Oxnard California - 2020 - 16

AGRICULTURE

LOCAL'S TIP
JEFF MAULHARDT,
DIRECTOR OF THE OXNARD HISTORIC FARM
PARK AND AUTHOR OF
A HISTORY OF OXNARD
Agriculture has played
a significant role in the
development of Oxnard's
diverse community,
starting in the 1870s when
groups of Germans, Irish,
French and other Europeans arrived in the area.
Portuguese, Mexican and
Filipino workers followed
during the two World
Wars. When strawberries took over as the top
harvest, the demand for
a larger workforce led to
a flourishing Latino community that continues to
this day.

Don't just read about
Oxnard's agriculture -
taste it for yourself! Enjoy
a medley of locally grown
produce such as fruits
and veggies, nuts, and
honey, as well as live entertainment, crafts, baked
goods and other eats
from food vendors at the
Downtown Oxnard Farmers Market (Thursdays,
9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and the
Channel Islands Harbor
Farmers Market (Sundays,
10 a.m.-2 p.m.) at Marine
Emporium Landing.
16

2020 | VISITOXNARD.COM

Grown in Oxnard

Discover the rich agricultural history of the city built on sugar beets.

by casey cantrell

Nearly 200 years ago, present-day Oxnard was a
pastoral landscape of sprawling ranches and fertile
farmland. But it wasn't until the end of the 19th
century that this stretch of land would become an
agricultural powerhouse - and give birth to a city
that continues to grow.
In 1897, local ranchers Albert Maulhardt and
Johannes Borchard started planting sugar beets
throughout the region. The bountiful crop caught the
eye of sugar mogul Henry T. Oxnard, and in 1899, he
invested $2 million to build the American Beet Sugar
Factory, one of the largest sugar refineries in the continental U.S.

A township quickly emerged around the factory.
Businesses and homes popped up almost overnight,
and the population exploded; Mexican, Chinese and
Japanese migrants flocked to the area, and the Southern Pacific Railroad built a station near the factory,
bringing in more business and more workers. A few
years later, the City of Oxnard was established.
Although the sugar factory was closed in 1958, agriculture remains a vital industry in the area, with local
produce such as lima beans and strawberries shipped
across California and around the world. O
Above: Grab fresh produce at local farm stands.

BRITTNEY HENDRICKS

Farmers
Markets

http://www.VISITOXNARD.COM

Oxnard California - 2020

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