to share a taste of Butte County with their loved ones far and near. The Fall Tasting Boxes highlight the best of the Sierra Oro Farm Trail with a sampling of hand-selected farm-fresh goods from across Butte County that will make you feel like you are out in the fields.

“Our success with bringing the farm to your table has allowed us to continue with our tasting boxes through this fall. For those who would like a sampling of Farm Trail favorites, the boxes are available through the month of November. Additionally, we are working with California State University, Chico and there are some special Wildcat boxes available. You'll want to check out the website,” said Nicole Johansson, Sierra Oro Farm Trail organizer.

The tasting boxes arrive ready to open and enjoy with family, friends, and colleagues. Options range from $80–$135. Select boxes are filled with food and goods, or choose those that include selections of local wine and Sierra Nevada’s Farm Trail Baltic Harvest beers.* A $5 donation will be made to the Joy of Giving for every box sold.

For nearly 30 years, staff at Chico State have supported the Joy of Giving program, generating thousands of gifts each December for families in need. Butte County Children’s Services’ social workers nominated the children and parents served by the program, and they are not supported by any other charitable organization—so the generosity shared with them truly transforms their holiday. In 2019, bikes, toys, warm clothes, and electronics were donated for 114 children from 49 families, in addition to more than $2,500 raised to purchase grocery gift cards.

“Chico State Staff Council's Joy of Giving is truly the star of light on top of the holiday season,” said Mary Bowman, administrative support coordinator for Staff Council. “We are so excited to be working with the Sierra Oro Farm Trail and appreciate this donation to our program.”

To order a tasting box and help support the Joy of Giving program, visit www.sierraoro.org and click on the “Tasting Box” tab. For more information about the Sierra Oro Farm Trail, visit www.sierraoro.org, email info@sierraoro.org, or call the Butte County Farm Bureau at (530) 533-1473.

About Sierra Oro Farm Trail

Proceeds from the Sierra Oro Farm Trail benefit the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Association, dedicated to further developing agritourism in Butte County. For the latest information about Butte County attractions, points of interest, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and lodging options that are available throughout the county, visit www.explorebuttecounty.com.

Join the conversation on our social media channels: www.facebook.com/SierraOroFarmTrail and on Instagram and Twitter @SierraOroFarmTrail and @explorebuttecounty.

The Sierra Oro Farm Trail is sponsored by Butte County Farm Bureau, Explore Butte County and Tri Counties Bank. Participating farms and wineries include the following: Almendra Winery & Distillery, Bangor Ranch Vineyard & Winery, Book Family Farm, Butte College Environmental Horticulture Nursery, Butte View Olive Company, Calolea Olive Oil, Chico State University Farm, Dog Creek Cellars, Earthworm Soil Factory, Gale Vineyards,, Harvest Hill Farm, Hickman Family Vineyards, Hodges Nursery & Gifts, LaRocca Vineyards, Lavender Ranch, LIVE VINE Vineyards & Winery, Llano Seco Rancho, Lodestar Farms, Long Creek Winery & Ranch, Lundberg Farms, Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products, Milk & Honey 1860, Mooney Farms, Nascere Vineyards, New Clairvaux Vineyard, Noble Orchards, Odyssey Winery, Patrick Ranch Museum, Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Company, Purple Line Urban Winery, Sohnrey Family Foods, Spencer Shirey Wines, TJ Farms and Wooley Farms.

*Tasting boxes that include alcohol can only be shipped in the state of California. Pickup and shipping options are available at www.sierraoro.org.

SIERRA ORO FARM TRAIL LAUNCHES NEW SPRING TASTING BOXES AND VIRTUAL TOAST TO CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO CLASS OF 2021

OROVILLE, CA – April 23, 2021 -- Spring is here and food and wine lovers near and far can taste the adventure of the Sierra Oro Farm Trail with a Mother’s Day tasting box and a limited-edition Graduation tasting box made exclusively for the California State University, Chico Alumni and Parent Office as part of a virtual toast to graduates on Saturday, May 22 at noon.

The Mother’s Day box will bring surprise and delight to any special woman who enjoys locally made and farm-fresh products. The box includes artisanal foods mom will love including one of four flavors: White Mandarin, Strawberry, Traditional, or White Calolea Balsamic Vinegar, a bottle of Butte View olive oil, Lundberg Family Farms Lemon Poppyseed Thin Stackers, Sohnrey Family Foods pastel-colored candied Jordan Almonds, Sohnrey Family FoodsMaple Almond Butter and TJ Farms Kiwi Strawberry Jam.

The box is also packed with handcrafted goods made in small batches by our local farmers, including one of five different scents of Lavender Ranch soap, Milk & Honey 1860 lip balm, a selection of California native flower seed packets from Botanical Interests sold at Hodges Nursery & Gifts.

