The resources of El Dorado County are the various kinds, and each one is contributing largely to the support of the others: but were it not for the home market, created and supported by the mines, agriculture would never have been so fully developed or so successfully maintained.”

~ This paragraph was taken from a historical souvenir of El Dorado County, published in 1883 by Paulo Sioli -

Farmer – n. a person who farms. (i.e., wakes at the crack of dawn, slams a cup of coffee and a meager bowl of oatmeal on their way out the door to work a crop that may or may not bring in enough money to do it all over again the next year.) They’re more than a pair of worn jeans or overalls, a wide brimmed hat and a weathered face that has been etched by years of working in the fields and orchards.

The El Dorado County Farm Trails organization began about 10 years ago with 25 local farmers getting together, sharing farming ideas and trading products. They realized that farmlands were being encroached upon and the lifestyle of the farmer was something kids read about in books, rather than knew firsthand.

They knew that their farms had not only produced enough product and that they were able to continue another year, but these farmers knew that from their efforts came strong families and an opportunity to become educated.

And so, this small group of farmers applied for non-profit status. They started their organization with a $30,000 county grant and enough energy and belief in the value of a farmer that they have grown to include over 170 members, with participants continuing to join, knowing that Farm Trails members not only promote themselves, but promote the history of El Dorado County and the farming industry.

These original members began working to make the public aware of the farming industry by running small ads and writing little articles, reminding people that farming is what saved El Dorado County once the rush for gold ended.

Although the membership has grown, each and every grower who is a member of Farm Trails has the same goal – farming isn’t easy but once the day’s work is done, the members go to bed knowing that they’ve just completed a day, much like the day generations of farmers before them had done.

Today it’s the farms, orchards and vineyards in El Dorado County that bring thousands of tourists from all over the world to this lush county. “There’s so much history here,” said Sue Russell, the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Tourism. “Any visitor traveling Highway 50 from El Dorado Hills to South Lake Tahoe will be charmed by the scenic variety this land has to offer.”

Once again, the Visitor’s Authority and the Farm Trails Association have joined efforts and produced this publication. Their hope is that visitors will find this guide filled with information about what to see and what to do while visiting El Dorado County.

Growers from all over the world have come to study El Dorado County’s Ranch Marketing program, taking growing and marketing ideas home to their own counties. In addition, film makers have discovered that El Dorado County has breathtaking scenery that is often used as a backdrop while shooting movies and commercials.

Wine tasting continues to bring tourists to the county. The tasting rooms are open year-round and are staffed by friendly folks, often the growers themselves. Special annual events, like Passport Weekends bring thousands of wine lovers to the county. Wine festivals in the South County are popular, as well, and take the true wine lover over gentle rolling hills where the vineyards seem to cover the entire countryside.

El Dorado County is where gold was first discovered in California. Today, the gold is still being found but it’s in the form of family weekends, couple retreats and the making of family traditions.