SANGER – The Valley’s annual celebration of spring, marked by flowers blooming in white and pink, kicked off in Sanger as locals recognized the beauty of Fresno County and the hard work that goes into its fields.
More than 100 community members gathered at Sanger Park on Feb. 7 to join in on the Blossom Trail Opening Ceremony. Hosted this year by the Sanger Chamber of Commerce and the city of Sanger in partnership with Fresno County, the ceremony included a catered lunch and showcased local vendors who grow and produce food and wine in the region.
“One of the most important aspects of this celebration is the opportunity to highlight the richness of agriculture within our communities,” Karen Pearson, CEO of the Sanger chamber, said. “The blossom trail showcases not only the breathtaking beauty of our blooming trees, but also the hard work and dedication of our local farmers who cultivate the land.”
As he does every year, Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen provided statistics and fun facts about the fruits that grow along the Blossom Trail. The blooming trees will eventually yield harvests of almonds, apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, oranges, kiwis, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, persimmons and more.
“These fruits and nuts not only showcase the beauty and flavor of the region, but also represent jobs for Valley residents, value-added products and safe, wholesome food for consumers here and abroad,” Jacobsen said.
In 2023, Fresno County’s agricultural production value totaled more than $8.5 billion, a growth of 6.1% over the previous year. Out of more than 300 varieties of commodities, Jacobsen said 73 had a gross value of more than $1 million, and the county exported its products to more than 90 countries.
As part of the celebration of agriculture, students from Fairmont Elementary School took part in the ceremony with a booth of their own, showcasing the produce they grow at the Sanger Unified School District Ag Complex. Fairmont’s Agriculture Advisor Christine Klistoff spoke about how students learn everything about the agriculture process, including soil science, animal science, plant science and ag business.
“We just want to give kids opportunities to know careers that are out there,” Klistoff said. “There’s so many careers, not that they’re necessarily going to grow up to be a farmer, but with innovation and technology, there’s something for all of them.”
Representatives from each Blossom Trail city joined in on the opening ceremony festivities, including elected officials from Kingsburg, Fowler, Reedley and Sanger, and individuals active in service clubs in Orange Cove and Selma. District 31 Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula was also present, along with representatives from the offices of District 12 Sen. Shannon Grove, District 27 Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria and District 21 Congressman Jim Costa.
Cities along the Blossom Trail rotate the chance to host the opening ceremony every year; Kingsburg held the event in 2024 and Selma is up next in 2026.
Other local Blossom Trail activities include the annual Blossom Bike Ride organized by the Reedley Lions Club. This year the bike ride — which is intended for family-friendly fun and science landscape viewing — begins at 7:30 a.m. on March 1. Registration is available at blossombikeride.com and individuals can sign up for a 7-mile family ride or longer individual ride options at 20, 40 and 60 miles.
Those who prefer running over cycling can take part in the Sanger Chamber of Commerce’s 28th annual Blossom Trail 10K Run on March 1. The run also offers various distances for kids and families, and individuals can register online. Individuals not keen on exercise can still take part in Sanger Blossom Trail festivities with the 36th annual Blossom Days Festival and Car Show on March 8.
Back in Reedley, Hillcrest Farms will run its Blossom Trail Train from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the first three weekends in March, on March 1-2, March 8-9 and March 15-16. The celebration will wrap up March 15 and 16 with Reedley Railfest. Train tickets are $10 per person.
The Blossom Trail is in season mid-February to mid-March and updates on the blooms along the trail are posted on Fresno County’s Blossom Trail website, goblossomtrail.com. An interactive version of the trail map is on the Visit Fresno County website and includes recommendations for various stops at local businesses.
The trail is a scenic drive that can also be followed by designated route signs along county roads. It specifically travels through the cities of Sanger and Reedley, though blossoms are easily visible throughout Fresno County. There is also an orange blossom trail option connecting to Orange Cove that is in bloom later in the spring. Kingsburg, Selma and Fowler are not along the official Blossom Trail route but are nearby.