There are two choices of Mother’s Day Tasting Boxes, one with two bottles of wine and one non-alcoholic box without. The Food & Beverage Tasting Box toasts to Spring with one bottle each of the farmer’s choice from a selection of three local sparkling wines and three local white wines. Sparkling Wine selections include one bottle of either Almendra Winery & Distillery Celebration Sparkling Wine, LaRocca Vineyard Blanc de Blanc Organic Sparkling Wine or Purple Line Urban Winery Sparking White Cuvee. The white wine selection will include one of the following Gale Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Spencer Shirey Chardonnay, or an exciting new offering from New Clairvaux Vineyard, a Greek St. James Moschofilero. Priced at $95 and $135, these boxes must be ordered online at www.sierraoro.org for shipping or pick up by May 1, 2021.

The Graduation Box will commemorate the Class of 2021 with many flavors of Chico. In collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Sohnrey Family Foods, this box includes offerings from the Sierra Oro Farm Trail and a taste of local Chico favorites including:

Chico State University Farm Meats Lab beef sticks, Joy Lyn’s Candies and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Beer Brittle, Lundberg Family Farms Organic Salt Rice Chips paired with Silvia’s Green Salsa, Sohnrey Family FoodsRoasted Pistachios, TJ Farms Kiwi Hot Pepper Jam perfect when served over a brick of cream cheese and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Sierra Oro Farm Trail Harvest, Baltic Porter, a deliciously dark lager that embodies a culmination of flavors from the Sierra Oro Farm Trail. Brewed with Sierra Nevada’s own estate grown hops, fresh peaches grown at CSU, Chico Farm, Maisie Jane’s fire-roasted almonds and varietal rice from Lundberg Family Farms. Limited to the first 500 tasting boxes.

As part of a virtual toast, recipients can celebrate from their own home and pop a bottle of bubbly. The Tasting Box includes one bottle of the farmer’s choice from a selection of the local sparkling wines. Almendra Winery & Distillery Celebration Sparkling Wine, LaRocca Vineyard Blanc de Blanc Organic Sparkling Wine or Purple Line Urban Winery Sparkling White Cuvee.

Priced at $80, the graduation tasting boxes must be ordered online at www.sierraoro.org for shipping or pick up by May 15, 2021.

The community is invited to partake in the Sierra Oro Farm Trail’s salute to California State University, Chico graduates with a “Virtual Toast” celebration on Saturday, May 22 at noon. The link to join the zoom is open to the public and posted at www.sierraoro.org. Special guests will be online as part of a sendoff to students. Prizes including $500 in Southwest Airlines gift cards, hotel and restaurant packages from Explore Butte County, encouraging students and their families to return to their Alma Mater, Sierra Oro Farm Trail food and wine passes that will be valid during the month of October 2021 and more. Winners must be present during the zoom, a unique celebration you won’t want to miss.

Sierra Oro Farm Trail Launches Holiday Tasting Box

Direct from Local Family Farms and Wineries to your Clients, Friends and Family’s Doorsteps

OROVILLE, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2020) -- Save time and money this holiday season while supporting Butte County family farms and wineries when you send the gift of a Sierra Oro Farm Trail holiday tasting box.

The farmers and vintners of the Sierra Oro Farm Trail are working together to make buying locally grown holiday gifts an effortless experience. The Sierra Oro Farm Trail has hand-selected its favorite local holiday wines, beautifully paired with direct-from-the-farm holiday food items in the first-ever Sierra Oro Farm Trail holiday tasting boxes.

The wine selections and artisanal foods are festive and tasting boxes are bountiful. Options come in a variety of price and size options starting at $59.99. An assortment of hand-selected local wines can be purchased as part of a tasting box, or in wine sampler packs. Choose from six reds or six whites, or a case of twelve bottles from Butte County’s favorite wineries.

Sierra Oro also offers a food-only box that doesn’t include any alcohol. While parties and entertaining may be limited this year, the farm trail has done the work on selecting the region’s best farm fresh products for your holiday needs.

“Your one-stop shopping experience can be done with a ‘click’ without leaving your home or office,” said Nicole Johansson, organizer of the Sierra Oro Farm Trail. “It’s a gift you can feel good about because you’ll be supporting our local farms and boutique wineries who’ve suffered tremendous losses through the wildfires and business closures during the pandemic.”

To order a tasting box or a wine sampler, visit www.sierraoro.org. The first 600 Food & Beverage tasting boxes will also feature Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s newly released Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter, a California-exclusive.

Shipping is available and curbside pick-up is also an option for local orders. For details about tasting boxes, call Sohnrey Family Foods at 530-720-1111. Boxes are expected to sell out.

