A strawberry grower in Oxnard says the California Strawberry Festival in Ventura County is more than a dessert stop, pointing to the work of farm families, farmworkers, and women leaders who keep the region’s crop—and local jobs—moving from field to kitchen ta
Every spring, when the California Strawberry Festival returns to Ventura County, Oxnard strawberry grower Martha Guerrero finds herself thinking beyond the familiar pull of strawberry shortcake, live music, the ocean air, and the chance to see family and friends gather.
Guerrero said the festival is a reminder that strawberries are tied to the region’s identity. but also to the people whose labor makes the harvest possible—farm families who have worked the land for generations. and farmworkers whose skill and dedication she says turn early mornings in the fields into food that ends up on kitchen tables far beyond Ventura County.
California, Guerrero noted, produces nearly 90% of the strawberries grown in the United States.. She described that as an “incredible responsibility,” one her community does not take lightly.. For many growers. she said. strawberry farming is not just a business; it is a way of life shaped by the land. the seasons. and the communities where families raise children.
She also emphasized that agriculture supports thousands of local jobs across the region, reaching beyond the fields into packinghouses and trucking, and extending to researchers, irrigation experts, mechanics, and small businesses.
“People often see strawberries only at the grocery store or on a dessert plate,” Guerrero wrote, saying what is harder to see is the work that comes before that moment: careful hand-harvesting, long hours, constant problem-solving, and the ongoing effort to improve farming practices year after year.
Farming, she said, requires innovation as much as tradition.. In her view. growers are continually trying to use water more efficiently. strengthen food safety. protect soil health. and adopt new technologies to farm more sustainably.. She pointed to persistent pressures each season. including weather. rising costs. pests. and labor shortages—while arguing that farmers adapt because they care deeply about what they do and about preserving agriculture for the next generation.
Guerrero framed this year’s festival as particularly meaningful because it arrives during “the Year of the Woman Farmer. ” which she described as bringing more recognition to women helping lead agriculture.. She said women across California’s strawberry industry are stepping forward as growers. researchers. food safety professionals. operations managers. and sustainability experts. helping shape the future of farming while carrying forward values that built the industry.. She said she was proud to be recognized alongside other women in agriculture this year. while also stressing that there are countless women in farming communities whose work. in her view. still deserves to be seen and celebrated.
The story, Guerrero said, is not only about strawberries. It is also about the farm families, farmworkers, and agricultural communities whose work often happens quietly and out of sight, even though she believes it touches millions of lives every day.
When people take a bite of a California strawberry, Guerrero hopes they taste more than sweetness—care, effort, and pride—connected to the place she calls home.
The idea threads through her remarks: a crop that accounts for nearly 90% of U.S.. strawberry production depends on a wide web of local work—from hand-harvesting and packing to trucking. irrigation expertise. research. and day-to-day problem-solving—and each season’s challenges push growers toward innovation in water use. food safety. soil health. and new technologies.
Martha Guerrero is a strawberry grower in Oxnard. The festival will be held on Saturday-Sunday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
California Strawberry Festival Ventura County strawberries agriculture farmworkers Oxnard water efficiency food safety soil health women in agriculture