Lake County’s agricultural leaders stepped out of the boardroom and into the orchard this fall, as AgVenture turned its focus to the region’s growing walnut industry, food safety and the regulatory landscape shaping California agriculture.
On Friday, Oct. 17, participants in the Lake County chapter of California Women for Agriculture’s AgVenture class gathered to hear from experts, then headed into the field at Seely Orchards in Upper Lake to see a walnut harvest in motion.
From Pesticide Safety To Consumer Confidence
The day began with a deep dive into food safety and pesticide oversight. Fidel Perez, North Region Environmental Program manager for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, walked the group through how his team monitors, tests and enforces federal standards for pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables sold in the state.
Perez, who grew up on Lake County’s Quercus Ranch in Kelseyville, underscored that careful sampling and lab analysis are key to maintaining consumer trust. For those wanting to explore the state’s framework in more detail, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation provides public data and guidance on safe pesticide use.
California’s $61 Billion Farm Economy — And Lake County’s Slice
Next, Dan Durheim, chief operating officer of the California Farm Bureau, zoomed out to the statewide picture. He highlighted that California’s agriculture sector generates roughly $61 billion annually, with about 80% of farms family-owned. Dairy leads the way in total value, followed closely by almonds and grapes.
Lake County contributes around $140 million to that total, driven primarily by wine grapes, with pears, livestock and walnuts making up a strong supporting cast. That mix illustrates both the diversity and the resilience of local producers as they navigate markets and regulations.
Pest Control In A Heavily Regulated Era
A panel of pest management professionals then unpacked what it takes to bring new crop protection tools to market and use them responsibly in the field.
- Darren Dencklau of Attaway Field Research described the long research and development pipeline behind registering new products.
- Padrick Sherlock of Beckstoffer Vineyards and Janice Luke, an agricultural biologist for Lake County, explained how pest control advisors blend organic and sustainable tactics while staying compliant with state and federal rules.
They noted that many newer materials now carry both organic and sustainable certifications, giving growers more flexibility in balancing environmental goals with crop protection.
Walnuts: A California Powerhouse Crop
Walnut grower and California Walnut Board member Bill Carriere spent the day with the group, sharing market insights, nutrition research and production trends. California currently has about 375,000 bearing acres of walnuts, cementing the crop as a major player in both domestic and export markets.
Carriere discussed how product innovation and health-focused messaging — from heart-healthy diets to plant-forward eating — are helping keep demand strong. The California Walnut Board offers additional resources on nutrition science, recipes and grower information.
Seely Orchards: Four Generations In The Trees
In the afternoon, the classroom moved to Seely Orchards in Upper Lake, a multi-generational walnut farm that served as a living case study in family agriculture.
Host Colleen Seely Rentsch was joined by her daughter Jessica Rentsch Mihalenko, son-in-law Jordon Mihalenko, and other family members representing the third and fourth generations on the land.
Participants walked the orchard rows, learning how harvest timing, equipment and storage all factor into quality and yield. A highlight for many was taking a turn behind the controls of the walnut shaker, the machine that clamps onto each tree and vigorously shakes it until a rain of nuts hits the ground.
The Seely story stretches back to 1953, when Colleen’s grandparents purchased the property. Her parents, Ed and Francis Seely, expanded the orchards and modernized operations in the early 1960s, laying the foundation for today’s diversified, technology-aware family business.
Dairy Voices And The Next Generation
The day closed with a panel looking beyond a single crop to the broader reality of running a farm in California today.
Jennifer Beretta of Beretta Dairy in Santa Rosa joined Makaila Benjamin and Katy Evans to discuss:
- The pressure of an increasingly complex regulatory environment
- The necessity of diversifying income streams on the farm
- The importance of ag education, from local schools to on-farm programs, to attract young people into agricultural careers
They stressed that telling the story of how food is produced — and why local support matters — is essential to keeping family farms viable in the long term.
A Common Message: Leadership, Regulation And Public Awareness
Across every presentation and panel, several themes kept resurfacing:
- California’s leadership: The state remains the nation’s number one producer of food and fiber, setting trends in technology, sustainability and regulation.
- Regulatory headwinds: Growers face a complex web of state and federal rules, from pesticide use to labor and water, that demand constant adaptation.
- Public understanding: Farmers and ag professionals see education as critical — helping consumers understand how their food is grown, why regulations exist and how supporting local agriculture protects long-term food security.
For Lake County’s AgVenture participants, the walnut-focused day offered more than a field trip. It tied the community’s orchards, dairies and vineyards into a larger story: California agriculture as a dynamic, highly regulated, yet deeply family-rooted industry that feeds the state, the nation and the world.