For more information about the Sierra Oro Farm Trail, visit www.sierraoro.org, email info@sierraoro.org, or call the Butte County Farm Bureau at (530) 533-1473. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates and product offerings.

The Sierra Oro Farm Trail is known for its annual passport weekend, an event on Columbus Day weekend that usually brings 2,500 people from all over California and neighboring states to tour, taste and toast at Butte County local farms and wineries.

This event is designed for the farms and wineries to sell their products to new customers and introduce people to the bounty of Butte County and the abundance of agriculture here. Normally, farms report their biggest weekend in sales during the 2-day weekend event. It's a great opportunity for locals and travelers to support a family farm or winery, sign up for wine clubs and have a unique experience of meeting the farmers and wine makers themselves. Years of guest tracking and satisfaction surveys rate the weekend a 9-10. Many of our out of town guests are friends of locals who come in specifically to take a tour on the farm trail. It is an economic driver and a tourism driver for all the cities and towns in our county and a memorable experience for those who take part.

This year, with festivals and events CLOSED in California, we feel that there is too much uncertainty to have a passport weekend. Wineries are not yet allowed to open and when they do have clearance to open, we have seen the reopening plans in Napa and other wine areas that require tastings be in single serve glasses and no more than 4 people at a winery appointment at a time. For an event that normally serves 40-50 guests an hour at 30+ locations, we feel that our only option is to pivot.

There are three parts to our pivot strategy:

Sierra Nevada has approached us about brewing a seasonal beer, Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter, that will be released in our tasting boxes in early Oct. 2020.
Chico State, a 16-year partner since Passport Weekend always falls on the same weekend as Alumni & Family weekend, would like to engage parents and alumni in a virtual parent weekend and work with us to create at home tasting videos and farm tours featuring our farmers and wine makers, more details are forthcoming.
Tasting Boxes - since people can't travel to Butte County, we would like to be able to send a taste of Butte County home to them. We are working on a tasting box strategy that would allow us to ship boxes of products from the farms and wineries on the farm trail that coincide with the tasting videos.

Chico State University Farm is also collaborating with us, as is Lundberg Family Farms who is a possible partner in the beer and wants to launch a new product Organic Rice Cake Minis through our tasting boxes.

Chico State University Farm is also collaborating with us, as is Lundberg Farms who is a possible partner in the beer and wants to launch a new product Organic Rice Cake Minis through our tasting boxes.

Farm Trail normally does not try to keep profits for itself. We do not rely on any government or grant funding, we are fully sustainable and the passport weekend is our only fundraiser.

The challenge is that in order for the Sierra Oro Farm Trail to support all of these farms, the farm trail needs capital to purchase the items from the farms and materials to get this mailing going.

Sierra Oro Farm Trail is a non profit organization, we are part of the Butte Ag Groups Foundation at the Butte County Farm Bureau. We have been making our map since 2004 and the project continues to grow year after year.

On behalf of 35 local farms and wineries that together are known as the Sierra Oro Farm Trail, thank you so much for your time and support.

Time to Say Cheers…Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Sierra Oro Farm Trail Team Up to Launch Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter

Newly Crafted Beer Featured in Tasting Boxes
for Virtual Sierra Oro Passport Weekend, Oct. 10, 2020

OROVILLE, CA — (Aug. 17, 2020) — Fresh from the orchards, a new seasonal Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. beer will debut in a box of Butte County farm-fresh products, just in time for the area’s 16th annual Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend that is going virtual in 2020.

Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter, a deliciously dark lager, embodies a culmination of flavors from the Sierra Oro Farm Trail. The beer is brewed with fresh peaches grown at Chico State University Farm , Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products fire roasted almonds and organic brown rice syrup from Lundberg Family Farms.

“Sierra Nevada has been in the North State for 40 years, and the rich agricultural heritage of this area is deeply embedded in who we are,” said Sierra Nevada Communications Director Robin Gregory. “We’re thrilled to join this collaboration celebrating the flavors of our home.”

Farm Trail Harvest is produced in limited quantity and will be available in the first 500 Sierra Oro Farm Trail tasting boxes. Food, wine and craft beer enthusiasts can order a Sierra Oro Farm Trail tasting box starting August 17. For less than the price of two passport tickets and a tank of gas (valued at $150), the local community and enthusiasts from afar can experience a virtual tasting experience by selecting from three tasting boxes at www.sierraoro.org:

Food Box $79.99: Will include farm fresh products made in Butte County, including Lundberg Family Farm’s debut of its new Organic Rice Cake Minis.
Food and Beverage Box $124.99: Will include all food box items plus two bottles of wine and a limited-edition bottle of Sierra Nevada’s Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter. The beer will be available in limited quantity. The first 500 tasting box orders will receive a bottle in their shipment.
Sierra Oro Farm Trail Case of Wine: $249.99: Will include a case of 12 wine bottles from Sierra Oro Farm Trail wineries.

