Sit back and enjoy food, topics and trends that start on California farms and ranches. take 5
What to feed a reindeer Children throughout the U.S. will be leaving Santa cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. Some will also leave carrots and celery for his reindeer. Although reindeer are not native to California, there’s a small herd at the San Diego Zoo and others are brought to California cities for holiday visits. What do reindeer really eat? Several crops that are common in the Golden State.
1
Apples
Reindeer enjoy nibbling on apples. For them, it’s a sweet treat. California is the nation’s fifth-largest apple producer, and farmers here grow four main varieties: Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith and Cripps Pink (also known as Pink Lady). The growing season runs from April through October, depending on the variety.
2
Mushrooms
Another food source for reindeer is mushrooms. The animals forage and eat all types of fungi in the cold Arctic. In California, mushrooms—considered the “meat” of the vegetable world—are grown for us humans at indoor, climate-controlled farms. Monterey County accounts for nearly 40% of California’s total production.
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November/December 2020
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