From the Fields: Ron Macedo, Stanislaus County agritourism operator

By Ron Macedo
Stanislaus County agritourism operator

I run a seasonal pumpkin patch and corn maze. We also do a temporary ice rink and sell Christmas trees in Turlock. I farm all the pumpkins and about another hundred acres of feedstock or row crops like corn and oats. 

With the weather bringing a few spring storms, we’re getting ready to start planting pumpkins in about three to four weeks. We’ll put our first varieties in then. We’re also currently working on winter forage hay. We’re going to make hay this year, laying down oats and barley. 

Right now, it’s all preparation, growing and planning. Every year the corn maze has a different design, so we work through that. We’re also working on marketing campaigns for pumpkins, how to approach them and where to focus, since we do a lot of wholesale and retail. Currently, it’s about getting everything lined up so that once harvest starts, it’s all about delivery, picking and moving product from point A to point B. 

Marketing is challenging, so we try to carve out a niche market. The bulk of what we do is decorative pumpkins, along with traditional jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. Broker sales have gone down and are almost niche now because we’re having trouble competing with out-of-state pumpkins, so we’re really focusing on decorative markets, patch-to-porch programs and local delivery. We also try to keep up the social media side of the operation, keeping people aware of what we’re doing so it stays in the back of their minds and they remember us when fall comes around and they’re deciding where to get their pumpkins. 

There are always challenges. Right now, it’s high fuel costs, high fertilizer costs and continuing high labor costs. Those increasing costs make it harder to compete, which is why we focus more on niche and specialized markets. It also depends on the economy staying relatively strong so people continue to spend, especially around Halloween, which is the No. 2 holiday for spending. 

In this edition…

• View full issue
• Groundwater law begins reshaping valley
• Warm, dry start of spring sparks fire season concerns
• Cultivate the future through agricultural education
• Recognize signs of distress and when help is needed
• From the Fields: Jeff Colombini, San Joaquin County cherry and apple grower
• From the Fields: Stuart Mast, Calaveras County vintner
• From the Fields: Loren Poncia, Marin County rancher
• From the Fields: Ron Macedo, Stanislaus County agritourism operator
• Hot temps, new varieties boost strawberry volumes
• Young farmers talk policies during Capitol advocacy visit
• Drought, water restrictions drive innovation in tech
• USDA announces $9 million for cling peach tree removal
• Advocacy in Action: Farm Bureau tracks labor bills, applauds Farm Bill House passage