“We knew we couldn’t invite people to visit our farms, so instead, we are sending the farms home to supporters and enthusiasts in a tasting box and including few new surprises,” said Nicole Johansson, who co-founded the Sierra Oro Farm Trail in 2004 with her husband, Jamie Johansson, and local vintner, Heather Quilici. “The tremendous support we’ve received from our local farms, business community and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has been humbling. Our community has always supported agriculture in a big way.”

The Sierra Oro Passport Virtual Weekend will take place in a series of tasting videos broadcast on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 at 11 a.m. The event is also in collaboration with Chico State’s Virtual Parent & Alumni Weekend Celebration .

Virtual tastings will take place to coincide with the items in the tasting box. Interactive videos will run on the University’s GoToMeeting Platform, registration will be required to attend , Space is limited. A virtual toast to Butte County. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. will debut Sierra Oro Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter and a toast to Butte County. Maisie Jane Hurtado, Anders Lundberg, Dave Daley from the University Farm will participate in the video.

In addition, active participation and marketing support for Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend is provided by Explore Butte County, committed to generating awareness for local businesses, restaurants, wineries, breweries, destinations and lodging. John Pearson, executive director of Chico Velo and board member for Explore Butte County, will host the virtual tasting and provide an interactive question and answer format for listeners to participate and engage.

SIERRA ORO FARM TRAIL SAYS ‘LET’S GET VIRTUAL’... DELIVERS TASTING BOXES AND ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL PASSPORT WEEKEND IN COLLABORATION WITH CHICO STATE

PARENT & ALUMNI WEEKEND

OROVILLE, CA -- (August 17, 2020 ) – The Sierra Oro Farm Trail will celebrate its annual Passport Weekend in partnership with Chico State’s Virtual A lumni and Family Weekend on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

In an effort to keep our community, visitors, farmers and wineries safe, the Sierra Oro Farm Trail is pivoting to a virtual effort this year with deliciously creative options in place. Instead of in-person visits, direct-order tasting boxes from farms and wineries on the trail will be available for delivery or curbside pick-up the first week of October. Boxes will arrive in time to coincide with the virtual farm-to-fork tasting opportunities presented through hosted interactive online tasting videos through a partnership with California State University, Chico’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement .

“This year, residents and guests can tour, taste and toast their way through the Sierra Oro Farm Trail without leaving their homes,” said Nicole Johansson, organizer of the Sierra Oro Farm Trail since 2004. “A purchase of a tasting box supports family farms and wineries and allows everyone to partake in a variety of virtual tasting experiences that keep our ‘meet the farmer’ experience alive for loyal trail goers.”

California State University, Chico’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, a 16-year partner in the Sierra Oro Farm Trail’s signature passport weekend, is inviting parents and alumni to celebrate Virtual Alumni and Family Weekend by participating in the tastings and tasting box delivery.

“This is a great way for us to engage parents and alumni in celebrating our local community and college atmosphere while students are distance learning,” said Shari Anderson, director of the University’s Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement. Plans for virtual family weekend can be found here . The site will be updated as plans unfold.

Food, wine and craft beer enthusiasts can order a Sierra Oro Farm Trail tasting box starting August 17, 2020. For less than the price of two passports and a tank of gas (valued at $150), guests can experience a virtual tasting experience by selecting from three tasting options at www.sierraoro.org.

Food Box $79.99: Will include farm-fresh products made in Butte County, including Lundberg Family Farm’s debut of its new Organic Rice Cake Minis.
Food and Beverage Box $124.99: Will include all food box items plus two bottles of wine and a limited-edition bottle of the new Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter. Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter will be available in limited quantity starting this fall. The first 500 Sierra Oro tasting box orders will receive the sample in their shipment. For more information on the beer collaboration visit www.sierraoro.org
Sierra Oro Farm Trail Case of Wine $249.99: Will include a case of 12 wine bottles from Sierra Oro Farm Trail boutique wineries.

As part of the University’s participation, beef sticks from the California State University, Chico Meats Lab are included in the tasting boxes. The University Farm has also provided peaches from its beloved peach orchard for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Farm Trail Harvest Baltic Porter.

Virtual tastings will take place to coincide with the items in the tasting box. Interactive videos will run on the University’s GoToMeeting Platform, registration will be required to attend , space is limited. A virtual toast to Butte County. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. will debut Sierra Oro Farm Trail Baltic Porter and a toast to Butte County. Maisie Jane Hurtado, Anders Lundberg, Dave Daley from the University Farm will participate in the video.