Woodland is a charming Yolo County town renowned for its agricultural heritage and farm-to-table tradition. This culture is examined in-depth in the seventh episode of “Yolo County: Indulge in the Authentic.”
Hosted by award-winning travel writer Aaron Millar, the podcast features longtime Woodland residents who are movers-and-shakers in the town’s food scene. The episode explores how the town grew from a humble farming community to a food-lover’s paradise that rivals its big-city neighbors.
Woodland’s Agricultural Heritage
To kick off the episode, Millar speaks with local historian David Wilkinson, who explains that the first crops to be planted were barley and wheat. With its rich soil and access to water, farming in and around Woodland has expanded over the years to include everything from sugar beets to wine grapes, almonds to tomatoes.
Sharing Woodland’s Food Tradition
Next, Millar speaks to Linda Henigan, co-founder of Woodland’s Dinner on Main, a community harvest festival celebrating the wide variety of crops that are grown here, from asparagus to zucchini. Drawing more than 600 people to dine at communal farm tables along Main Street, the event was featured in a previous podcast episode.
Woodland: Fueled by Ingenuity
Millar also speaks with Woodland city manager Ken Hiatt, a Yolo County native who said not only does the Woodland area have a rich tradition of farming, it also has a legacy of ingenuity. Early settlers were able to adapt to changing needs and conditions yet still focused on their connection to the land, a trait that resounds today.
Promoting Slow Food in Yolo County
Woodland is home to Yolo County’s slow food movement, a global initiative that aims to promote sustainable agriculture and local food cultures. Leading the way is Juan Barajas, owner of Savory Café, who told Millar of the importance of connecting people to the food they eat and the land on which it grows. This movement was featured on an earlier podcast, “Farm to Fork on the Slow Food Trail.”
Connecting People to Food Through Education
The first step in connecting people to the food they eat is through education, Barajas told Millar. To that end, he, Henigan, and other city leaders planted an edible learning garden in downtown Woodland. The garden teaches people, especially children, the value of good, clean food, where it comes from and how it should taste.
Farm-to-Table Dining in Woodland
Despite its humble beginnings, Woodland has grown into a culinary powerhouse, with charming farm-to-table restaurants, family-owned eateries with global influences, refined wine bars, craft breweries and much more.
To go in-depth on Woodland’s farming heritage and learn about its many dining options, check out Episode 7 of “Yolo County: Indulge in the Authentic” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Find out more about Yolo County and plan your trip today at visityolo.com.
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