26th Annual Avocado Festival

Dancing to the contagious rhythms of the wide array of musical performers, the 2012 Avocado Festival in Carpinteria came into full swing. Thousands attended the three day extravaganza enjoying everything from delicious food and tasty treats, to strolling through the arts and crafts block, to taking a seat and watching the guacamole competition.

The 80-degree weather could not have been more perfect to try some of the avocado ice cream, strawberry shortcake with avocado syrup, beer and smoothies. “We’re just having a good time with the kids. Lots of food! Lots of Food!” said Diandra Batrin, Oxnard resident. The festival, which started back in 1986, benefits the fundraising efforts of local non-profit groups, and is an economic boost for Carpinteria as tourists flock the seaside town during the festival weekend. Local vendor, Jessica Marquez, has been selling avocados with her family at the Avocado Festival since its inception. “They’re coming directly from our farm. We farm in Carpinteria, and today we have four different varieties of avocados…they’re all delicious.”

The prestigious avocado has a long and interesting history. It originated in south-central Mexico sometime between 7,000 B.C. and 5,000 B.C., but it wasn’t until much, much later that avocadoes were cultivated. Evidence exists that suggests the avocado was cultivated in Mexico as early as 500 B.C. Santa Barbara’s Judge R.B. Ord introduced avocados to the U.S. in 1871 with trees from Mexico. By the early 1900’s growers saw the avocado’s commercial potential. Today, California is the leading producer of domestic avocados and home to about 90% of the nation’s crop. The avocado is considered a fruit for those that have been wondering about its classification. In fact, the Spanish conquistadores loved the fruit so much that they had to rename it from the Aztec word to the more manageable and easier to pronounce, aguacate. Aguacate eventually evolved into avocado in English.

Flash forward to the Avocado Festival, “It’s a really great place to come and see,” says Marquez, “you get a great education on avocados. You learn a little bit about your region, and you get to celebrate with everybody in the community.”

The Avocado Festival is once a year, so for those that missed it, only 365 days left until the next one. Until then, know that the California avocado is harvested year round so you can still enjoy that guacamole dip and chips.

Check out the video story below:

Copyright 2012 Red Pacific Media

Memorial Day Ceremonies

Americans around the world celebrated Memorial Day today. Thousands gathered across the country to pay respect to the men and women who have made sacrifices to keep freedom alive. Here in the Central Coast, families, friends, political leaders, soldiers and war veterans gathered at Carpinteria Cemetery to honor the fallen heroes of American wars.

Wreaths were placed below a flagpole in a colorful show of respect for the warriors that have given their lives for this country. Smaller American flags decorated the graves of these unsung heroes, the names of Carpinteria residents that sacrificed it all were read out loud, and three canon blasts marked this special occasion as everyone present looked on.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Carpinteria Cemetery is two gravesites, 100 feet apart from each other, that date back to the Civil War. One is that of a Confederate soldier and the other of a Union soldier. Both from Missouri. As to why these two soldiers were interred here, so far from home and the battlefield,

A clip of a Memorial Day Ceremony I put together from a news story I covered.

and what connection they may have to Carpinteria or the Central Coast, remains a mystery. Nevertheless, today, both were honored under one flag.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day gives Americans a chance to give thanks to all those men and women who gave all of their tomorrows so one could have today…America, the land of the free. And as this country moves forward, the sacrifices of these fearless warriors will never be forgotten.